Use Activated Isolated Stretching (AIS) to Rid Yourself of Flank Pain for Good!

Active Isolated Stretching or AIS for short is a wonderful therapy you can use to rid yourself of flank pain. It can be self administered or you can find a practitioner in your area with whom you can work.

It is one of my favorite modalities. I have seen fantastic results with AIS personally and highly recommend that you try it out.

What is Active Isolated Stretching?

Active Isolated Stretching is a highly effective yet very simple movement technique that stretches and strengthens muscle tissue.

Just like the name implies, AIS isolates specific muscle groups for a stretch lasting no more than 2 seconds. This is very different from static stretching. Unlike static stretching, AIS works with the body's physiological systems (instead of against them) to safely and effectively elongate both muscle and myofascial tissue.

Benefits of Active Isolated Stretching

Active Isolated Stretching gradually and safely increases range of motion.

It also increases blood flow in the isolated muscles. The increased blood flow brings much needed oxygen and nourishment to the tissue and allows harmful waste products to be removed.

Consistent practice of AIS routinely results in the RESOLUTION OF MUSCULOSKELETAL PAIN from tight tissues, misalignment or injury.


Benefits Include:

•  Leads to relief of flank pain and other areas of pain in the body
•  Promotes healing of injured joints, muscles and connective tissue
• Increases flexibility
• Increases muscular strength
• Improves posture
• Increases proprioception (body awareness)
• Increases coordination
• Reactivates or reawakens dormant / atrophied / "switched off" muscles
• Trains muscles to fire in the correct pattern and sequence 
• Increases gracefulness of movement
• Breaks up scar tissue
• It warms you up and prepares you for a workout (as opposed to static stretching)

Since Active Isolated Stretching strengthens and stretches muscles it can actually be considered a fitness program unto itself. This will be a great plus for people who find it difficult to exercise consistently.

So in simple terms Active Isolated Stretching can make you more flexible and stronger at the same time. Loosening tight muscles and restoring the body to its' proper alignment will more times than not result in complete resolution of flank pain or other muscular pain.

AIS is great for kids, the elderly and everyone in between. It is also suitable for people of all levels of fitness ranging from the extremely fit all the way to the completely sedentary.

Most importantly to you, Activated Isolated Stretching can help to rid you of flank pain for good! 
 

How to Do Active Isolated Stretching

AIS works for a couple of reasons:

1. When one muscle is contracted, the antagonistic muscle (the opposite muscle) relaxes. For instance, when you straighten your arm, your triceps contract (shortens) and your bicep relaxes (lengthens). Only a relaxed muscle can stretch to its full length.

2. It avoids activating our built-in, protective contraction reaction which occurs any time we try to forcefully stretch a muscle. This is referred to as the myotactic stretch reflex. This is our body's way of protecting our muscles. If we ignore this and try to forcefully stretch the muscle for 3 seconds or longer, the myotactic stretch reflex will engage and we run the risk of straining or tearing a muscle.

However if your stretch is less than 3 seconds (as is the case with AIS) then the myotactic stretch reflex is avoided and the muscle can be stretched safely and painlessly.

AIS results in reduced pain, greater flexibility and ease of movement, and the healing of tissues.


How to do AIS: 

1. Isolate a specific muscle
2. Inhale
3. Exhale and engage the antagonistic muscle (the muscle opposite the isolated muscle) 
4. Gently move and assist the isolated muscle into a stretch
5. Hold for only 2 seconds
6. Release the stretch and return to the starting position
7. Repeat this process 8 - 10 times (or more for tighter muscles) trying to increase the stretch with every repetition

 

 Click Here for how to Video (LINK)

Check out this excellent full body AIS video series by Adarsh of smartstrech.com. You will learn how to do a full-body AIS routine. (LINK)

 Remember that flank pain can be caused by muscles not directly at the site of the pain, so be sure to do all of the exercises if possible.

Activated Isolated Stretching FAQ's

Does Active Isolated Stretching hurt?

Typically AIS is painless and is actually very pleasant. If feels more like a massage than a workout. 

Why Isolate the Muscles? 

Isolated stretching allows us to pinpoint the tight muscles that are contributing to our flank pain. We are only as strong as our weakest link and isolating muscles helps us to accurately locate and correct our weak links. 
 

Further Learning and Resources for Active Isolated Stretching

AIS How To Vids:

Full Body AIS series by Adarsh from SmartStretch.com

AIS videos by Dr. Joseph Mercola and Al Meo


Active Isolated Stretching Websites:

stretchingusa.com - This is Aaron Mattes site. He is the found of AIS.


smartstretch.com - A great website which has a wonderful full body AIS video series. Highly Recommended

Locating a Practitioner

Click here to find a certified AIS Practitioner in your area.

Books and DVDs

Active Isolated Stretching: The Mattes Method by Aaron Mattes

Active Isolated Strengthening: The Mattes Method by Aaron Mattes

Equipment

rope or belt
mat

Is Flank Pain Ruining Your Life?

"My Flank Pain is Ruining my life!!!!!!!!!"

This may sound like a  major exaggeration to some of you, but if you have ever had severe flank pain then you know that I am not exaggerating at all. Flank pain can be the most excruciating, agonizing pain in the whole world. It can literally ruin your life. I know, because I have been there.

And if you are suffering right now, I'm sure you are nodding in agreement.

I have heard John Sarno, M.D. describe flank pain as the most painful condition in all of medicine. Believe it or not, the pain can be worse than passing a kidney stone. It can be even worse than child birth!

