Physical Therapists' and Fitness Professionals' Perceptions of Stretching in their Professional Practice

Despite the central role of mobility and flexibility in daily function and injury rehabilitation, the impact and clinical applications of stretching remain poorly understood. Existing research has largely concentrated on stretching's effects on athletic performance or injury outcomes, rather than its use and interpretation by practitioners. This thesis adopts phenomenological and self-reflexive methodologies to explore how the lived experiences of physical therapists and fitness professionals shape their perceptions and implementation of stretching. An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was employed to identify and interpret themes arising from these lived experiences.