Why Pandiculation Should Replace Static Stretching

August 14, 2023

Most of us have learned “static stretching” in school or sports, a process that involves holding and pulling a tight muscle in trying to the body so you can simultaneously contract several muscles, releasing large patterns of tightness all at once. Stretching only contracts or loosens one muscle at a time.

Pandiculation also allows us to try something better.

Our brain controls muscles and movement. Without the brain and central nervous system, muscles don’t move. Electrical signals from our brain and nervous system tell muscles how tor Amnesia.

When a muscle tightens, it sends information to relaxation.

Static stretching pulls a muscle with force. If you pull a muscle farther than feels comfortable, you may be in pain and not know what to engage your brain with the muscle.

Benefits of pandiculation:

• Active process that demands your engagement
• Provides sensory information to the brain
• Feels good to the body
• Provides relaxation to the muscles
• Requires attention to work effectively
• Encourages permanent change in muscle length
• Teaches us how to relax and lengthen muscles
• Returns control of muscle tor Cortex
• Increases awareness of muscles in use

Pitfalls of static stretching:

• Passive, not active
• Decreases potential output of muscles in use
• Provides no sensory information to the brain
• Can cause pain
• Discourages communication between brain and muscles
• Changes muscle length temporarily
• Encourages habitual muscle contraction
• Discourages learning

In short, pandiculation strengthens our brain to the stretched muscle, triggering a tightening in that muscle and inhibiting a tightness in the opposite muscle. In a static stretch, your brain is not involved in the process, counteracting your goals.