When flank pain is at its worst, your whole life is put on hold. The pain takes over completely. Every area of your life is affected. Your job, your relationships, your sleep, your energy levels, your mental  and emotional health. Everything.

You can't work. You can't focus on your loved ones. Your energy is low. Your nerves are shot. You may not even be able to walk or move normally.

Severe flank pain keeps you from participating in the active hobbies you enjoy like dancing, running, gardening, hiking or playing with your kids.

Many people miss days at work or even have to quit their jobs because of persistent, recurring flank pain.


Flank Pain can be both acute and chronic and can lead to a vicious cycle of:

• Pain (intense muscle spasms and / or chronic pain) which leads to...
• Restricted movement and fear of movement which leads to...
• Atrophy of muscles, decreased range of motion and increased stiffness which leads to...
• More pain which leads to...
• The cycle continually repeating and getting worse and worse over time.

Some of the worst aspects of flank pain include:

• Intense muscular spasms
• Chronic pain
• Inability to walk, get out of bed or function normally due to the pain
• Inability to perform activities that you once loved
• Lack of sleep due to chronic pain.
• Mild to severe depression (due to chronic pain and the inability to do things that you once loved such as participating in active hobbies or playing with your children)

Flank Pain can be SCARY

You may not fall into the unfortunate category of people who suffer from severe, crushing, spasmodic, put-your-life-on-hold, because you can't think of anything except the horrible pain type of flank pain, but it can still be really annoying and even a bit scary.

You may start to wonder if you have a serious condition or disease which is causing your flank pain.

You might also be fearful that the pain will continue to get worse or won't go away.

The stress caused by wondering about whether or not you have serious condition or if the pain will worsen can jeopardize your health and reduce the quality of your life.

So What is Flank Pain and What Causes It?

Flank pain is simply pain that occurs in the area between the bottom of the rib and the top of the pelvis.

There can be many causes of flank pain. Some of them can be quite serious.

Some of the serious causes include:

• kidney stones and other kidney problems such as pyelonephritis and polycsystic kidney disease
• other organ infections or diseases
• spinal fractures
• arthritis
• shingles
• and more

Signs such as fever, chills, nausea and vomiting often (but not always) accompany some of these serious conditions.

But here is some good news: the VAST majority of cases of flank pain are caused by MUSCLES!

Yep, muscle pain is typically the cause of flank pain (and other back, hip, neck and shoulder pain as well). This is true for even the severe, excruciating, spasmodic flank pain which might be plaguing you. This is even true if you have never experienced a traumatic injury.

Now you should rule out the more serious conditions first by checking with your health care practitioner, but if you don't have a serious condition, then there is a really good chance that the flank pain is caused by muscles.

Once the uncommon, serious things are ruled out, you can work on fixing the true cause - The Muscles.

RELIEVE FLANK PAIN FOR GOOD AND GET YOU LIFE BACK!

 

Do you see the gigantic silver lining to this flank pain situation? If your flank pain is muscular in nature (and most flank pain is), then you can fix it.  The odds are overwhelmingly in your favor that you can stop the pain and totally heal yourself!


Knowledge is key to healing your flank pain. 

That's why I created this site. People all over the world have healed their flank pain naturally. You can too if you use the resources I have provided for you.

People old and young have resolved their pain. Age is not an excuse. Even people with structural problems such as herniated discs and arthritis have completely resolved their pain. These are not excuses either. Herniated discs and arthritis are typically just symptoms of the true cause of the pain. Muscular imbalances. If the cause is muscular, then you really have no excuse to live in pain any longer.

Millions and millions of people suffer needlessly from flank pain. You don't have to be one of those people.This site is all about helping you solve the number one cause of flank pain in a safe and effective way WITHOUT the use of dangerous drugs or surgery.

LET PAIN BE YOUR TEACHER

Flank pain is telling you something.  After all pain isn't normal, is it? Pain is an indication that something is wrong. It is your body's mechanism for telling you that it is time to change things up.

So LISTEN UP!

It is time to do something different.

Here's What to Do: Check Out These Therapies and Techniques and Start Using Them

In my extensive research I have come across several therapies and techniques that are sure to get you out of misery so that you can start living your life again. These therapies and techniques have helped thousands upon thousands of people achieve a pain free life.

You must educate yourself so that you can become pain free. Then you must act on what you learn.

I've included several different therapies and techniques, because I realize that people are different. All these therapies and techniques are great, but some might work better for you than others. Your job will be to find the best therapy or technique (or combination) that works for you.

I created this site to act as a resource for you so that you can gain knowledge and resolve your flank pain for good.

You don't have to spend hours and hours of time and mountains of money on ineffective therapies and potentially harmful and even life threatening procedures and treatments. I have compiled what I believe are the absolute best therapies and techniques right here for you so you can look at all of them in one place and decide what is best for you.

I also created the site to motivate and encourage you. I know from firsthand experience that things can seem hopeless when you are in terrible pain. There is hope though. If someone else can heal their pain, so can you.

And in the near future, I am going to share with you the specific combination of therapies and techniques that worked best for me personally in my own journey to heal my pain and get my life back.

 IT'S TIME TO BREAK THE VICIOUS CYCLE!

Now is the time to time to take your life back! Make the decision to live life fully without flank pain!  It is time to conquer flank pain for good! You can get back to doing the things you love! You can feel your depression lift as the pain melts away! You can work pain free! You can once again start focusing on the things in life that are important to you as you heal your pain!

Explore this site and heal your pain.

Again remember to check with your healthcare practitioner to rule out any serious conditions and also make sure that you are cleared to participate in these therapies and techniques. Now go ahead and  heal your pain!