How Stretching REALLY Works

Thanks to YOGABODY Teachers College www.yogabody.com/iha for sponsoring this video. Check out their science-based, online yoga certification courses.
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How Stretching REALLY Works
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In this video, Jonathan from the Institute of Human Anatomy discusses the surprising influences that the nervous system has on flexibility and the adaptations that can occur with consistent stretching. He also goes over various reflexes as well as stretching protocols that tend to improve flexibility the most.
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Video Timeline
00:00 - 00:59 Intro
01:00 - 01:12 Measuring Our Own Flexibility
01:13 - 03:15 Muscle Flexibility Translating to Improve Joint ROM.
03:16 - 04:33 Yoga in the Lab and YogaBody!
04:34 - 05:18 Specialized Stretch Receptors - Muscle Spindles
05:19 - 06:04 The Importance of Detecting Muscle Length
06:05 - 07:42 Cerebellum & Sensory Cortex Processing Muscle Length Information
07:43 - 09:28 Proprioception: Knowing Where Your Body Parts Are
09:29 - 10:21 Brain Adjusting Muscle Spindles & Tone From Proprioceptive Input
10:22 - 11:52 Underwear Example: Modulating & Prioritizing Sensations
11:53 - 13:47 Stretch Reflex - Brain Protecting Muscles Being Overstretched
13:48 - 15:49 How the Brain Allows For Improved Flexibility
15:50 - 16:18 The Need For Even More Information
16:19 - 17:20 Best Type of Stretching For Improved Flexibility
17:21 - 18:38 Teaser: The Link Between Flexibility & Strength - Thank You!!!
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Audio Credit: www.bensound.com
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#flexibility #stretching #anatomy

[@vividdaydream1516]

My ballet teacher taught a very aggressive, but extremely effective stretching routine. A big part of that was learning how to stretch _safely:_ you can tear your muscles and seriously hurt yourself if you aren't careful. For any beginners reading this, don't try to rush through your stretches! Also, stretches shouldn't hurt - hovering at the edge of pain is one thing, but if you stretch so far that it _actually_ feels painful, then you've gone _way_ too far!

[@sonoftheking831]

What exercises and how long did you hold?

[@pamloof]

Had to learn that too with muscleaches for a day afterwards. Luckily I am quite flexible so I didn't tear anything but I learned a lot and stretching has become better now.

[@buldonzwenkinz7973]

Or just in the WRONG direction

[@angelulu525]

This brain provid of a real or fake human ? (Sorry for my américain level i am frensh)

[@vadymvv]

I doubt that. I have dancing classes over 10 years(classic dance, acrobatics, jazz...) and I have never seen a person have been harmed by stretching even if it was rough sessions with teacher applying mass. So with your own weight you can't do a harm to yourself if you know a basic technic of doing exercise. BUT there are health conditions when you must not stretch at all like arthrosis

[@ilgazkaya5245]

Now are you telling me that flexibility does not increase because your muscles get looser, but it does because your brain chills out about it. Wow! My mind is blown and im loving it. Thank you!

[@seattlegrrlie]

both. he's telling you it's both

[@phylippezimmermannpaquin2062]

The same happened to me while lifting weights. I started quad curls at 80lb and my legs were shaling like crazy even tho i felt fine. Over time i noticed the shaking was gone so i tried to add more weight. No shaking at 90? Ok lets try 100. I settled on 130 and still no shaking. I didnt magically grow stronger muscles from doing 80lb, my body simply allowed me to do more

[@threatened2024]

@@phylippezimmermannpaquin2062 your body became more efficient at recruiting motor units, and you could have grown stronger muscles as they adapted to micro tears in muscle fibres.

[@catalystcomet]

​@@phylippezimmermannpaquin2062that is so interesting! It makes me wonder about people experiencing increased strength during times of stress. It happened to me once when I was saving somebody's life and I've always been curious as to how. I suppose our brain lets us.

[@wisdom_steps]

Taking inspiration from you I have also started spiritual youtube channel in English. Thank you so much for your inspiration 😊😊

[@akc1739]

I’m 58 and never stopped stretching. After a career teaching middle school, I started volunteering as a gymnastics coach at my local YMCA. To see these girl’s faces when I do the splits is priceless. I’m their grandmother’s age 😂.

[@guywithamoustache2391]

hahaha

[@solibra5608]

Thats so great to be an inspiration to the young ones, there should be more people participate in their community ❤

[@godnyx117]

Hahahahahaha! Would love to be there to see their faces (and of course to stretch), lol!

[@lilytom2708]

Im older and a guy - and never did any athletic activity before a few years ago. Took me 2 years daily to do my full splits (needed to do advanced gymnastic moves). No faces at the big box gyms stare or look strange when I do it, maybe Im just too ugly ot its too creepy.

[@semekiizuio]

Tbh 58 isnt really old though, onve you get to 75+ let me know if you can still do it 😉

[@dianebell8677]

I started stretching at 55 slowly breathing , calming the nervous system , talking to my body reassuring it everything is ok .I’m now 60 and I can do the splits and my flexibility is incredible . I’m starting to do the box splits . My forward bend I’m flat .This is very interesting that the brain talks to the body , which is what I have been doing , may be that’s why I’m so flexible .

