If you haven’t stretched in a while, then listen up: You’re a little behind on doing your best to prevent balance issues, tight muscles, back pain, soreness and more in your future. “Stretching will positively affect the joints, ligaments, and muscles around the hip,” Gavin Hamer, a physical therapist and the national director of clinical education at Fyzical Therapy & Balance Centers, previously told HuffPost. “Flexible muscles are less likely to become strained, and mobile joints are kept healthy by improving circulation and lubrication.”
In other words? You’re probably stiff because you don’t stretch enough and it’ll have even worse consequences later if not already. (Hey, as a remote worker who spends his shift in a sedentary state — I’m definitely already there.) Luckily, we found a $16 tool that’ll help you get on your stretching game: The aptly named and highly rated Stretch Out strap.
This no-frills nylon strap may look pretty simple, but don’t let that deceive you; it’s a strong contender for being your holy grail for your wellness routine.
The unassuming strap is called the Stretch Out and it’s designed with loops to help you get a tighter stretch, increase limb extension and get those joints moving again. So many reviewers say it’s helped them with everything from back pain and tight quads to opening up those hip flexors and relieving tense shoulders.
And while this isn’t a cure-all miracle product — and certainly not a replacement for physical therapy — many say they have used it at the advice of their physical therapists to be diligent about at-home stretching. Furthermore, some have noted that with regular use, it’s “literally a lifesaver” for whatever ails you. Per the reviews, it’s even been helpful to numerous users for post-surgery recovery!
Alright, if you’re wondering how it works, it’s so simple.
The strap is 6 feet long and has 10 loops built into it, so you can slide your hands, arms, feet and legs through a loop as needed and pull away. Using those loops and a bit of tension, you gently tug and press against strap to find some relief and help stretch those areas you need assistance with.
Unlike those plastic stretchy resistance bands, this one is made of a tough nylon that doesn’t stretch, bend or break under pressure. It provides a deep, deep stretch, and it’s so versatile, you can use it for yoga, physical therapy and general fitness.
This easy tool is essentially useful for your entire body. Check out this how-to video below from the brand.
You can lay on your back, for example, slide a foot into one end of the strap’s loops, straighten that leg and pull the other side with your hand stretch out some hamstring stretches. Or, as pictured above, stretch your shoulders by simply tugging the strap behind your back.
If you’re unsure of how to use this for your particular tightness, don’t worry: this thing comes bundled with a 40-page booklet of exercise ideas and stretch techniques. If you need help figuring any of those instructions out, the brand also has its own smartphone app to provide its own instructional videos. And of course, if all else fails, just check out YouTube!
Reviewers really swear by this thing, and the praises are literally endless.
“I use it to help stretch out my legs, calves quads, and any muscle I can in my legs,” raves one user.
“But the biggest help has been with my upper back and shoulder tightness... It has helped with the tightness in my upper back and shoulders IMMENSELY. Far more than even massages have helped, stretching has provided far more relief and this simple strap helps me to do the stretches I can’t do on my own. This is a great supplement to a stretching routine and I highly recommend it.”
Other reviewers have been using it to help with recovery after calf injuries, leg and knee surgeries, torn ACLs, multiple back operations and more.
If you need to get on top of your stretching, consider grabbing this inexpensive Stretch Out strap to help ease some of that tension and tightness. And if you’re looking for more reviewers to sing its praises before you make the purchase, check out what folks are saying down below.
“I have had bi-lateral knee replacements and 3 back surgeries. I have been active all my life. I always stretch but never took it really seriously. Just wanted to start whatever activity I was doing. Now I’m older 62 yrs training to ride a charity ride for childrens cancer . I have had so many up’s and downs. I was talking to one of my physical therapist she was telling me why you see older people were hunched over. They had tight hamstrings basically they were really tight. I have extremely tight hamstrings IT band everything tight to the point I can’t work out.
Well was looking for a roller for IT band. They said if you buy the Roller you can get the Stretch Out for this price. Well dummy me I thought it was just for yoga and stuff like that. So I said what the hell not that much more. OMG the Stretch Out Strap was a Godsend was unbelievable of how many really good stretches you can do. I’m was totally blown away with how much you can do. I highly recommend this to anyone . Covers everything you may need for good stretch . I’m finding muscles I never thought I had lol. I kid you not worth every penny .” — John L.
“All this is, is a strap with some loops in it. That being said, it is so incredibly helpful to use during stretching exercise. I am and always have been a very active and healthy individual, but stretching has always been my weak spot. I finally decided I needed to start integrating stretching into my day for my own good and due to constant tight muscles. Because I am so inflexible, I decided to get this strap to help me out a bit and now I use it every day. I use it to help stretch out my legs, calves, quads, and any muscle I can in my legs. But the biggest help has been with my upper back and shoulder tightness. I basically go out onto my deck and throw this strap around the deck rail and lean back and put all my weight backward while looping the straps around my arms and it stretches out all of the muscles in my upper back. It has helped with the tightness in my upper back and shoulders IMMENSELY. Far more than even massages have helped, stretching has provided far more relief and this simple strap helps me to do the stretches I can’t do on my own. This is a great supplement to a stretching routine and I highly recommend it. It’s simple but extremely helpful and effective with stretching.” — CMB
“Literally a life saver! One downside of working from home is all the sitting, and when my back started acting up, the OPTP Original Stretch Out Strap was a huge help—along with some prescription painkillers and rest. If you suffer from sciatic pain, this is a low-profile, affordable gadget you should keep around and use regularly. Highly recommended” — Tech Circuit Ed
“I have had major surgery on my leg & this has been a life saver. I wouldn’t even be able to get into or out of bed with out this strap. It’s made the diff of me being able to get in & out of the shower by myself. For 5 wks I had to walk without putting my operative leg’s heel on the floor- using this strap at the arch of that foot made that task a breeze. I has even made the diff in me being able to do my post op therapy. I am still recovering 7wks post op & find use for it every day. This strap has made my independent SAFE recovery so much easier I can’t say enough about it. It may work for regular/normal exercising but haven’t gotten that far with it yet.” — Patti Poo 100
“I injured my calf in 2011, but never really had an physical therapy. About two months ago, I got serious about ‘fixing’ my mobility problem in my legs. This helps a lot with the hamstring, and to a lesser extent my hips and lower back. It hasn’t helped a lot with the actual calf (it takes a LOT of tension to stretch the calf, and I find body weight is a lot easier to use than this and my arms).
But the improvements in hamstrings, hips and lower back have helped my whole overall well-being. I notice is particularly in the morning as I am less stiff (I stretch with this about for about 20 mins, in the evening before bed).” — Kristian
“This is the exact same strap that my PT has used in my recovery. I had ACL surgery in August and this strap has been a life saver in getting flexion and extension back to normal. It’s made of tough webbing and has withstood me yanking on it and using it to suspend weights off my leg. I highly recommend this strap to anyone recovering from ACL surgery.” — D. Waguespack
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