Stretching straps extend your reach and provide assistance. Unassisted stretching relies on your own strength and flexibility. Both have value in building range of motion. Find your optimal approach: Start your 14-day free trial Stretching Straps Fabric or nylon straps used to extend reach and assist in stretching positions. Allow access to stretches when hands cannot reach feet or when additional leverage helps. How It Works Straps bridge the gap between what you can reach and what you want to stretch. They provide leverage for deeper stretches and allow relaxation in positions you could not hold otherwise. The external assistance reduces the strength required to maintain positions. Best For Reaching feet or legs you cannot otherwise grasp Passive stretching with external support Deeper stretches than strength allows Relaxed holds in challenging positions Rehabilitation and gentle flexibility work When to Avoid If straps prevent building active strength When active flexibility is the goal If becoming dependent on assistance Example Exercises JME 119 *Wall Required: Place both hands on a wall in front of you and slightly extend your hips forward. JME 173 Find a slightly elevated surface to rest your foot on. Then, once you have stability, bend at your hips and rotate your upper body toward the ground. Find a gentle stretch in your hamstring and return to the starting position. Unassisted Stretching Stretching using only your body, without external tools. Builds both flexibility and the strength to use that flexibility. How It Works Unassisted stretching requires your muscles to move you into and hold positions. This builds active flexibility: range of motion you control. The strength component makes the flexibility usable in real movement. Best For Building active, usable flexibility Developing strength in stretched positions No equipment needed Testing genuine capability Functional movement preparation When to Avoid When range limitations prevent practice If passive stretching is appropriate When gentle, supported work is needed Example Exercises JME 44 Starting with your hand at the side, bring your arm up, over your head, then back down to the side. JME 113 Place one knee on your chair and move that knee both forward and back to feel a stretch in the front of your leg. The Verdict Straps help access positions and provide passive stretching support. Unassisted work builds the strength to use your flexibility actively. Use straps to access ranges you cannot reach and for passive, relaxed stretching. Work unassisted to build active control and functional flexibility. The goal is eventual independence: straps as tools, not crutches. Building Your Practice The best approach often combines multiple methods based on your goals. Understanding what each contributes helps you build a complete practice. For targeted mobility programming that fits into any routine, simplmobility provides joint-specific exercises in 2-3 minute sessions that complement any approach. Start Your Free Trial