FASCIAL STRETCH THERAPY
What is Fascial Stretch Therapy (FST)?
Fascial Stretch Therapy (FST) is a system of assisted stretching which focuses on the muscles, joints, and connective tissue. With the client on a treatment table, the therapist will help you stabilize your body as you are gently helped into specific stretches to help facilitate relaxation and movement into your joints and body.
What is Fascia?
Fascia is a network of layered connective tissue that surrounds muscles, bones and joints. Restricted fascia and joint capsules can lead to conditions such as osteoarthritis, painful movement, increased muscle tightness, strains, tendon injuries, headaches, scar tissue formation, decreased blood flow and reduced energy levels.
What are the benefits of FST?
What makes this therapy different from other flexibility programs is that each stretch begins with a light traction of the joint being treated. This allows for a deeper stretch by creating more space in joint. This is an excellent treatment choice for those wanting to improve flexibility and mobility, recover from training, and prevent injury.
Other benefits include:
Improved posture & muscle function
Improved sport specific performance
Increase muscular strength and endurance
Reduce muscle tension and risk of injury
Increase balance and symmetry of the body
Reduce muscular soreness and fatigue
Help treat symptoms associated with osteoarthritis and facet joint dysfunctions
Fascial Stretch Therapy was popularized with athletes such as professional golfers, wrestlers, basketball players, and runners but is also very beneficial for anyone needing more flexibility such as office workers, manual labourers, and just generally stiff individuals.
FST is also a very powerful therapy that can be used to treat many conditions such as facet joint dysfunctions, tight hips, rotator cuff injuries, muscle strains, chronic headaches, knee tracking issues, plantar fasciitis, and pinched nerves.
What should I wear?
Wear loose and comfortable clothing allowing for movement in all directions such as fitness apparel. Please remove jewelry prior to session and have long hair out of the way.
How will I feel after FST?
After a FST session you will feel extremely relaxed and comfortable. I recommend scheduling sessions on your “off” day of training or if possible, when you are done with strenuous activities for that day. This will allow for optimal rehabilitation time.
How often should I get FST?
How often depends on many factors and is case specific. For someone who doesn’t have any body issues, I recommend a monthly or bi-monthly FST session to eliminate the adhesions that occurs due to our functional patterns (e.g. driving, work, sleep, walking, daily activity).