Stretch Library
Patients often ask what they can do at home between appointments. There's only so much we can cover in a session, so I've gathered a set of stretching videos here for you to come back to whenever you need them.
All videos are by Dr Jeffrey Peng, a US sports medicine physician trained through Stanford. I picked his videos because they're short, simple and get straight into the stretches, so they're easy to follow at home.
These cover the main areas I get asked about, so think of them as a starting point. Dr Peng's YouTube channel has plenty more if you'd like to explore, and I may suggest something more specific for you in session.
Dr Peng is not affiliated with Brandon Lau Acupuncture.
Before you start
Move slowly and stay within a comfortable range. A gentle pull is fine, but sharp pain is not. Stop and check in with me or your GP if pain spreads, gets sharper, or comes with numbness, tingling or weakness.
These videos are general guidance and aren't tailored to you. If you're unsure whether a stretch suits you, ask at your next appointment and we can go through it together.
WHY MOVEMENT MATTERS
Research and classical Chinese medicine point the same way
Regular exercise and stretching are recommended in clinical guidelines for ongoing back, neck and knee discomfort. Large research reviews have found exercise may help reduce pain and improve day-to-day function for many people.
The Huangdi Neijing, one of the oldest Chinese medicine classical texts, notes that sitting too long injures the flesh and lying down too long injures the Qi. Gentle, regular movement is seen as a way to keep Qi and Blood flowing freely through the muscles and joints.
Looking for more support?
Stretching works well alongside treatment, and consistency usually matters more than intensity. If your discomfort has been hanging around for a while, it might be worth scheduling a treatement session so we can look at it properly.