It’s something a lot of people skip in their daily routine, even though it’s one of the easiest and most important ways to keep your body in tip top shape – stretching. Whether you’re an athlete or just someone trying to keep up with the grandkids, stretching can make all the difference.
“We know that really focusing on flexibility doesn’t just make you looser. It really does improve function across the spectrum – all the way from sports to just doing housework or even getting out of a chair,” Scott Carley, one of our physical therapists, shares.
Pandemic stress has made self-care more important than ever to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, both physically and mentally. Also, an increase in work-from-home aches and pains have led to a recent rise in one-on-one stretching studios. As a result, our ministry proudly launched its own new stretch program – Bon Secours STRETCH.
The program is based out of the Bon Secours St. Francis Therapy Center inside SportsClub Greenville and is run by physical therapists who are practicing as stretching professionals. This way, visitors can get the expertise without the high price.
“It’s more affordable than formal physical therapy, and it allows us to address the needs of our community without requiring a doctor’s order,” Scott says. “So, if you just need help stretching to avoid injury or improve performance, it’s easy access. But we also have years of medical training, so we know how to do things safely and what red flags to watch for. We can also recommend more elevated care if that’s what someone needs.”
Connie Blackstone (pictured above) was having pain down her back and leg from sitting at her desk for long periods of time. When she heard about our new program, she couldn’t wait to try it out. She became a Bon Secours STRETCH patient at the end of April.
“I wanted to get a physical therapy evaluation but did not have time to go for multiple sessions. In just one session, this stretching program allowed me to address my symptoms and flexibility, as well as receive some stretches that I can do on my own to help with any pain,” Connie shares.
Just like with Connie, stretch experts can target acute pain and realign the muscular system to make clients feel lighter, stronger and looser in just 30 minutes. They can also educate you on your problem areas, so you know what to do at home to support the body’s natural ability to repair and balance itself.
“Using my input on how much time I have in a day to exercise, Scott tailored a program just for me,” Connie says. “He gave me a home exercise program on three effective stretches that I could do several times a day at home and work. In fact, the standing piriformis stretch is one I often practice while doing my computer work. I would definitely recommend the program to others, and I like knowing I can schedule another appointment if needed at any time.”
Even if a long period of time passes before Connie schedules another visit, she won’t be starting over.
“We’ll have a record of what we did last time and we can keep the momentum going from there,” Scott confirms.
Also, the beauty of this program is it’s completely customizable. Stretching is something anyone can do regardless of age or activity level.
“If you want, we can customize it to fit whatever sport or activity you’re involved in – even if that’s just moving around the house or getting down in the backyard to do gardening,” Scott says. “We start with figuring out your baseline of motion and go from there, targeting areas identified as areas of issue.”
The Bon Secours STRETCH program, which includes passive stretching as well as active, assisted stretching, is open to anyone who’s interested in giving it a try.
The stretching program costs $50 per 30-minute session or $150 for four sessions. For more details, give us a call at 864-527-7044.
Learn more about the physical therapy and rehabilitation services we offer at Bon Secours.