[@amereaz]

shapes and forms are overrated. feel yourself well in your body and that is enough (I teach deep release - you would be surprised how much a little movement can go - for eg starting to stretch joints, yes, read well, look into something called FRC, functional range conditioning)

[@HiKasandra]

Wow! This shows the body can regenerate at any age. XO

[@davidvick1078]

This is encouraging. It's never to late for anything as far as I am concerned!

[@JamieModelvsDirector]

Inspirational ❤🎉😊

[@celithien4177]

Your videos are amazing, with all the anecdotal advice about exercise and health, it's so great to learn the real science behind everything. Thank you to your team for being really good teachers 😊

[@Jorge-kz7zg]

You guys are great, I'm a firefigher in Guatemala and we mostly respond to EMS calls, your videos help me a lot increase my knowledge of the human body and also help me improve my English. Please never stop posting videos. Keep it up. 🤗

[@M.A.R.S.]

I always admire firefighters no matter where they're from. You guys go through so much, from training to trauma. I thank you on behalf of anyone you've tried to help!

[@fleetingtym1961]

You're so cool!!

[@mo-s-]

You're doing an amazing job :D

[@wordytoed9887]

You have got this Big Jorge 💪

[@Portia620]

❤

[@terryz935]

Starting at 7:46 you talked about proprioception. I had Guillain-Barré Syndrome a few years ago which paralyzed me from my feet to my hips. I use this order because it was a gradual process that occurred this way over time. While I did re-learn how to walk eventually, I was left with very little proprioception in my legs. So let me submit a real-life example of the importance of proprioception. Whenever you sit at a computer for a length of time, your feet "wander". They may be under the keyboard for a while, they may then be under the chair, one may be wrapped around one of the chair legs, etc. Standing up is no problem for you. You reposition your legs under the keyboard and proceed to get out of the chair. Not so for me. Without proprioception, I have to look to see where my legs are before getting up. There have been times where I've tried to get up and almost fallen because, unknown to me, my foot was wrapped around one of the chair legs.

[@arielmaliha]

Fascinating!

[@naturalnashuan]

Terry, I also have very impaired proprioception from a sudden brain injury that paralyzed one side of my body. I rewired movement in my brain, but my proprioception also didn't heal. I was trained in the hospital to always look at my feet and make sure I see them flat on the floor before I stand. I have difficulty with moving things around indoors, it is hard to put my limbs in the right places and synchronize their movements. I often have to consciously tell one limb to move first, then go through the series of deliberate muscle contractions to pick up a box and move it without dropping it or falling on top of it. It makes organizing a room very daunting and exhausting. I can't run, clap my hands, or jump. I don't even remember how the series of muscle contractions begins. I can't run through the series of muscles that I need to order to contract quickly enough for these movements to work. Somehow my body can take care of things if I fall from a height, like off a boulder or the top of a staircase. My body automatically positions itself to rotate and flip so I always land on my feet, like a cat. It's a bizarre feeling to have some part of my less conscious mind move my body so well when I can't choose to do simple movements.

[@kimberlyrogers9953]

This is incredibly interesting !

[@vedawattieram1974]

@@naturalnashuan Reading your story made me think of becoming more proactive about the spinal arthritis condition ... especially the part about rewiring your brain...

[@selenaclarke]

really interesting comment, thanks for explain that to us

[@katecogs5567]

This is similar to what I’ve read about Relax into the Stretch - don’t push it, go as far is comfortable with no tightness, rest into it for about 30 seconds, and slowly your brain adjusts its range over time. Excellent, thank you for this.

[@roxanna3779]

Some people are such gifted communicators. This guy is one of them - he's so compelling. I find myself unable to tear away even though I should really be doing other things.

[@eronhaxhiu5206]

Yesterday I had anatomy exam and u guys saved my life cuz I remembered so many things that u showed us and I hope I did good.

[@theanatomylab]

Awesome! Glad we could help!

[@Life_Of_Lilliana]

That’s great!

[@eronhaxhiu5206]

@@theanatomylab i did itttt i passed the exammmmm thank uuu guyssss🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍

[@rampagesmackssons508]

@@eronhaxhiu5206 nice

[@VSR_123]

@@eronhaxhiu5206 what do you study

[@Michaeleism]

After stretching.. I feel AMAZING. The older I get, the more I feel stretching working on my mind in different ways. The experience of stretching changes, as I get older.

[@goatfish07]

Releasing tension in the body releases tension in the mind, freeing it up. 👍

[@adsupermusone8875]

It feels great when I stretch, wakes my body up

[@MiguelHernandez-rw4xu]

Absolutely 💯 flexibility = mobility

[@33Jenesis]

Terrific! Don’t ever stop👍

[@rnml916]

😢😢 I didn't feel really good or I'm making I mean. My boyfriend's name is Blake. Yeah, I might be a funny day. I'll be ordered, oh, pizza with pepper. Roaming it with a savage. Yeah, you know, I think maybe my phone number. Got put on the Disney's name and sometimes 808 399. Yeah, that's my phone. Name theme of legend it's going to be a thirty eight hat🎉😢😢😢😢 😮😢🎉🎉😢😢😢

[@tban22]

I really appreciate this video. I hate stretching because I find it unbearable, the sensations are wildly unpleasant. Knowing it's literally my brain going "nuh-uh" and not that my muscles will actually snap should make it easier for me to work through it. Thank you!

