So, is O ver S tretching bad?

The mere fact that so many people ask me this question seems to indicate that they know that it is... But why is it bad? And what can we do to still achieve amazing mobility without unnecessary risk of damage?

Just to clarify - I have no issues with extreme mobility when achieved safely, and combined with the appropriate control. In fact, much of the work I do with the high level, truly elite children is focused exactly on this. Our 3 day teacher training course focuses on how to train each type of body and work with specific restrictions to develop optimal mobility and control in all dancers. However we focus on achieving this through educated and intelligent, up to date, smart ways, to avoid any potential issues, and the students are educated to manage their own bodies.

The level of performance in all styles of dance has accelerated massively in the last few years, and as such the training techniques to support this have changed dramatically. Unfortunately this means that we have limited knowledge as to the long term effects of these techniques and many people are quite rightly concerned at what is going on under the surface. While other disciplines such as Rythmic Gymnastics and Contortion have been over stretching and training in extreme ranges for years, there is still little formal research on the long term effects of this kind of training on the individuals involved.

While it is true that there are some bodies that survive training like this, there is a huge attrition rate along the way, and many people advocating extreme training have no idea of the long term trouble they may be causing.

Every day in my role as a Physiotherapist I see people suffering from old injuries sustained by over stretching, repeated extensions and excessively mobile and unstable joints from early training. Unfortunately the slow and hard rehab that so many people have to go through to just be able to live a normal, pain free life is not so dramatically entertaining so doesn't get the coverage that dramatic photos and videos of performances involving extreme flexibility do.

So what is "Over Stretching"?

The general view is that over stretching is taking any joint past its natural physiological range, and especially stretching the ligaments that normally help support the joint, so that it becomes more mobile. Over stretching may also be where the individual is forced into position resulting in traumatic damage to the tissues that previously restricted range.

Many young students, especially those who already have hypermobility, are being put in ranges that overload one particular area, in their desire to achieve dramatic ranges of flexibility. I feel so sad that so many people are thinking that this is a good idea, and great entertainment, when they have no idea what the true cost is.