Customer Reviews

The Whartons' Stretch Book

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

While I agree with the authors' approach to stretching and flexibility, this book is really aimed at advanced athletes who already have a good degree of flexibility.

My three distinct criticism are as follows: first, the authors state that most of the workouts can be performed in 20 minutes after a short learning curve of about three weeks. In reality, the program I use - body building, consists of 49 to 50 exercises, takes about 34 minutes [50 exercises x 2 sides x 2 seconds contraction/stretch x 10 reps = 2000 seconds or 33.3 minutes] and that would be non-stop with no allowance for set-up into the next set. The ACTUAL time from start to finish is almost 1 hour - hardly convenient.

Second, the book never mentions the resting period between exercises.

Third, the drawings are generally poor representation of the progression of each exercise AND the clock face is often not in agreement with the persepective of the body position.

A final criticism has to do with the initial self-test. My home, and I imagine most others, are not set up with the type of floor level mirrors to evaluate the clock position. Also, even a floor mirror such as on a closet door require the athlete to pull out of position or lock into a difficult position in order to view the relative clock position (degree of flex). This defeats the exercise completely. Case in point, trying to view the seated torso rotations. The position calls for the chin to be tucked into the chest during the flexion sets. You cannot do this and look up into a mirror at the same time - severly limiting the accuracy of the test.

To summarize, a valuable concept, poorly presented. I would suggest at a minimum black & white model photos - not line drawings. A rewrite of most of the text - especially as related to the time requirement for each exercise/sports routine. Added material covering steps to improve flexibility prior to using the advanced routines in this book. I found the stretching to be a full blown and moderately difficult workout.

About two months ago I started to research new stretching methods. I had injured myself numerous times on several occasions during the previous 5 months, and I recognized that I desperately needed to change how I worked out in general. Up until that point, I had done weight training and running off and on for about 6 years. I decided to pay attention to a previously neglected part of my training, that of stretching.

I ended up running across the method of active isolated stretching, and eventually settled on this book in order to learn how the method worked. Let me say that first and foremost IT WORKS. You don't hurt yourself, you can actually watch your body make flexibility gains while you stretch, something that I NEVER experienced to the same degree in all my previous years of stretching. The addition of the rope is essential: not only does it make the stretches possible, it also supports the leg and makes sane, reasonable stretching a possibility.

When I finished my first day of stretching, I felt like someone had handed me a new pair of legs. All my previous methods left me legs feeling like they were ripped apart (my muscles probably were), whereas I now felt fresh and ready to spring into action. It really has given me a new body, and alot of energy. I prefer it to yoga, and I do the trunk stretches every day.

Having applauded their work, there were a few cons. Figuring out the stretches was somewhat difficult: it was like trying to figure out how to work your new VCR. After alot of picking your brain, eventually you understand all the subtleties within each stretch. Furthermore, it is ESSENTIAL to memorize all of the different muscle groups in the body. Only when you know where your muscles are will you be able to stretch properly. Once you know where they are, and how they elongate and contract, most of the stretches presented are intuitive. Although that takes time, it is worth it. In reality, I never should have expected in my previous years to do weight training and stretching without knowing where all of my muscles are, their uses, and how to train and stretch them. But I tried anyway, because I didn't want to spend the time on learning how the body worked, I just wanted to follow someone's program and get results without understanding what it was based upon: the human body.

Once you understand your own body, this book falls into place and makes remarkable sense. Also, the routines do take alot longer than they allege. The trunk routine takes me on average 15 to 20 mins with only 5 reps each stretch, the shoulder and arm routines together take about 20 mins if you do them all with 5 reps a stretch. I've modified it to fit my own routine and I get my shoulders and arms stretched out great in about 15 mins. Alot of the other stretches I do whenever I have some kinks I need to work out.

Basically, I thoroughly recommend this book to anyone. It will take some time to figure out, but in doing so you gain invaluable knowledge on the biomechanics of the body. The stretching method is second to none in safety and efficiency. The only thing I would add would be a more in depth explanation of many of the exercises and better illustrations. Still, I owe a big debt to the Whartons for making my life a whole lot easier and enjoyable. Thankyou.

Skip this book and choose "Specific Stretching for Everyone" or "Active Isolated Stretching--The Mattes Method" by Aaron Mattes, the guy who first developed these techniques. His site at http://www.stretchingusa.com has more info on these stretches.

