We've got gear stretch out

Women's Basketball, May/Jun 2003 by Elfman, Lois

A key thing for any athlete, basketball players in particular, is stretching before playing and practice. Several products sold by OPTP, The Conservative Care Specialists, are affordable and convenient.

At 29 inches in length and 4 inches in diameter, the Mobil-izer Roll can easily be packed in a gym bag or carry-on suitcase. It can be used with or without exercise bands to create a number of stretching exercises.

"One of the things you can do is mobilize the back," notes Caroline Creager, a physical therapist (and owner of Executive Physical Therapy) who serves as a consultant to OPTP. "So much of the passing, dribbling and other things in basketball are done in front of the body. The back tends to round at the shoulders, and the pec muscles can get tight. If you lay on top of the Mobil-izer Roll and put your hands behind your head, as if you were going to do sit-ups, then you gently move your upper body up and down. It mobilizes the spine."

Mobilize means to move the segments of the spine.

"It gives them increased range of motion," Creager notes. "You also have to use your abdominal muscles to perform it, so you're also strengthening the ab muscles while performing this and other exercises."

Another popular exercise with the Mobil-izer Roll is to get into a sitting position leaning against a wall and roll up and down. This is beneficial for the legs.

An advanced exercise for balance is when an athlete can stand on the Mobil-izer Roll and try to maintain balance.

"Standing on the Mobil-izer Roll is absolutely phenomenal," says Creager. "I encourage women to do this before they do their practice and then as soon as they end the practice."

OPTP also produces other foam rollers of varying sizes. Some of the same exercises apply as well as additional ones. Creager has written an exercise manual, Therapeutic Exercises Using Foam Rollers, that is for sale.

"It's a good, generalized workout that would benefit any type of athlete," she says.

Some exercises would include lying on the roller, which in this case is parallel to the spine.

Another product of OPTP that provides a great stretch is its Stretch Out Strap. It can be purchased alone or with a 17-minute video demonstrating how to best utilize the strap. There is also a poster illustrating 20 stretches for major muscle groups.

"it really helps stretch areas that are difficult to get to," Creager says. "For example, some women, particularly basketball players, are less flexible in the front of their thigh and their quadriceps muscle. They could take a loop and pull it up."

As women are always trying to keep their knees as healthy as possible, the Stretch Out Strap is also great for various knee-related exercises.

To learn more about these products call 1-800-367-7393 or log onto www.optp.com.