AIS is a form of stretching that you probably haven't used before. You will use a yoga strap or rope hooked around your foot, to allow you to assist with the stretches. It is different than static stretching, where you hold a stretch for 20 -30 seconds, in a couple ways.
One, it is performed actively, where you move your muscles back and forth instead of holding them in one position. Two, it involves the Principle of Reciprocal Inhibition, which simply means you contract (shorten) the muscle opposite the muscle you want to stretch.
As you contract one muscle, its opposite has to relax, due to this reflex. By taking advantage of this reflex, you get a greater stretch than you would otherwise.
Physical Therapists use similar techniques to increase flexibility with their patients. However, this technique can be done at home, by yourself, by using a strap around the foot.
Lastly, you isolate muscles by moving them in several positions as opposed to forward and back. For example, runners will typically place their foot on a bench or curb, leaning forward to stretch their hamstrings and low back. They may also lunge forward to stretch the front of their thigh and hip.
For every movement that the legs and hips go through - front to back, side to side, and rotation, there is an opposite muscle or group of muscles to perform the opposite movement.
Many times though, when we work the same muscles in the same movements over and over, without doing other movements, we develop imbalances. Imbalances which lead to pain or injury. Overuse or repetitive motion injuries in particular.
AIS seeks to help overcome these injuries by balancing the muscles involved. By going through all the available motions actively, you develop control over these motions. Control which allows your body to work more efficiently and places less stress on your joints. Less stress because the muscles exhibit less tension and have a balanced pull on the joints. Balanced muscles also absorb shock more efficiently because
AIS was developed by a Kinesiotherapist named Aaron Mattes. Some of his clients have been star athletes Roger Clemens, Curt Schilling, Zach Thomas, and Pete Sampras. Other trainers have used AIS successfully with Olympic sprinters to marathon winners.
I recently saw a news story on top female sprinter Marion Jones and it showed a quick video of some of her training. There she was with her stretch rope, doing AIS to stretch her hamstrings.
I can't think of a better training tool for runners to reduce the risk of overuse injuries. Massage therapy obviously works great, but not everyone has the access or funds to get the work they need. Combine AIS with Joint Mobility training and movement efficiency will be greatly increased. Injuries will be also be reduced.
I have used it in clinical settings with athletes and those with hip and back problems. A colleague and myself used it successfully with indoor football players (AFL2), who saw a very low rate of injury and almost no serious injuries.
Another colleague used AIS to help the rugby team he worked with, stay injury free on their way to a national championship. It works!
I have worked with many runners with overuse injuries who had very tight, stiff muscles. Yet, most of them told me they stretched all the time. Well, obviously it didn't work. I myself used to stretch often with little results, until I was introduced to Active Isolated Stretching.
When I first started using AIS, I did the stretches daily for two weeks. My flexibility increased drastically. I was amazed! At the time, I was going to school four nights a week and not able to play softball.
One Saturday I was invited out to play in a tournament. The first time I hit the ball, I almost fell flat on my face running to first base. You see, I had all this new found flexibility, that had been gained while lying down. In order to use it in a standing position, I had to now work on Dynamic Flexibility.
This is where the Principle of Specificity comes into play. To be flexible in a standing position while moving, you need to train specifically for it. Dynamic Flexibility. This also transfers the motion gained in a isolated position to an integrated one, where many muscles are working together.
