When Stretching Makes It Worse: A Smarter Approach to Pain Relief in Evansville and Newburgh

Most of us have heard it before: “Just stretch it out.” Whether it’s a tight hamstring, sore back, or neck tension—stretching is often seen as a universal fix. And while it can be helpful in certain situations, it’s not always the best or safest solution—especially if the root of the problem isn’t muscular tension, but joint dysfunction, nerve irritation, or instability.

At Lobacz Chiropractic, serving Evansville and Newburgh, we often see patients who have tried aggressive stretching regimens (sometimes from popular stretching franchises or online tutorials), only to find that their pain actually worsened.

Let’s explore why.

The Rise of Assisted Stretching Franchises: Helpful or Harmful?

In recent years, assisted stretching studios and franchises have popped up across the country. These businesses often promote 30- to 60-minute one-on-one stretch sessions to improve flexibility, posture, and performance.

While they can increase mobility for certain healthy individuals, especially athletes, they’re not always appropriate for people suffering from:

• Chronic back or neck pain

• Joint instability

• Nerve compression (like sciatica)

• Disc injuries

• Muscle spasms or protective guarding

Without proper assessment by a trained provider (like a chiropractor), aggressive stretching could actually worsen the condition by pulling on unstable joints, overstretched tissues, or irritated nerves.

Stretching Isn’t a Fix-All: Here’s Why

1. It Doesn’t Correct Misalignments

If your pain is coming from a spinal misalignment—common in the neck, mid-back, or pelvis—no amount of stretching will put the joint back where it needs to be. It might even increase inflammation if the joint is already irritated.

Analogy:
Think of your spine like a door on a hinge. If the hinge is crooked, pulling the door harder won’t fix it—it just stresses the system. What you really need is an adjustment to the hinge itself.

2. It Can Aggravate Nerve Compression

Stretching a muscle that's tight because it’s protecting a nerve (like with sciatica or pinched nerves) can pull on the already-aggravated area. This can lead to more tingling, burning, or shooting pain—not relief.

3. Stretching Over Weakness = Bigger Problems

Sometimes a muscle is tight because it's compensating for a weak or unstable joint. Stretching it out might feel good temporarily, but can ultimately make the joint more vulnerable to injury.

When Is Stretching Helpful?

Stretching can be beneficial when used correctly—especially after a chiropractic adjustment or in conjunction with strengthening exercises. We often recommend gentle, specific stretches after the nervous system has been reset and joint alignment restored.

At Lobacz Chiropractic, we use stretching as part of a larger care plan when:

• Alignment is corrected

• Stability is restored

• Pain has decreased

• The nervous system is calm

What to Do Instead of Guesswork Stretching

Instead of relying on cookie-cutter stretching programs, come in for a targeted evaluation. At Lobacz Chiropractic, we’ll determine whether your tightness is coming from a joint issue, nerve signal, inflammation, or true muscle shortening—and guide you from there.

We may recommend:

• Chiropractic adjustments to improve spinal alignment

• Laser therapy to reduce inflammation

• Shockwave therapy to address deep tissue and chronic tension

• Corrective exercises that strengthen rather than overstretch

• Postural re-education to fix the cause, not just the symptom

Stretching Gone Wrong: A Real-World Example

One patient from Evansville came to us after months at a stretching studio for hip pain. Despite her flexibility improving, her pain got worse. We discovered a pelvic misalignment was causing nerve compression—not a tight muscle.

After a few adjustments and laser therapy sessions at our office, she felt better in days—without needing to stretch at all.

Live in Evansville or Newburgh? Let Us Help You Stretch Smarter

If you're dealing with pain and wondering whether stretching is helping or hurting, come see us at Lobacz Chiropractic.

We’ll take the guesswork out and guide you with real solutions tailored to your body.

📞 Call (812) 401-0994
🌐 Or book online at https://lobaczchiropractic.com