[@secretshaman189]

The key to easy stretching is a relaxed mindset, helps the body to relax and then stretching feels really good. Most animals stretch first thing in the morning by instinct.

[@movementwithmyhre6104]

You absolutely could tear something if you push too far. A safe stretch should be mildly uncomfortable NOT unbearable or wildly unpleasant. The point is that if you stretch every day your nervous system won’t panic when it’s put on a stretch and a gentle stretch will become a nice pleasant sensation. This does not mean you should push through a painful stretch. Stay safe and good luck training your body to enjoy stretching

[@socialist-strong]

@@movementwithmyhre6104seconding this, painful stretching is likely too far. There is a brain element but that brain element is trying to protect your body. “Unpleasant” can be many things, not all of them dangerous, but do listen to your body’s signals.

[@suzannepoffel2160]

I had a stroke and continued seizures... not anymore though. Stretching was one of the things nurse's had me do everyday to help my brain!❤ thank you see u

[@chelseawilhelm412]

I’ve noticed even consciously being aware of what muscles feel tight when I stretch a certain way and then consciously relaxing that muscle by breathing and using my mind to relax it will allow me to stretch further. I feel like a lot of it has to do with the fact that when you’re stressed or when your nervous system is on hyperdrive we tense our muscles which makes it harder to stretch them

[@lightonfire9393]

Correct

[@tobyallen1203]

Yea, this one. learning to do what I've come to call internally "microrelaxations" or "targeted relaxation" is very valuable for everything from stress to sexual control. The ability to be deeply aware of and control your muscles is something that I don't hear nearly enough about.

[@mjchecksfield914]

Yup stretching is the best thing. It can transform your life and body and release energy you never knew you had. Yoga is so great because it gives you infinite variety in the stretches you can do, so its not possible to ever get bored and a massive challenge to try to master all poses.

[@veronicatlc3317]

Yoga is sun worship fyi

[@wanderwoman-in]

@@veronicatlc3317 Really, you think Yoga is a religion? Care to explain how?

[@rickjames7576]

@@wanderwoman-in Yes it is, look it up. Each position represents something. It's very informative to read about it.

[@mrblackmamba117]

​@@rickjames7576 that doesn't make it a religion. It's a part of Hinduism simply because it developed in India and is culturally relevant. Although, you can just do it for the sake of exercise. Helps me massively with calisthenics.

[@carlwatts1230]

Any online resources to point to for beginners wanting to get started with a stretching routine?

[@33Jenesis]

I like doing yin yoga, holding a pose for 3 to 5 minutes at a time. The sensation or brain signal can be unbearable, causing me to get out of a pose early or have to move around. I mostly use breathing to tame the signals. Yogabody teaching is terrific and science based. I really enjoy its youtube content.

[@Kelinda6]

I literally just came back from a Yin Yoga class! It’s been really awesome!

[@michaelmcculloughphotograp8571]

Great job. I’ve been a chiropractor for 38 years and appreciate the re-education. I include stretching as an integral part of my daily exercise.

[@awsheit]

I do pole dancing and I find it fascinating that once you're upside down, sometimes you'll just lose total body awareness of where your leg is, where your arms are etc. You get better at identifying it but it takes years and the more complicated the more hard it is to calibrate body awareness.

[@jmc8076]

Interesting. I’ve never done pole dancing but I recall as a small girl hanging upside down in diff ways and needing help getting off from the same feeling of wait where are legs and arms now?😂

[@LoversLane16]

I am a dance teacher and when i have my students (kids) lay on their stomachs and bend at the knee they cannot tell me if they are pointing their toes to the sky or the ground without looking at them. Its so funny to watch them figure it out!

[@sabinewimmer4540]

Wow, I am feeling like a medical student. This is the first time I am seeing real body parts being used for visualization like this. Such a great production. Thank you.

[@z0uLess]

So, showing dead bodies on youtube without warning is okay as long as you wear professional looking gloves?

[@eirenises]

exactly!!! .... @@z0uLess

[@LuisSierra42]

@@z0uLess I think they accept it because it's for educational purposes. YT even accepts nudity if it's for education

[@angelkickken1736]

Truth ...its NOT okay ! @@z0uLess

[@nellianders9253]

​@@z0uLessIt was disgusting for me

[@FireIceAZ]

I have been on my personal yoga journey for the last 9 months and have made significant gains. This content was extremely helpful in better understanding the relationship between the limitations of my muscles.

[@dehsa38]

Been stretching for more than 43 years, your video filled in for a lot of things I've learned through direct manipulation of my body!

