The Research Findings That Will Surprise You: Stretching May Help Fight Tumor Growth
As many of you know, I am on a constant quest to learn all I can about the life-changing benefits of stretching. The research keeps growing and growing in a very positive way.
I received an email from a student last week with a link to an article in The Washington Post discussing the latest research on fascia.
In the article, doctors and researchers explain that fascia could play a major role in conditions like gastrointestinal disorders and even cancer.
But first... what is fascia?
Fascia is “a three-tiered layer of tissue that encases tissues and organs” that is connected to every single part of our bodies… organs, muscles, nerves, you name it.
Fascia helps coordinate three main things in our bodies:
>> Movement
>> Position in space
>> The flow of fluids through our body
Fascia is hugely important—and yet science is just beginning to understand its full impact on our bodies.
The danger of stiff fascia
Fascia helps to “hold us together”—but it could be holding on too tight. In fact, stiff fascia may play a role in a number of conditions.
Research suggests that stiff fascia decreases lymphatic fluid flow and can contribute to swelling in limbs.
According to the article, “Beyond movement conditions, fascia may also be involved in a variety of unexpected health conditions and diseases, including cancer, lymphedema, and gastrointestinal distress.”
This suggests that stiff fascia does more harm to our bodies than just making us feel tight.
But you can release stiff fascia.
This fascia research is especially important for people looking for health alternatives to drugs or surgery.
Releasing this fascia could help reduce gastrointestinal distress, including constipation, bloating and acid reflux.
So how do you release stiff fascia? Researchers believe it’s through “body work”—like stretching.
Most surprising, though, is the promising research that suggests that STRETCHING reduced tumor growth in mice.
Okay… hold the phone! Did you just read what I wrote?
A study found stretching decreased tumor size in mice.
A 2018 study from Harvard Medical School found that tumor growth was smaller in mice who were stretched for 10 minutes daily compared to the mice who were not stretched.
I will summarize this 24 page research paper in case you don’t want to read the entire thing (although the photo of the mouse is adorable!).
Because prior research showed that daily stretching can reduce tissue inflammation, scientists hypothesized that stretching the mice could show reduced growth in the implanted tumors compared to the mice who didn’t stretch.
In this study, female mice injected with breast cancer cells were placed in two groups: a stretch group and a no-stretch group.
The mice in the stretch group were stretched for 10 minutes daily for 4 weeks.
In order to stretch the mice, researchers lifted up their tail at a 45 degree angle while their paws held onto a bar on their cage. (You can see this photo on page 4 of the research paper.)
AT THE END OF THE STUDY, THE SCIENTISTS’ HYPOTHESIS PROVED CORRECT!
After 4 weeks, the mice in the stretch group had tumors that were 52% smaller than the mice in the no-stretch group.
As the study states, “These results suggest a link between immune exhaustion, inflammation resolution and tumor growth. Stretching is a gentle, non-pharmacological intervention that could become an important component of cancer treatment and prevention.”
This is profound!
It is right here in black and white for our eyes to see and our brain to wrap itself around: we all need to STRETCH!
There are always variables to research, which is why it is ongoing. But this latest research is encouraging and hopeful for SO many reasons.
My theory:
Here are my thoughts on this study...
The mice were stretching the front side of their bodies where their organs are housed. This opened up blood flow and circulation and allowed the fascia to break down. This allowed the lymphatic system to function and carry out toxic/cancerous tissue and let it flow out of the body.
If little mice can stretch for 10 minutes a day with astonishing results, so can we!
Thank you for your trust in me as your stretching coach, and I hope you’ll use this as further encouragement to KEEP STRETCHING!
Please note: This blog post is not medical advice. Stretch Therapy with Connie strongly recommends that you consult with your physician before beginning any exercise or stretching program. You should be in good physical condition and be able to participate in the exercise. Stretch Therapy with Connie is not a licensed medical care provider and represents that it has no expertise in diagnosing, examining, or treating medical conditions of any kind, or in determining the effect of any specific exercise or stretch on a medical condition.