Is passive stretching an effective way to improve flexibility and range of motion?

Is passive stretching an effective way to improve flexibility and range of motion?

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Passive stretching is another way to increase range of motion and strengthening. Again, it has to be done intelligently and with someone who knows your limits. Flexibility and stretching is really a spectrum. We've all been to the yoga class where we've seen people that look like a human pretzel, that can do anything. And me, I stretch and I feel like a box of Rice Krisipies. I am about as flexible as dry spaghetti. But there's a range within a persons normal. The most common stretch we see that works passively is called a PNF stretch, Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation. That stretch works very well in trained hands, where a person pushes against a resistance and then can be stretched back. It is particularly good for hamstring stretching. That's why Pilates seems to work very well in increasing flexibility.