[@Bleiser3]

I did stretching on a regular basis when I was a teen and in to taekwondo. We were taught that static stretching was to be done just like you said. Before or after training but not immediately before it. Just before training or during it, you should only do quick stretches at most. Long static stretching before doing stuff makes you lose strength and may make you more prone to injury. So long static ones at home at free time and only short and fast ones if you are about to do sports or during it. That's what I was taught. I hope it's still right way to do it!

[@jonesy1589]

Dynamic stretching before static after

[@Bleiser3]

@@jonesy1589 so basically what I said

[@katiemacwhereuat]

That’s what I learned in PTA school :)

[@jonesy1589]

@@Bleiser3 Nope you said quick stretches which could indicate anything, dynamic stretching is the correct saying.

[@timo386]

Not that it really matters, but i'll clarify something here. On a very general scale we can say your information is fine to do, but for rehab and for people not performing strength training or explosive sport, there is nothing wrong with some static stretching in-between or even before. It's annoying but when people share simple ideas they soon become believed as THE rule when in reality it really always is "it depends". It matters what the persons goals are and what they are training for. If you read the studies that caused the sensation of no static stretching before hand, you'll realize the risk is specific to certain scenarios rather than a rule of thumb. Saying static stretching in general may make you more prone to injury before exercise is like saying you can get hit by a car when you cross the street. You have to consider, is there a cross walk, did you look both ways, how busy is the road, same as exercise. I rehab people so just my 2 cents.

[@bakersnuts100]

I work at a very popular pet food warehouse. We always do basic stretches every morning. Neck, arms, hands, lower back, 2 different legs stretches. Been doing them for over a year now. They do help you feel better through out the day.

[@therealbloomercolfax4280]

What is your lower back stretch? I'd love to do one before work too.

[@bakersnuts100]

@@therealbloomercolfax4280 They call it a "catback" really it's just putting your hands on your hips and bending forward. like if a cat was going to jump on your back. then a simple backbend, leaning back and holding for 5 seconds.

[@TNT-km2eg]

>>> construction workers

[@MadProfessor153]

That is a good habit to stick with, especially while doing any form of manual labor. I am a Union Electrician and on many jobsites we do "Stretch and Flex" first thing before starting any work. I also do yoga at home and that really keeps previous back issues I have had at bay.

[@tanned_cosines_]

@@therealbloomercolfax4280 there is this asana. (i don't remember the name) you have to touch the forehead to your knees while keeping your legs straight. There are two positions in which you can do this, while standing and while sitting on floor. The latter is harder ( for me ) this is forward bending, for backward bending chakrasana and dhanurasana are best but require spine flexibility so do these gradually. in my opinion it benefits in the long run IF you hold this posture for like a minute or so i used to hold it at ease maybe for 10 seconds i would also say do Surya Namaskar before you start your day, in my case it helps me keep energized. (and remember to not overdo these, it can be fatal if your count shoots up as it generates heat) and do this in early mornings and late evenings for the same reason (heat)

[@ginkodragon]

This video was really helpful! I shared this video with my husband to help to understand why it hurts to move his arm. He had a stroke and I had been trying to explain about what happens to the muscles in a reflex stretch. I have been trying to get him to understand why consistent, regular stretch is important! His entire arm and hand and partly his leg, is in a spastic position.

[@bc-guy852]

You're right Jonathan, that was a lot of technical stuff to get through and I'm not college-age, (could have college grandkids!) but I learn from every episode; I often watch them twice, to absorb it all. So much good information!! Kids today - so lucky; an absolute plethora of medical school calibre lectures from great personalities like YOU - FREE!! Amazing times.

[@gyakuto7775]

My PhD was all about the sensitivity control of the muscle spindles: ‘The Monoaminergic Control of Gamma Motoneurones’. It’ a riveting read but probably superseded by now. It was nice to hear you talking about spindles, dynamic and static phases of stretch, etc, and the content of my lectures and labs came flooding back! Thank you 🙏🏽

[@VSR_123]

How old are you

[@niBBunn]

@@VSR_123 Sounds like he's retired, so I would guess 60+

[@VSR_123]

@@niBBunn oh my god, hell no ,what the fuck

[@kizashikaze9066]

@@VSR_123 What's wrong with that?

[@VSR_123]

@@kizashikaze9066 I don't know

[@skiak004]

As a retired 25 year teacher, I want to give you kudos for your excellent presentations.

[@rampagesmackssons508]

Read this wrong at first. Was wondering what country I needed to move to, to be able to teach and retire at 25 years old.

[@kodikeith6847]

I teach too, and I watch these videos on my lunch break. Love them!! I'm in elementary but I love anatomy! The presentation of these videos are very good! I've learned so much!

[@chopsnz88]

Would love a part 2 deep dive on this to look at how different types of stretching passive, dynamic, propioceptive neuromuscular facilitation PNF, Controlled Articulation Rotation (CARS), eccentric strength training and the effect of breathing all differently impact the nervous system etc.

[@annettehennesey9508]

These videos are FABULOUS!!! Since we all know that teens will listen to ANYONE before they listen to their parents, I have been showing them these videos to back up what I feel they need to know. THANK YOU!

