Many elite athletes now incorporate stretching into their weekly routines. A few months ago, world class downhill skier Sarah Schlepper of Bend was having trouble with her back. Her trainer recommended she try a new form of stretching – active isolated stretching – that allows muscles to stay relaxed throughout the stretch. Within a few visits to BodyWorks, a Bend-area stretching and massage clinic that specializes in that form of stretching, she was hooked. She said she could feel immediate relief.”After you do one side, the other side is like, ‘Oh, do me now,’” Schlepper says. ”It’s really good at isolating a specific muscle, so you’re not helping with other muscle groups.”Instead of stretching by tightening a muscle and then holding the stretch for 10 to 30 seconds, the technique involves holding the stretch for only two seconds then returning to a neutral position. With each repetition the muscle is stretched a little farther. The goal is to stretch the muscle without triggering a protective stretch reflex that will begin to contract the muscle. It’s the exact opposite of what Schlepper, a yoga devotee, had been doing.”In yoga, you hold a pose for a while,” she says. ”With this, you’re moving through the position. It tells your body it’s OK to go there.”BodyWorks is run by Patrick Kincart, a licensed massage therapist who first heard about the stretching technique at a seminar. He ordered the manuals as soon as he got home.”I tried it on myself and realized this is different,” he says. ”It really works.”Kincart helps guide his clients through the stretches, ensuring they maintain proper position to isolate the muscle groups in question. He applies slight pressure at the end of each movement to extend the stretch a little farther each time.The technique was developed by Aaron Mattes, a registered kinesiotherapist and former University of Illinois pitching coach. It works on the concept that as a muscle is stretched too long, it triggers a reflex that tells the muscle to contract. In traditional static stretching, the muscle is loaded with body weight and cannot stretch freely without triggering the reflex.For example, Mattes discourages stretching the calf muscle by leaning against a wall or post. In such a maneuver, the calf muscle is contracting to stabilize the knee and ankle joints, and is not relaxed. Instead he advocates sitting down, which takes the weight off the calf muscle. Keeping the knee straight, and lifting the foot and ankle backward can stretch the calf in a relaxed state. Using a rope or strap around the ball of the foot can help stretch the calf farther.Riley Cranston, who runs the outdoor recreation program for Pronghorn Golf Resort, has been going through the stretching program for almost eight months.”Within 20 minutes of going over there, getting the blood warmed up, the muscles warmed up, there’s just no pain,” Cranston says. ”There’s a visible improvement.”Cranston says the stretching has relieved the pain in his back and neck, and allowed him to get out on the golf course more often. He has recommended the stretching to Pronghorn guests who complain of soreness or pain. One of the Pronghorn regulars has made the stretching program a routine. ”Every time he comes into town before he goes fly fishing, he goes to see Patrick,” Cranston says.Bracko says the active isolated stretching method is one of the best ways to stretch because of the immediate feedback.”The muscle is allowing you to go a little bit further, a little bit further, and a little bit further,” he says. ”If you just hold your stretch, you really don’t see yourself improving your flexibility.”