• We were not provided a geographic focus for this project, so we assumed a broad approach and looked globally. If a more targeted approach is desired, for example, the United States, this would have to be clearly communicated to us in any reply.
• We also want to note that many of the competitors mentioned here, while still in business, have severely cut back on their offerings, or closed locations completely, based on COVID-19. Restrictions range from country to country, and within countries, by regions. As assisted stretching requires touch, this is not unexpected.

Assisted Stretching: General Data

• According to FIBO (an acronym for "fitness boom"), assisted stretching is a fitness trend. "Assisted stretching is finding a market among both athletes and gym goers as an effective way to improve performance and mobility and avoid injury."
• "Sessions typically take place in a communal room, with conversation between therapist and client as they interact, engage certain muscles and work through a carefully designed set of stretches. The aim is for people to leave feeling invigorated, taller and with better posture. "
• It is of note that this same article asserts that assisted stretching "can also be delivered by PTs doing home visits, as the equipment required is mainly portable."
• According to Harvard Medical School, "stretching keeps the muscles flexible, strong, and healthy," which helps us maintain our range of motion. If we don't stretch on a regular basis we run the risk of our muscles becoming short and tight, which leads to injury, joint pain, and strain.
• In 2018, ClassPass named assisted stretching the fastest-growing trend, reporting a 16% rise in restorative and recovery classes booked from the prior year.
• According to Flxme, a "new trend in the fitness world is assisted stretching."
• Former lead stretch therapist and trainer for Massage Envy Kevin Ramsey says: “Although the stretching category is gaining momentum, only about one third of people know the proper stretching techniques. As consumers become more aware of the benefits of stretching, they’ll need more products and services, which will not only help to educate them about proper stretching techniques but also help them to seamlessly incorporate stretching into their wellness routine.”
• Entrepreneur HaKika DuBose who has developed her own method of assisted stretching and is franchising her Kika Stretch Studios, says stretching is not the next big trend, but assisted stretching is.

Assisted Stretching: Competitors

•  Market World, in an April 2020 dated source, states that a London, England based company called Flexology, [which touts itself as London’s first stretch-dedicated studio] offers "specially trained therapists to guide [a person's] body into stretches deeper than [someone could] manage on [their] own."
• Stretchlab, according to Forbes, "offers assisted stretching to those who have weary, knotted muscles with a goal of improving flexibility, relieving pain and correcting imbalances in the body, among other benefits." Founded in 2015, Stretch lab is a multi-location company with locations and franchises all over the United States. According to their website, they have a "proprietary Flexologist Training Program", and use a "Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation" method/approach. In other words, they approach stretching using both static stretching and dynamic stretching.
• Some other competitors in this space include Stretch Zone [locations throughout the United States], Racked [based in New York City], Stretch U [located in four states, and offers at home assisted stretching as well as in-studio], Kika Stretch [located in six states], LYMBR [located in three states], Stretch*d [located in New York], Restore25, and Stretch Relief [a stretch and recovery studio that offers both one-on-one professional stretch sessions and group stretching classes in NYC].
•  Stretch Studios is a competitor located in Australia. Stretch Studios are leading the Assisted Stretch market in innovation, and are Australia’s first one-on-one assisted stretching concept.
• An app called REME, which stands for Regarding Me, has added an on-demand stretch therapy service to its menu of in-home services. It is available in California only. According to Anita Jennison, former VP at REME, "I personally describe it as yoga on crack. The expert will move and stretch your body in ways you cannot do on your own, targeting areas for release that you likely have never felt before. While it’s important to do stand-alone stretching, assisted stretching, officially known as fascial stretch therapy, [is great] because it increases mobility and significantly reduces tension, aches and pains that result in injury."

Summary Of Our Early Findings Relevant To The Goals

• As discussed at the top of this document, we were not provided a geographic focus for this project, so we assumed a broad approach and looked globally. If a more targeted approach is desired, for example, the United States, this would have to be clearly communicated to us in any reply.
• Wonder only uses publicly available sources. We do not have access to any paywalled data bases. Despite looking extensively, there are no public sources that provide the market size [globally or otherwise] for assisted stretching. Of note is that we also did not see any paywalled sources that offered this data either. This could be because this trend is still very new.
• There are also no demographics available for people who use assisted stretching. It is too niche. We searched as extensively as we could in the one hour we are allotted for the initial research. We are not suggesting any further research down this path.
• Please select one or more of the options provided in the proposed scoping section below.