[@Ombie_Art]

Omg, i have EDS and so hypermobility, and this explanation that proprioception is the "gatekeeper" of stretch makes so much sense now of why EDS causes hypermobility ! Since we know we have poor propioception, of course it will impact our mobility and the lack of barrier when we move and stretch ! That's extra interesting thank you so much for this video ! I really adore understanding my body more and more with each of your videos ^^

[@rebeccamerkel192]

As an anatomy nerd with EDS, I was also super fascinated when I learned this last year! The Golgi tendon organs function analogously to the muscle spindles but instead of being within the muscle belly, they are found within the tendon at the ends of muscles. And tendons are, you guessed it, 65-80% collagen 😂. So it makes a lot of sense that those of us with certain collagen disorders are going to have an altered sense of where our bodies are in space, because the main source of that information is coming from nerves sensing the tension in collagen-filled tissues...but our collagen stretches differently than expected!

[@Tribuneoftheplebs]

​@@rebeccamerkel192 does collagen supplementation using those powders have any beneficial effects for this condition?

[@rebeccamerkel192]

@@Tribuneoftheplebs No, it does not! At least not for EDS, I can’t speak to all collagen disorders. When you take in collagen in any form, your body digests it down to amino acids, which are then absorbed and can be used to build proteins (including collagen) within our cells. Because EDS affects the way our body builds and/or uses collagen (depending on the subtype), taking collagen in supplement form doesn’t have a beneficial effect on the structural integrity of our collagen. Basically, because the body needs to break down the collagen before absorbing it, when it is rebuild within our cells it is still build incorrectly. I hope that explanation makes sense! :)

[@nobukazumikami5466]

A few years ago, i decided to achieve side split. I searched how-to on KZbin. I found one KZbin which advised viewers to hold stretched position beyond bearable pain. The KZbinr said that this trains our brain adjust to new level of stretching capacity. Now, your video explained this in more medical science way. This is a very good explanation. Thank you. By the way, I achieved side split after several months of stretch-hold routines and I am keeping up with stretching, weight lifting, cardio.

[@144Donn]

This channel was so phenomenal and now that you are including health & wellness such as working out & stretching- this is more than superb! It is totally with the times and where we are heading. I hated stretching my whole life until I hit 50 and then I could not get enough! I still am tight in the hammies but everyone who sees me thinks I was always stretchie...and this is completely not the case! What I find most interesting is that we do not understand yet, how it all works. Great video and thx for your excellent teaching!

[@nikkyk9746]

The more I learn, the more I'm in awe with how amazingly God has created a human being!!!

[@amfoxladyv2]

I'm not an anatomy student, but your videos have given me so much better understanding of how my body works (some of the previous ones about digestion etc in particular!). With this video in particular as somebody who only started yoga last year and trying to gain better flexibility to improve my dance training, I now have a better idea of how much extra stretching I should be doing during my free time. Looking forward to the collab! 💪

[@lisa__rcs]

I’ve been prioritizing stretching to improve flexibility/reduce pain and while I know that it’s good for me, knowing the mechanisms behind it is really helpful. Thank you for making this video! It can be downright impossible to find user-friendly content about anatomy but your videos never disappoint.

[@natashalaceyy]

I love this channel so much, thank you for all of the hard work you do to put out free educational content. Truly appreciated ❤

[@nancymccord6421]

Thank you so much!!! The cadence and content of delivery is ABSOLUTELY STELLAR!

[@MrRozu-fm2sz]

I always loved the "How it's made", or how day to day objects work. Ever since I found this channel, I'm starting to find out how my body also works. Great content! Keep up the good work!

[@nicholaskoenig3106]

Been lifting for decades and only recently (5-6yrs) have been stretchin like a madman! Love the content here. I was throwing virtual 'high-fives' as you closed the video w/the importance of STRENGTH in flexibility! Cant wait to see that collab! Excellent video. #iflinched

[@TNT-km2eg]

Yes , yes , stretch and lift , lift and stretch . Clock is ticking

[@vister6757]

Me too. I recently joined yoga classes too and I'm so happy stretching. I cont'd with weights and yoga.

[@ignaciolopez6377]

You have developed super good teaching skills. I certainly learned something today. I am grateful for that. I am subscribing 🥰

[@antheasam6510]

I really love looking at the ligaments and muscles in the video. So much easier to relate. I'm in the fitness industry and it all makes sense to be able to see what is where. Thank you🙏

[@willow_wise]

Always paying attention to your "lectures", one of the best series out there!

[@theanatomylab]

Haha Thank you!

[@progesundheit2118]

I appreciate your lectures a lot! Let me humbly add - I have learned this from a pain therapist who was also martial art teacher: - contract the antagonistic muscle strongly before stretching (also slow stretch technique) - and also again and again while staying in the maximum stretching position at about a pain level of 7 to 8 It increases the results dramatically - stretch for over 2 1/2 min without pausing, then two to three times a week can be sufficient for good improvement

[@barbaraallender5339]

Love you guys. You explain things simply and comprehensively. I'm 75 and not familiar with human anatomy, but you sure make clear and interesting and make me understand how important awareness is. Thanks so much from Italy. Keep up the good work!!

