Veteran Russell Davis, formerly of the NY Giants Super Bowl team, has been working with Ann since early in his career.
Stretching Science
When Ann Frederick was a student in the Dance and Exercise Science departments at Arizona State University, she committed herself to an exhaustive study of all the research that had been done on human flexibility and stretching. To her surprise and dismay, there was only a small and greatly deficient body of scientific literature available on these subjects.
Since Ann was already successful at achieving her clients' goals through stretching while still in school, she was determined to scientifically research and compare the effects of her unique brand of stretching to traditional methods.
Most literature at that time indicated that stretching using PNF (proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation) technique had better outcomes and had been an established scientific method of gaining range of motion and strength since the 1940's. So Ann studied and used the fundamentals of PNF Contract-Relax (C-R) and Contract-Relax-Agonist Contract (CRAC) in her work. She developed a proprietary belt system for stabilization to augment the PNF and independently came up with a logical system of principles that guided the success of the stretch sessions. Primary among these principles was that 'optimal flexibility gains are made without pain'.
Using videographic measurement and analysis under the supervision of her mentors, she determined that her subjects gained 'cold' range of motion (ROM), i.e. no warm up before measurements were taken, of 36%-52% after only 3 test stretches. Ann understood this to mean that structural change in the tissue had to occur to allow increased ROM of this magnitude. Furthermore, a literature review up to the time of Ann's study in 1997 indicated that her results were far and above what other studies' outcomes had indicated.
Over ten years later, Stretch to Win is now collaborating with Brent Alvar, PhD. Dr. Alvar is assistant research professor in the Exercise and Wellness Department of Arizona State University (Polytechnic Campus). He is also faculty at Chandler Gilbert Community College where he teaches a variety of courses in the areas of Health, Wellness, and Physical Education. Dr. Alvar supervises the Williams Fitness Center at the college and is Sport Performance Director for CGCC student athletes. Together with Dr. Alvar, the Fredericks will be conducting research to advance the study of stretching and flexibility training in sports as it relates to athletic performance.
In 2007, Ann and Chris Frederick attended the First International Congress on Fascia Research at Harvard Medical School. The conference was sold out to about 8oo attendees eager to hear the latest, cutting edge news on the research and clinical science of human connective tissue popularly called fascia. The most pervasive tissue in the human body is connective tissue and structurally as well as functionally holds the most influence on how humans are able to move in the most wondrous of ways when healthy. Attending this conference with physicians, therapists and bodyworkers confirmed what we have believed and practiced since 1996. That is, a large part of keeping your body healthy and vital is by achieving and maintaining structural balance, alignment and flexibility in your fascia and just a few wonderful therapies work with this goal in mind. The additional concept of expanding and maintaining the space between your joints that is lost throughout life and prematurely lost in most athletes is uniquely addressed through the wonderful work of Fascial Stretch Therapy™ offered at the Stretch to Win Center and by certified therapists found on our Therapist Locator. Ann and Chris Frederick are dedicated to being active participants in the pioneering field of Fascial Research and are constantly looking for ways to implement safe and effective therapies to the services offered at the Stretch to Win Center and to the courses they teach at the Stretch to Win Institute.
