Soft Tissue Release or STR is a relatively new technique and has become more and more popular within the Sport massage profession. It is also a wonderful way to help those perhaps less active to stretch muscles and fibres in a more efficient and effective way.

 

Normal stretching exercises will stretch the muscle as a whole but will not be able to focus on particular areas of tension within the same muscle belly.

 

STR is specific, and can localise and stretch particular areas of the muscle with immediate results.. It works by applying a "lock" to the tight area and where the fibres have become adhered, and tissues are then stretched away from that point.

 

The beauty of this technique is that it does not affect surrounding areas, or those areas away from the stretched side, and therefore allows the practitioner to work extremely closely in a safe manner to release muscle tension close to an area of acute damage.