[@kindheartedgreatperson4769]

❤feel the same - Barbara !!

[@elenalatici9568]

77 and living in Italy too. Have stretched all my life until an injury a couple of years ago. Have recently started again.Thank God I had stretched for decades because when I started again my muscles felt like cement. Then I think my brain kicked in and said, "Oh, yeah.I remember this." Stretching got easier day by day. Very interesting and helpful video. 👍🏻

[@InnokentyShuvalov]

Big kudos to the production team: such a pleasure to watch with pleasant-looking video-aid, fun stock vid cuts and very interesting footage of the actual body tissues! Very good video, keep it up, guys!

[@IrocZIV]

Watched a video in my Kinesiology class about a man who lost his proprioception (due to a brain injury I believe) He was eventually able to walk, but it really hit home how much you depend on that 'hidden' sense.

[@chanduramgopalakrishnan8765]

Awesome class Sir, you have combined anatomy, exercise physiology, biomechanics and neurology into one that too in a highly interesting way, just like watching a movie ! Really good and most wanted for students around the globe. Keep posting Classes like these. Thank you so much

[@TNT-km2eg]

Construction workers love it .

[@Reticulosis]

I love this channel! I love getting a refresher course and recalling all the A&P info ❤️

[@kimdavis7812]

So interesting …. My daughter died of a neurological disease called Werdnig-Hoffman syndrome… your explanation has helped me so much to understand what happened to her body as she was dying… thank you 🙏

[@texaspatty4697]

💙

[@tom3and3jerry5]

I have been streching since 2 years . This video taught me the best reasons to strech and able to answer my fellow mates why it is important to strech

[@lukasallen846]

Beyond the brains involvement, there is the physical aspect I was hoping you would discuss. When I was young I had no flexibility. I went to a school of martial arts where the instructor said that my leg raise was limited by baby veins in the back of my legs that had failed to grow in length. The instructor would have me sit on the floor with my legs laying flat in front of me. Slowly, he would press on my back (full length) to apply additional stretching pressure and hold it for 5-15 minutes. The instructor said that I needed to think about anything else but the pain and that the baby veins would eventually stretch or break and cause bruises on the back of my legs. It was key that I didn't quit the process over 2 months or I would be left with less mobility. The legs must heal in the stretched position. I went from only being able to raise a straight leg waist high, to being able to raise a straight leg to my shoulder and then hold it at my shoulder while standing on the other leg. All these years later, I wonder if I wasn't also tearing muscle or ligaments when I had all that bruising on the back of my legs?

[@bodydesignbyrachel]

This sounds so intense.

[@tianamarie989]

I'm going to say yes. Wow that's awful. I've watched people having their bicep tendons snap and muscles just gone. They need surgery to re-attach the tendon to the bone. Wow. I just can't fathom this.

[@hannahmitchell87]

Brutal!

[@michaeljung4398]

Baby veins? I think it's muscles. Pressuring the back is not safe if not done carefully. It may cause the low back problem.

[@bohofoto6929]

I don’t trust his assessment of what the cause was.

[@forestcottage7321]

I was looking for an accurate video re: physiology of stretching etc. So engaging and well presented. Looking forward to your other videos. Thankyou for sharing your knowledge🌻

[@rodbramos]

Thank you very much. What a great set of information. As a Yoga teacher, I think that the way we choose to breath has a important role in the stretch because it balances the nervous system sympathetic and parasympathetic. Breathing slow may relax and help the stretch. Does it make sense?

[@rickharold7884]

Wow, that’s super fascinating. Thanks for sharing and love the long format and more information.

[@caro.upsidedown]

Really good information! Thanks! And glad you mentioned being strong in the end ranges - its a little disappointing that so many studies cover passive stretching and not so much techniques of combining it with strenght exercises.

[@hspatpeace]

It was easy to get to the end of this video because that teacher was so engaging - he really made the topic entertaining to me :) Great work!

[@amantyagi46]

I m a teacher in India. Usually felt very tired, exhausted, sleepy daily in school especially after lunch. Then i started stretching accidentally- now i feel active, vigorous, alert all day. Most astonishing thing that i didn't hope is that i fell much more confident the day i strtch in morning.

[@erinmoore6463]

I’m hoping you may be able to talk about a systemic collagen deficiency (EDS) and how that can cave many anatomical repercussions. I’ll be donating my body for this purpose. I hope that your work may inform the medical community for those of us still living with this.

[@kellyalsaleh3032]

me too. I don't have EDS but I am diagnosed with Hypermobility syndrome and it's been a whole new learning curve knowing what can help my atypical body. It's taken a long time to get this diagnosis because the standard health tests leave it under the radar (i.e. I have lower blood pressure than average, I am very mobile without any training). It's been frustrating because as wonderful as these stats are for your general doctor, you're still experiencing pain.

