THE NEW PARADIGM EXPLAINED - FST

Stretching is a $22 billion industry and still expanding with new franchises opening frequently. While public demand to get stretched by a professional is robust, the cookie-cutter approach by minimally trained staff does not work for many.

Traditionally stretching is performed with the goal of deforming the tissue with enough force to produce a lengthening effect, in order to gain more linear range of motion. The stretch is commonly held at a point of tissue resistance coincident with some discomfort for 15-30 or more seconds and repeated 2-3 times per isolated muscle. People may initially feel this as being productive, but eventually will have limited results, or even incur a new injury.

One of the reasons for this failure is the model used in traditional stretching is based on biomechanics. Applying these principles of engineering, materials science, and classical mechanics to the human body, treats it as if it was made and functioned like a machine and not the elegantly designed 4D dynamic organism that it is.

The science and ongoing research of our connective tissue system (commonly called the fascial system) has produced new models of anatomy and physiology that are shifting old paradigms not only in stretching but in many fields like physical medicine and manual therapy. Proving that a muscle cannot lengthen, strengthen, or functionally do anything in isolation is only one of many discoveries that have led to great advances in the effectiveness of fascial stretching and other therapies.

The Fascia Stretch Therapy technique leans into the shifting paradigms and treats the whole person, not just a body part. It is pain-free and uses constant circulatory, gently oscillating movements of traction and stabilization to decompress joints and expand space in the soft tissues. Beyond gaining range of motion where needed, one experiences vastly improved kinesthesia (ability to move with ease) and proprioception (sense of one’s posture both when still and in movement). An overall feeling of wellbeing, confidence, and ease with oneself after receiving FST is the capstone to personal and professional transformation.  

WHAT IS FASCIA?

Fascia is an amazing part of the human body that most people don’t even know exists.  It’s the connective tissue that permeates and envelopes all structures of the body, essentially connecting them all together.  It permeates and penetrates every soft tissue of the body.  Fascia is a three-dimensional web of tissue that extends from head to toe, front to back, inside to outside without interruption and is the most influential factor affecting your flexibility.  

In a normal, healthy state the fascia system maintains the body in a delicate balance of tension and elasticity.  With the proper amount of tension, it helps support the efficient alignment of  your bones while being elastic enough to permit full, unrestricted movement.  The problem is that fascia will shorten, thicken and tighten (...think, "shrink-wrap") when any of your tissues are under stress from aging, poor posture, dehydration, improper body mechanics, lack of exercise, repetitive motion, injury, emotional stress, surgery, disease or over-training.  Over time, the accumulation of these restrictions begins exerting abnormal pressure on joints, nerves, blood vessels and even organs and can create pain in seemingly unrelated areas of your body.  The true cause is often overlooked by conventional medical practitioners since fascia restrictions do not show up on ordinary diagnostic tests such as MRI's, CT scans and X-rays.  The condition of your fascia directly effects the health & function of your joints & muscles and plays a pivitol role in your posture and movement.  The development of muscular holding or guarding patterns may initially be beneficial in reducing painful movement in an injured area.  However, when these patterns persist for extended periods of time they can become a permanent source of pain and limitation.

• It connects tendons/ligaments to the bone.

• It encases every muscle.

• It suspends organs within the body.

• It’s highly innervated with special sensory nerves and receptors that relay information to the central nervous system about the quantity and quality of movement.

Fascia is becoming more and more of a buzzword in the fitness industry and is completely changing how the human body is viewed and operates.  

WHAT IS FASCIA STRETCH THERAPY?

Fascia Stretch Therapy is a one-on-one assisted stretching program. It is performed on a specially designed treatment table, using stabilization straps to hold limbs in place, giving the therapist better control and leverage when performing the stretches. The client feels more comfortable and is able to relax more easily by not feeling like they are going to roll off the table.

Your body will be moved and stretched in ways that you just cannot do on your own, with areas targeted for release that you likely have never felt before, or even realized how tight you were there. It works deep into the joint capsules of your body (almost 50% of our flexibility is locked up in our joints)... areas a therapist can't reach with their hands, or with other methods of manual therapy.  The modality influences the nervous, fascia, lymphatic and belief systems to effectively regulate muscle tension in tone and elasticity.

Traction is a major component of the treatment. The therapist will apply gentle traction to the joint being targeted, opening up the joint and creating space for increased range of motion before taking the limb through the movement pattern, paying attention to the fascia restrictions that may need to be addressed. It is pretty pain free for the client, although some areas can be intense or uncomfortable if it is really restricted. The therapist will work slowly through these areas and stay within the client’s comfort zone.

