partner stretches and fascia

[Jim Pickles]

I'm just wondering if the stretches that work best as partner stretches are stretches that primarily work on the fascia.

In some cases it seems to me that muscle (and its reflexes) are the limitation, in other cases more the fascia. Working out which of course is difficult, and it may well vary from individual to individual. However where the critical tightness crosses multiple muscles, or does not correspond to the lines of muscles, and/or where long held stretches seem most effective, I wonder whether fascia is the primary limitation (group 1). Where the tightness corresponds to the line of a muscle, and where the CR method works well, I wonder if muscle is the primary limitation (group 2). There is of course no proof that these conjectures are true.

In my experience, stretches in the first group can be more effectively helped by partner stretches. I find that partner stretches do not particularly help those in the second group.

Does anyone else have views on this?

I could post some examples of stretches in the two groups, and will later if requested, but have to go and stretch now!