Cryostretch combines cold therapy, static stretching, and which technique?

• A. Hold-relax technique
• B. Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation
• C. Isometric Hold
• D. Muscle Energy Technique

Answer: (A)

Cryostretch blends cold therapy with a static stretch and a specific PNF component to boost range of motion. The cold pack reduces nerve conduction and muscle spindle sensitivity, helping the muscle relax and allowing a deeper stretch. The technique used in this approach is hold-relax: the muscle to be stretched isometrically contracts at its end range against resistance, then relaxes and is passively stretched further. This brief isometric contraction triggers post-isometric relaxation, enabling a greater stretch than static stretching alone. While Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation is a broad family of techniques, the particular method paired with cryostretch is the hold-relax technique.