Stretching Machines Overview

Stretching machines and leg stretchers are welcome tools for those who want to improve flexibility by allowing muscles to stretch and relax more quickly. Everyone knows the feeling of tight muscles. It can range from stiffness to outright pain. And taking the time and, more importantly, knowing how to work on stretching out each muscle group can be challenging.

Stretching equipment such as leg stretchers or full-body stretch machines are designed to help gently extend muscles into a more useful state of flexibility. It might eve feel like an unfair advantage if you’re looking at these devices for sports use, but those who have made the leap never look back. People who do any kind of physical exercise, including running, lifting weights, ballet, dancing, martial arts, golf, tennis, baseball, basketball, and more, all can often use a helping hand, or in this case piece of stretching equipment.

Keep in mind, not all stretch machines are built the same, nor are they built to stretch all the same muscle groups. So we will break down the two main types (whole body stretch machines and leg stretching equipment) to help you decide which might work best for you.

1. Stretch Machines for the Whole Body

Stretching machines such as the Precor 240i StretchTrainers represent a type of machine that targets broader areas of the body including the hips, hamstrings, quadriceps, calves, arms, upper and lower back, plus much more. Ideally it hits every major muscle group with a gentle but effective stretch. Among its many benefits, this kind of stretching machine can effectively help reduce back pain, improve posture, reduce joint and muscle tightness, and supercharge overall flexibility.

What to Look For in a Full Body Stretch Machine:

• Targets all core muscle groups
• Sturdy construction
• Comfortable padding where you need it (seat and knee pads)
• Wrist straps
• Great warranty
• Well designed ergonomics
• Ability to accommodate all sizes of user
• Small footprint and easy transport

Best by Price:

Precor 240i Commercial Series StretchTrainer – $695 – 104 Amazon Reviews

Nitrofit Limber Pro Stretch Machine with Calf Stretching Station and Adjustable Seat – $429 – 72 Reviews

2. Leg Stretchers / Splits Machines

Leg stretchers, aka splits machines, are the type of stretch equipment that focuses on helping people stretch their legs, especially their hamstrings and groin muscles by incremental increasing degrees. An example of this is the Century Versaflex Stretching Machine. If doing the splits is important to you, as it can be for martial arts practitioners and dancers, this is the type of machine you want. But it’s also a great machine to use if tight hamstringsare a problem for you, or you just want to be able to touch your toes a little easier.

Leg or splits machines often have a control wheel that allows you to slowly increase the amount of your stretch. And comfortable padding comes into play here since your legs will be extended out by the leg supports. So make sure you choose a machine that is adjustable and comfortable.

What to Look For in a Leg Stretcher Machine:

• Sturdy construction
• Padded panels
• Easy assembly

Best Leg Stretcher Machines by Price:

FIGROL Leg Stretcher Leg Split Stretching Machine – $32.99 – 87 Reviews

IdealStretch Hamstring Stretching Device – $57 – 173 Reviews

ProForce Stretchmaster II Leg Stretcher – $234 – 40 Reviews

Valor Fitness CA-27 Leg Stretch Machine – $198 – 127 Reviews

Our Top Stretching Machine Picks

We split up our picks for the best stretch machine into the two main categories of stretch equipment: the full body stretch machine, and the leg stretch machine. The desired flexibility results that users may be looking for in a stretching machine occasionally overlap, but these two categories of equipment are separate enough that two top picks will probably be of the most help.

Top Full Body Stretcher Pick:

Precor 240i StretchTrainer

The Precor 240i stretch machine is a commercial-grade, multi-functional tool that is durable, comfortable, and designed to stretch every major muscle group. This device comes at a premium price, but it’s worth the “stretch”, as you’re going to experience levels of flexibility you didn’t know were possible through the variable stretch exercises you can perform with it. Stretching in yoga class or any other classes is an excellent way to improve your body. However, with a full-body machine at home, even better, right near where you spend the most time, you’re going to use it a lot more and thus get a lot more flexible and faster. The Precor 240i StretchTrainer is the cream of the crop in this area. Athletes such as golfers, baseball players, and tennis players used this stretcher to stay highly flexible and improve their game, but it’s truly transformative for anyone of any age or flexibility level. The best part is, having a Precor at home, you’re going to use it every day.

Notable Features:

• Stretch Exercise Variations
• The Precor 240i StretchTrainer allows for eight core stretch exercises including lower back, shoulders, upper back, glutes and hips, hips/legs/back, inner thighs/groin, and quadriceps.
• It has a handy placard attached that explains each stretch.
• Move and Store – It’s only 60 lbs, with a compact footprint of 52 L x 28 W x 36 H) so it’s fairly easy to move and store within your home.

Click here or the button below for our full review of the Precor 240i StretchTrainer:

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Top Leg Stretcher (Splits) Pick:

AmazeFan Leg Stretcher 3-Bar Leg Split Stretching Machine

Our pick for the best leg stretcher is the AmazeFan Leg Stretcher 3-Bar Leg Split Stretching Machine. The AmazeFan Leg Stretcher is a simple yet effective splits and flexibility enhancing device that allows you to work on stretching your inner thighs and hamstrings and improve your splits to 180 degrees. It’s constructed with three metal tubes that have 6-hole adjustments so you can slowly increase the tension on your legs and deepen your stretch. The two outer poles extend your legs while you adjust the middle pole with your hands to increase or decrease the tension.