[@johnd.9]

I am going to be adding weight training to my exercise routine. It's currently mostly consists of cardio including walking. Even though I'm training for strength and stamina and not size oh, I still think it's essential that stretching is included in these weight training exercises. Thanks for another great video. Love from Canada. 🇨🇦

[@MuckVille]

I’m 26 years old and started stretching over 2 years ago after my workouts. I’ve seen tremendous improvements in my body and mind. You can do it!

[@naturerumba]

I love your videos, guys. Watching periodically about different parts of our body and always smiling on how incredible and complex creatures we are! Thank you for your work and knowledge you share! 💙

[@dadoizvg]

Your videos are so informative and you teach us stuff nobody ever told us. And i see nobody tells anything about video quality of your videos they are great fast and dynamic. Keep it up 🙂👏👏👏

[@esteemedmortal5917]

Can you do a video about Ehlers-Danlos and how it causes a lot of these processes to get screwed up? I got diagnosed with the Hypermobile type this past Fall and it is not easy to compensate for the abnormal function of the muscles, nerves, and connective tissue 😖

[@RostiArt]

your videos are great. no doubt about it however what most amazes me it's how enthusiastic you are when explaining everything. awesome work, dude

[@stephaniethompson3262]

This is one of those things that I've wondered about for decades but never really asked about. Thanks for the explanation!

[@jessicacoffey1525]

I love these videos! They continuously amaze me! Our bodies are beautifully created!

[@dalemcmillen2065]

I love this video! For this life-long nerd, it's so satisfying to be able understand the intellectual underpinning of physical fitness, which has become my passion as I've gotten older. I will definitely take advantage of the advice here.

[@Daneypastry]

I'm kinda mind blown by how I came here to learn about stretching but also got information that explained a diagnosis I've had since I was a child, better than any doctor or physical therapist has ever been able to explain it. I have tactile overreactions, so when you mentioned the clothing example I was already aware of the sensations because my brain doesn't filter out irrelevant stimulus. It also constantly triggers contractions in my muscles, but stretching and working out has always helped me manage it. And now I think I understand why. Thank you for this super informative video!

[@glaciergirlv2265]

I love stretching. It feels so good! And the hamstring stretch helps a lot with the tightness in my glutes, which in turn helps with my low back pain. And the sartorial stretch! *chefs kiss*

[@brendangoosen]

Relaxing completely has helped me recently and now I know why!! Thanks a stack!

[@maximizedmotionsfitness4063]

Thank you for the video, you kept my attention the whole time. I love the use of the bones, muscles, and brain. I am a very animated personal trainer and in my classes some of the verbiage and illustrations you used in this video are how I explain different functions and movements of the muscles. You're awesome. You definitely have a new subscriber.

[@VicRodMolCO]

You go above and beyond to show detail every in a fun and articulate manner. Kudos! 😮

[@tiffanylilly4209]

You've made so many lightbulbs go off for me. Ive always been flexible, danced alot when i was younger. I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 09. Im in Physical therapy and im hyperexctended in my knees when i walk and stretch. I now understand so much more about my body!! Thank you!

[@Jasonmakesvideo]

Finally someoneelse with hyper mobility.....

[@dustinwest5410]

I never liked going to school bc i found it boring but this channel makes learning fun and interesting. Like i learn things without even realizing it. Thank you.

[@smfm2757]

Very nice vid. Telling the science behind stretching rarher just telling what to do is sooo underrated! Thanks guyss!

[@avayu2289]

Great stuff. Thank you for reinforcing all that I also practice on a daily basis with rest days of course. Keep up the good work.

[@Notwoke811]

Great Video as always!! On this same subject can you do a video that explains what happens to our muscles and why we get extreme muscle cramps in shins, calves and sometimes feet and toes? I never liked anatomy until I found your channel..now I am fascinated....lol...

[@kayfarquar2034]

lack of magnesium

[@skateordie9628]

Another jewel of knowledge. It blows my mind how much you guys know and how well you explain everything. Frustrating part is, you always hit a side topic that sounds equally fascinating, but "that's for another video" I just want to watch it all! I tried stretching to touch my toes, for a bout a year now, and I improved NOTHING. Damn brain.

[@cathyxu3243]

There is old Chinese saying, “stretch often add 10 years to your life”, now it approved by science. That is why yoga is so good for you.

[@fraenklimann]

That's really great! I try to stretch after working out, but understanding how it works makes it much easier for me! Thanks a lot!

[@barbarastrate8388]

Hi. Just found your channel. Loved this video - very well done! I'm a massage therapist and often use PNF work in my practice. It is very effective. I'd love to see a video dedicated to that (or if you already have one, let me know how I can find it). I think many people would benefit. Glad I found this channel. I'll be watching often 🙂👍

[@kiraravens4054]

Your channel is genuinely one of my fav channels on KZbin - super interesting topics, everything's explained in a way that's very easy to understand, and so much of it is not just interesting to learn but also actually useful in daily life. Just love it

[@kinemobile]

Great pedagogical effort. Kudos to you guys, thank you for this awesome content 👌

[@martinaazevedomuller5180]

Thank you so much for this video! I work at home, spend so much hours sitting and exercise 1 hour 6 to 7 times a week (what could look like a lot of exercise) and I fell my body needs stretching all days. 10 minutes or even less stretching between my work hours save my life.

