Customer Reviews

Stretching for Functional Flexibility

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I love running, cross country skiing, hiking, whitewater canoeing and just about anything athletic and outside. But I don't like stretching. So for me to give a stretching book 5 stars really means something. The book deserves rave reviews because of three major accomplishments:

One - it takes a complex subject and explains it both simply (for guys like me) and with great detail (perfect for more advanced students and professionals).

Two - the book is organized in a way that makes finding the stretch you're looking for easy, and it is organized in a way that teaches you at the same time. I often find myself exploring and discovering new things even when I look up just one thing.

Three - the book is satisfying to the eyes and the mind. You could spend hours just looking at the fascinating pictures of the human body (think of the "Body Exhibit"). Or you could read the book through like a novel because of it's multiple layers of form and function.

If you're at all interested in better performance, specific sport stretching, improving your posture or owning a book that will entertain and enlighten you hour after hour, I can't recommend this book enough.

Like many people who have participated in a variety of sports, over several decades of time, I have been exposed to countless opinions, theories, philosophies and anecdotes regarding both the benefits and the costs of stretching warm muscles and cold muscles. Turn over a rock and you find another expert or guru. I couldn't account for how much harm there is in all this variety, but I, for one, am very much relieved to have found Mr Armiger's exhaustive work on the subject of "Stretching... ". In my estimation, this is the most thorough and, hence, objective treatment of this subject; plus, the book is organized by muscle, by muscle group, by sport, etc. If my hip flexors are tender after a day of cross country skiing, this book is where I turn for answers and solutions. Definitely on the front row of my book shelf.

I find this book to be a reference that I use almost daily. When sharing it with clients, they are able to easily identify involved muscles and the appropriate stretch to help their issue. The basic stretches and programs are an excellent way to get the non professional to understand the body. This book should be on everyones shelf!
Jeanne W. Massage Therapist

I've had this book for a while and find it great in a number of ways. I'm not a professional trainer or physical therapist, so I found the intro to stretching and the guide to effective and safe stretching very helpful.

Both the text and drawings for stretching of individual muscles are amazing. They allowed me to focus on those areas where I have particular issues and allow to fine tune my stretching routine.

I also really liked both the suggested stretching routines and the specific stretches for sports.

This book is not at all what I expected. I was hoping for a user-friendly book, but this book seems to be made for professionals who know all the technical biological terms for body parts. I'm thinking this would be a good book for a massage therapist or a personal trainer. But if you are a regular person looking for an instructional book of stretches, I would not recommend this book.

Detailed descriptions, good pictures and great info on stretching techniques.

Love the sections in the back of the book that give recommended stretches for various sports.

Good investment in staying healthy while training.

This book is invaluable if you want:
1) a practical guide for general or specific flexibility exercises,
2) an understanding of muscle physiology,
3) beautifully clear illustrations of anatomy,
4) a go-to guide for sports specific improved range of motion.

The authors and reviewers have made an excellent reference book for students, clinicians and athletes.

Love the pictures and descriptions. There are a few editorial mistakes--such as referring to the left arm in an image when the right arm is shown.