FST counteracts damage to your fascia brought on by age or injury and creates lasting change in the body. It can dramatically improve your flexibility by lengthening the fascia and reduce or eliminate tight muscles. FST is pain free and uses gentle traction, resist-relax proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) techniques, focused breathing and range of motion to help open up joints and restore fascia pliability and length. 

WHO GETS FASCIA STRETCH THERAPY?

FST can benefit everyone from the teenage and professional athlete to the serious weekend warrior; from the working professional to our golden generation.

FST is still pretty much unknown to most of the general public, although it is growing rapidly throughout the country, and the world among medical professionals and athletes. 

Professional teams and athletes have been using it for years as part of their treatment programs. The Denver Broncos, Carolina Panthers, Indianapolis Colts, Indiana Pacers all have FST therapists as part of their staff. The 2015 USA Women's World Champion Soccer Team had an FST therapist as well. All over the country teams and pro athletes from all sports are starting to hire FST therapists (if they haven't already) because of how beneficial the treatment is.

It is not just a treatment for athletes though, it benefits people of all ages and activity levels. We lose 10% of our flexibility for every 10 years that we age unless we actively work at maintaining it. Desk workers LOVE this treatment because of how immobile their bodies have become from sitting hunched over all day. There are new discoveries everyday in the continued research of fascia, and how treatment that targets this soft tissue component of our body positively affects us. There are just too many benefits to list!

SOME BENEFITS OF FASCIA STRETCH THERAPY

• Reduce and help prevent the risk of injury

• Improved posture and muscle function, which allows your body to move more freely

• Improve/Increase circulation, flexibility and range of motion

• Increase balance and symmetry of your body

• Reduce or eliminate pain and soreness

• Promote development of body awareness

• Reduce muscular pain and soreness/muscular tension

• Enhance physical fitness and performance, and helps to reach fitness goals Improved recovery and sleep

• Improving athletic performance

Fascia Stretch Therapy targets individuals who have poor flexibility or mobility (very tight muscles) as well as those who have chronic pain issues. FST compliments an active lifestyle, and also assists in injury prevention.  If you are an active individual looking to improve your overall flexibility and make daily activities easier, Fascia Stretch Therapy is for you! 

Looking to improve your golf swing?  Fascia Stretch Therapy will increase your flexibility which can lead to full extension, increased rotation, mobile hips, and power in your swing.  And reduce the  likelihood of injury.  

THE FST TABLE

It should surprise no one that breakthrough therapy requires a breakthrough therapy table.  

The Comfort Craft Table, with its mid-section bend and its motorized functions, was designed especially to facilitate FST, in collaboration with the therapist that first formulated and promoted FST.

For the client, the Comfort Craft table provides improved treatment and comfort.  The Comfort Craft table offers the client a new sense of comfort and aids in the relaxation process. A flat table puts the lower back in compression, but with just the touch of a button, the Comfort Craft table relaxes the pressure on the lower back by raising the mid-split to 9 or 10 degrees. By releasing the compression from the lower back, this area can now fully relax, allowing the therapist to open up the back area with little effort. Relaxation is enhanced in the shoulders and upper body by bringing the arms forward and resting the forearms on the multi-positional adjustable arm rests. The client can adjust their arm positions during treatment for maximum support and comfort. The whole face is supported with an adjustable headrest. As the back decompresses and opens up, the head must have room to move forward and not be jammed into a face pillow. The full-face pillow and sliding headrest offer greater comfort during a treatment as the client’s head can float in and out to improve decompression of the spine.

For the therapist, the Comfort Craft Table is a tool that allows them to work more efficiently with less effort while providing the client with an enhanced level of treatment. This tool will change the way the therapist positions their body during a treatment as well as the clients, reducing the therapist’s efforts by 50%. The dual foot controls allows the therapist to raise or lower the table quickly and easily, giving them the ability to work with a straight arm and apply their weight directly through their arms by relaxing their knees. The table shapes allow the therapist to step in and work specifically into the center of the body without bending or straining so they can use their weight, not their muscles.

The “T” Base stool offers ergonomic positioning of the therapist’s body so that their knees are even or slightly above the hip in the strongest seated position. The therapist’s arms can now be parallel with the floor, eliminating tension in their own upper body. Once properly seated in front of the client, the therapist is able to position the client on their lap for easy neck and shoulder treatment. The drop-away headrest gives the therapist the ability to move the head in any direction and allows them to support the head with ease by their wrists, which rest on their knees.

HOW IS FASCIA STRETCH THERAPY™ DIFFERENT?

With FST the individual's needs are prioritized. Countless clients have reported that in just one session they have a reduction in their pain, and their posture and functional movement have significantly improved. Performed safely and pain-free, there is a personalized assessment, and the session is catered and customized for the individual’s specific needs.

For further information, please CLICK HERE to learn more about Fascia Stretch Therapy from the founders themselves.