[@Dreams_of_travel]

Fascinating!! Always simplifying human body knowledge

[@tabularasa]

Would love if you dive into more of this subject. The electric communication between the brain and the rest of the body is fascinating

[@1UnitFitness]

It wasn’t until I got a muscle injury , until I started to take stretching seriously ! It’s literally the key ! To have a long lasting strength and endurance

[@TheMuscleRepairShop]

This is a great explanation of how the brain, nervius system, and muscles work together. I have been teaching this same idea on my channel, The Muscle Repair Shop, for years and it is great to see someone with the same knowledge.

[@regilena7]

Looking forward to hearing about strengthening the muscles that we are stretching and/or slowly losing if we’re over 50. I hear we lose about 1% a year. 😢 Especially if there is any difference an older persons muscles, being strengthened versus a younger persona muscles being strengthen. Some of us are learning late in life (50+)to use it or lose it! 😊

[@Vel1ar]

The only significant difference in musclebuilding for older people is body's decreased sensitivity to stuff. In this instance training volume and protein consumption should be higher in order to achieve same results as one would've starting training earlier in life.

[@aufsesserpremium]

sarcopenia...highest risk is low protein and sedentary live....older people need more protein, look for 1,2 -1,4g/kg (0.6-0.7g/pound) and any resistancetraining, any set/repetition from 6-30 is good if near failure.

[@arielmaliha]

Collagen protein ✨👑

[@zaidmuhammad862]

Intestinal absorption power decreases with time (old age).

[@regilena7]

@@zaidmuhammad862 Yes it has! My Doc added in my medical record malabsorption when I hit my 50s, at 56yo, I see the effects as things slowly decreasing in functionality. Menopause been a bogeyman!

[@maahi323]

Thank you. I'm doing yoga these days and it was interesting to know how it affects my body 🙋

[@Amelia-om7ew]

really loved this and learnt so much, super well put-together! thank you

[@ninadavis2763]

Thank you so much for making these videos, I absolutely can’t get enough!

[@emily.m427]

I try to do yoga every night. It's really interesting to see what's going on when I'm doing my stretches!!!

[@smediumlarge]

That screaming demonstration was way too funny 😂 love this channel

[@Im-not-alone-Im-full-of-myself]

Stretching works by engaging the musculoskeletal system and triggering physiological responses in the body. When a muscle is stretched, the musculoskeletal system, consisting of muscles, bones, tendons, and ligaments, comes into play. Muscles provide the body with the ability to move by contracting and generating tension, while bones offer posture and structural support. Connective tissues such as tendons and ligaments join the bones together at the joints and aid in movement. Stretching also affects the body's circulation and nervous system. When a muscle is stretched, blood flow to that area increases, allowing for more oxygen to reach the muscle and aiding in the removal of metabolic waste products. Additionally, stretching activates the parasympathetic nervous system, promoting feelings of calmness and relaxation. It can also lead to the release of endorphins, natural chemicals that act as neurotransmitters and have pain-relieving and euphoric effects. These physiological responses to stretching help improve flexibility, reduce the risk of injury, induce a sense of calmness, and potentially improve circulation. This information demonstrates how stretching works at a physiological level, providing insight into its benefits and effects on the body.

[@evecunardyoga6362]

Thanks for an entertaining and interesting talk. It's refreshing to hear scientific back-up for the effectiveness of static stretching. Having practised yoga for many years, I can feel how my body has changed, but now I understand why.

[@MT-US]

So much good information! I just love learning in the short sessions. So interesting! Thank you for this channel! I know you spoke about cough before, but I wonder how long it takes for something to pass through the (stomach?) so that it doesn't get brought up by a coughing fit. I know the two "pipes" (esophageal and trachea) are parallel and so coughing stimulates the esophagus to bring things back up. I have a chronic cough that is being looked into and I find this phenomenon especially irritating.

[@ladytrekington190]

Hi Jonathan, I'm new to your very cool channel and really enjoying the content. I don't know if you ever answer questions on your videos, or maybe someone else has some insight. Does nerve length factor into stretching? Do our nerves need to lengthen as we gain greater range of motion? Thanks

[@SebastianTinajero]

I love this channel, this video was a nice surprise since lately I’ve been studying and applying stretching routines everyday since Im in the process of trying to fix the issue causing my shoulder impingement.

[@manuelmaniscalco255]

Thank you for this exceptionally accurate and helpful video!

[@heatherb1502]

I love this video. It all makes so much sense about the nervous system. I really believe in the stretching so much since I have become older. So your saying 2 sets of 30 seconds. Hmmm I will try to start telling my clients thus. I'm a massage therapist and explain to my clients how important it is to stretch. I keep saying it's sad there's no classes just for stretching . Yoga classes can be very intimidating and if there were more classes that focused on stretching. Stretching for upper body stretching for lower body etc

[@gailmeye4989]

Check out Essentrics/ Classical Stretch, found on many public tv stations.