Like the professionals at Thai massage and shiatsu salons, sports trainers are turning the practice of muscle-stretching into a business.
"I want people to first try stretching before going to a doctor," said Megumi Komine, manager of Sutorecchiya-san, a stretching salon that opened in Ebisu, Tokyo, in early September.
Backache, stiff shoulders and other types of pain that come from holding the same position for a long time can be relieved by stretching, she said.