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Principles of AIS

 

 Identify- Identify the tissues to be stretched.

 Isolate- Isolate the tissue to be stretched by using precise movements.

 Innervation- Activate reciprocal innervation with active muscular contraction.

Inhibition- Activate reciprocal inhibition with active muscular contraction.

 Intensify- Intensify the stretch with muscular contraction and gentle assistance.

 

Breathing- The patient should exhale during the stretching phase of the movement and inhale during the returning phase of the motion   Use of proper breathing technique will help get the maximum potential out of a treatment.  Full breathes will help deliver more oxygen to the blood. 

This blood in turn will have access to the newly opened areas that have been deprived of oxygen due to fascial restrictions.

 

Stretch Reflex- The stretch reflex is the automatic mechanism in your muscles that protects your body against harmful stretches.  When the muscle is stretched too far, too quickly or too long, the stretch reflex causes the muscle to contract avoid being overstretched.  This is what truly sets AIS apart for every other stretching modality.  It is our belief that the stretch reflex will engage after 2 seconds of sustained stretch.  This contraction will engage the muscle in an eccentric contraction.  This places the muscle in a position of stretching as it contracts.

 

 

Reciprocal Inhibition- Reciprocal inhibition is a neurological action that occurs during muscular contraction.  When one muscle contracts; the opposite one receives a neurological signal to relax (to be inhibited) so that movement can occur.

 

Reciprocal Innervation- Reciprocal innervation is similar to reciprocal inhibition but affects the muscle that is moving the joint by sending it neurological signals to contract so that movement can occur.

 

Numerous Repetitions- This is a very important consideration.  Frequently tight tissue and/or genetics will dictate the need for many repetitions and sets of the same stretch for substantial change to be realized.