Qualified PT and Nutrition Coach for OriGym Centre of Excellence, a UK leading fitness training provider.
So what is passive stretching?
Passive stretching is a kind of static stretching during which you stay in one position and relax your muscles whilst an external force is applied to a limb.
Whether that force is your own bodyweight, gravity, a stretch machine, or the force of a partner assisting you with the stretch, the key point is that passive stretches rely on some kind of outside force.
If you’re looking to get started with passive stretching at home, there are plenty of stretches that can be performed with your own bodyweight or by relying on the pressure of the floor or a wall. Some great examples of passive stretches that can be performed purely with your own body weight include the Tricep & Lat stretch and the Standing Quad Stretch.
However, if you’re an athlete wanting to see specific benefits of passive stretching, there’s no better partner or ‘external force’ than a qualified sports massage therapist.
Related: benefits of using a foam roller
What are the benefits of passive stretching?
Some of the key benefits of passive stretching include improvements in flexibility, mobility, balance, endurance, and range of motion.
Regularly performing passive stretches after a workout is known to improve your athletic performance, and thanks to its benefits for preventing muscle weakness, it can also lower your risk of suffering from an exercise-related injury.
Passive stretches are a great post-workout option as they don’t require a lot of effort. Compared to dynamic stretching or going on a gentle jog, performing passive stretches after an intense workout allows you to relax your muscles, slow down your breathing, and speed up your recovery.
One thing to know if you want to do passive stretches prior to starting your workout session, is that you should always warm up first. Something as simple as jogging on the spot is all you need to do to loosen up your muscles enough to ensure that you can stretch in a way that is both safe and effective.
