Episode 23: Dr. Nikos Apostolopoulos | Recovery and microStretching®
1 hour 24 minutes
Dr. Nikos Apostolopoulos is the Founder and Developer of microStretching® and Stretch Therapy™. microStretching® is a recovery- regeneration technique rooted in functional-clinical anatomy. It is the applied outcome of Nikos’ Ph.D. research. Since its inception, microStretching® has been used to treat many professional, elite, and amateur athletes, including those who compete at the Olympic level and the NHL, the NBA. The premise behind microStretching® is to dampen the sympathetic nervous system (the one that triggers a fight or flight response) so a relaxation response is created (i.e., the parasympathetic nervous system is engaged) through a stretching technique that is fully supported and causes no pain. When the body is placed in a supported, pain-free position, the parasympathetic nervous system is engaged, relaxing the body, thereby enhancing its recovery and regeneration. The process is helpful for everyone, from those in their senior years right through to elite athletes.
Nikos came upon the microStretching® concept as he was recovering from a training accident in 1989. At that time, he was in pursuit of a position on the 1992 Canadian Olympic Track Cycling Team, but he was hit by a car, and the accident resulted in severe injuries. A few years later, Nikos required surgery to fuse his spine at C5 and C6. The development of microStretching® came out of his attempts to alleviate the pain he was experiencing - he hung his head over the side of his bed with support, and he started to get relief in his neck. That discovery sparked his curiosity. He engaged in research, and microStretching® is the result of his learning.
In addition to the concept of microStretching®, we cover a wide range of topics around recovery, inflammation of the body, sleep, the difference between stretching, yoga, and recovery. We talk about the microStretching® course and why you should not stretch after activity (but what you should do instead). Please enjoy our conversation with Dr. Nikos Apostolopoulos.
For more information about Dr. Nikos Apostolopoulos, microStretching® and Stretch Therapy™, visit his website or email him directly at microstretching@gmail.com.
For an overview of microStretching® examples and to try it, check out this article.
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