By Gavin Buehler
Fascial Stretch Therapy (FST) has been around for quite some time now, but it is still not well known in general populations despite its large potential benefit for many people. I became an FST practitioner before I became an RMT, and its profound affect is actually what led me toward massage therapy and soft tissue manipulation. I've often found it to be a more beneficial hands on treatment than other disciplines including massage, but that's my own personal opinion. This article gives you the basic idea of what FST actually is and what to expect from a treatment. The video explanations come courtesy of the FST founders themselves Ann & Chris Frederick. If you are interested in an FST treatment you can send us an email or book online.
First, what is fascia?
“Fascia” has become a pretty hot buzz word over the past few years. As we learn more about it, we’re discovering the many functions and effects that this tissue has throughout the body. In short, fascia can be described as a continuous web of connective tissue that surrounds and links virtually every part of our internal body. Just how abundant is it? Well, it accounts for about 16% of our total body weight and 25% of our body’s total water content! It has the tensile strength of soft steel and is the reason our bodies are so resilient. Keeping that in mind, we’ve discovered that an abnormality in our fascia can create restrictions in our movement, and sometimes even pain throughout the body. To picture this, think of wearing a really tight shirt. When you try to breathe or raise your arms, it’s difficult, and if you pull on any part of that shirt the restrictions increase all over and it tightens up even more. Wouldn’t it be nice to loosen that shirt so that you could move more? Fascial Stretch Therapy (FST) can help with that.
What is FST?
Fascial Stretch Therapy is a modified form of assisted proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitated (PNF) stretching that incorporates not just muscle, but joint capsules, nervous system tissues and of course fascia. FST doesn’t just isolate and stretch a certain muscle, but creates length along entire fascial lines. So, not just one section of the tight shirt gets loosened, the entire shirt as a whole gets loosened.
What are the benefits?
People have experienced a number of benefits from having an FST treatment. Some of which include:
Relaxation
Improved range of motion & movement quality
Reduced pain & better pain management
Stress reduction
Greater mental acuity
Myofascial release
Improved posture and structural balance
Enhanced sports performance
Injury prevention
Better sleep
What’s involved?
Better Sex
Again, treatments will vary depending on an individual’s unique circumstance, but typically you can expect to be clothed, lying on a treatment table with the assistance of stabilization straps while a therapist uses specific manual techniques to gently move and manipulate the body in a pain free manner, releasing tension and restrictions.
Interested in a treatment? Contact us now to book!
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