The exercises and the narrative descriptions in the Wharton book are copied almost verbatim from Mattes' original book--nothing new or helpful is added other than some self-promoting anecdotes about athletic successes--and Mattes' original book has clear and helpful photographs, unlike the amateurish and confusing line drawings in the Wharton book. Mattes' book also includes detailed stretching routines for upper/lower body, neck/shoulders.

I gave this book 5 stars, not because it is faultless, but because the exercises are so effective. There is a learning curve involved here, and I think that puts some people off. And I'll agree that some of the exercise descriptions are a little tough to decipher. But I was in pain, and now I'm not.

My opinion: skip their initial evaluation step where you write down your movement ranges, etc. I think that is an awkward, tedious, and unnecessary time investment. Get into the exercises and hang with them.

I am a nurse massage therapist. I use this book for my clients that are in chronic pain. It works for most all of them, rather they are athletic, or not. I have had clients that started back playing golf, after a chronic back problem, with these 2 sec. stretches. I think it is a wonderful book and recommend it to almost all my patients.

This book saved my life! Well, not really, but it has saved me a bunch of money on physical therapist visits. I tried this book out because a running acquaintance had introduced me to the concept a few years ago. She had found it to be helpful for her and for the athletes she coached. I am a competitive distance runner and typically lose time each year due to a training related injury. I finally decided to give it a try and I am glad I did.

By using the stretches in this book, I've gained a tremendous improvement in flexibility and running comfort. I have since turned into an obnoxious proselytizer for this stretching technique-just ask any of my running friends.

There are a couple of things about the book that should be noted. First of all, the authors imply the entire set of stretches can be done in a few minutes. This is hard to believe. I just focus on my trunk & legs and it still takes me a full 20-minutes. Expect to spend 45-minutes or more if you plan to do all the stretches in the book. It will take you longer when you first start, but you will get more efficient as you practice.

Also, as some other readers have noted, a few of the pictures (drawings) are a bit hard to follow. You might also check out: Active Isolated Stretching: The Mattes Method, by Aaron L. Mattes. It is focused more on the professional trainer or physical therapist so it's not so fun to read, but the illustrations are better.

As an added bonus, you may look ridiculous while doing these stretches. Be sure to do them where your children and their friends can see you.

All in all, this book is a worthwhile read if you want to improve your flexibility for sports or simply for active living.

The concept illustrated in this book is fascinating, and makes a lot of sense. Unfortunately when the book gets to the implementation part, it becomes very confusing. The stretches are poorly illustrated. In addition, one of the key concepts of the book is the notion to contract the muscle opposed to the one you are planning to stretch. It's not clear however how you should contract the muscle you need to contract. This poor description was blatantly evident when the book is compared to "Stretching" by Bob Anderson. In there there are a few stretches that require the contraction of the opposing muscle, and the routine is explained clearly and in detail. My suggestion is to buy the book, and if you buy into the concept, look for a qualified instructor to help you.

In summer of '97, I was fortunate enough to take the stretch class with the Whartons at a dance convention in Chicago. After the hour-long class I was amazed at how light and comfortable I felt. I own a dance studio where I work with children and adults. We've had great results with the Whartons' active-isolated stretching technique. Great improvements in flexibility are noticed immediately, and continue to improve. This book is well organized and the technique is explained in an easy to follow text. I highly recommend this book to any person involved with dance, aerobics, sports or anyone who wants to maintain or improve flexibility.

I saw Jim Wharton at a clinic for the Avon 3-Day Breast Cancer walk in NYC. I was very tight and stiff with reoccuring pain in my ankles and knees. I already did a good stretch routine in addition to morning Yoga, but I couldn't build flexibility. After just a few weeks of using this stretch program the stiffness and pain started going away. I could also get more out of my workouts and my flexibility was up. The book is pretty easy to use. You look up the activity you do and the book matches it with the right stretches. The stretching routines are long, but there are a lot of muscles to be dealt with. The diagrams are a little confusing but can be figured out. The written discriptions are easy to work with. I think this is a great book to use as an alternative stretch program.

Although I agree with many of the reviewers that the program takes much longer (45 mins to 1.5 hours for me, but after a few times you can do it in front of the tv) than the authors claim, it works so well, and the other stretching methods I've come across work so poorly, that I must give this book 5 stars.

You can really feel the difference using this technique. With traditional stretching, I might feel a little bit more flexible for a couple of hours, but with AIS I feel significantly looser even the next day.

Caveats: It's not the best-written book and the idea that the stretching programs are customized for your sport is kind of silly, since the "customized programs" are mostly "all of the stretches," "all of the core and lower-body stretches," or "all of the core and upper-body stretches." Some of the ideas aren't fully explained.