Notable Features:

• Cost-Effective – It must be said that at under $40, the price is right for the FIGROL Leg Stretcher.
• Leg Stretcher Adjustable Length – Each pole has six holes that you adjust to find the perfect, comfortable stretching length level or increase it to get a deeper stretch.
• Padded, Non-slip Handles – Non-slip foam handles creates a comfortable grip for manipulating the stretcher and a comfortable resting point on your feet/ankles for increasing your stretch.
• Durable Construction – This piece of leg stretcher equipment is made stand the test of time.

Overall, most leg stretchers will get results, but if you’re looking for a simple design, effective stretching for dancing, gymnastics, martial arts, or any other sport the FIGROL Leg Stretcher is a strong choice. Even if your only goal is to finally achieve the splits you’ve always wanted, you can’t go wrong with this stretcher. AmazeFan Leg Stretcher 3-Bar Leg Split Stretching Machine

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Benefits of Using Stretch Machines and How They Work

Getting a deep, satisfying, and beneficial stretch is a never-ending quest for everyone from superstar pro athletes to regular, mortal humans. Dancers and martial arts practitioners can spend years working on the flexibility of their hamstrings to improve their splits using traditional methods. Golfers try stretching their back, hips, and arms to get their drive more accurate. But once we stop stretching, your muscles immediately begin to revert to a tighter state. It might protect the body in some ancient way, but for us today, it’s just frustrating.

One advantage that a stretch machine has over stretching in a class, is you really go at your own comfort level without feeling the pressure to overstretch. Any good yoga instructor would never push you too far, but it can be difficult to gauge where your current limits are. In the privacy and comfort of your own home, you can really take the time to slowly, session by session improve and deepen your flexibility.

Martial Arts Leg Stretch Machines

As we have noted above, the AmazeFan Leg Stretcher works great as a martial arts leg stretcher. Almost any martial arts enthusiast can benefit from being loose and limber especially when doing the splits. Trying to achieve the splits without a machine can get you there, but enhancing your stretch with a dedicated martial arts stretching machine can get you there faster, more consistently, and with results you can measure. With its center bar and adjustment levels, the FIGROL stretching machine allows you to gradually increase your stretch at your own pace and comfort level.

Martial Arts Full Body Stretching Machines

Martial arts stretch equipment also doesn’t have to only mean something that works your legs or helps you do the splits. Stretch equipment such as the Precor 240i Stretch Trainer or Nitrofit Limber Pro Stretch Machine are full body stretching machines that can help someone practicing anything from ballet to karate, jiu jitsu, or Krav Maga gain more flexibility by targeting almost every major muscle group.

Other Considerations

Stretching Machine Exercises and Workouts

Once you purchase a stretch machine, obviously you’re going to want to start using it right away. But it’s important to think about and carefully consider your goals. What areas of your body are experiencing stiffness? What degree do you want to achieve for doing the splits on your split machine? Are you going to commit to a daily regimen of stretching?

Develop a Stretching Habit

At any age, we’re going to feel muscle tightness. It’s just the nature of having muscles, tendons, and joints. But as yoga practitioners, athletes, and martial artists can testify to, learning and getting into the habit of doing a proper stretch routine can work wonders for your body and overall well being. If you already workout, it’s easy to end the workout with stretch exercises. If you don’t workout, what are you waiting for?

Stretching Equipment for Older Adults

Many people who are older might be experiencing stiffness in their muscles and joints. Unfortunately, that’s just a part of aging. Fortunately you don’t have to just accept it! A little discipline and habit-formation can get you incredible results with a stretch machine such as the Precor 240 StretchTrainer. Perhaps you make it a routine to get right on your Precor right after a morning walk (it’s always a good idea to warm up your muscles before stretch exercises). If a walk is part of your routine already, then 10 to 20 minutes on the exercise equipment can flow nicely right after.

A Word of Caution

As with any piece of exercise equipment, you should always check in with your doctor before you embark on a new flexibility program with a stretch machine. It’s smart to know what you’re capable of and understand your limits before starting. A quick appointment with your physician can help you safely start your routine and gaining flexibility quickly while avoiding injury.

Final Word on Stretching Machines

Pieces of exercise equipment such as a rowing machine or elliptical trainer can give you a great workout, help you lose weight, or get your cardio working. But stretch machines are a different breed. You might not ride your spinning bike every single day because you probably want to rest your legs to avoid overuse. However, with a stretch machine, you can absolutely use it every day. Of course, you want to be careful and very methodically and gently increase your flexibility. But if you want relief from tightness or to deepen your stretch, a stretch machine will help you get there. Between leg stretchers/split machines and full body stretching machines the uses will of course overlap. And the kind of device you choose really depends on your needs. But whether you’re doing it for sports or just to limber up after a long day hunched over a computer, the results from using a stretching machine can be incredible.

Check out our video walkthrough of the Precor Stretch Trainer: