Fascial Stretch Therapy
Move better, feel stronger, live freely
Experience a unique system of assisted stretching, fascial release & PNF to achieve a new level of relaxation and flexibility.
How will Fascial Stretch Therapy help me?
Fascial Stretch Therapy (also known as FST) uses traction and PNF in active and passive range of motions with light end range strengthening to create space in joints, release fascial adhesions, and promote downregulating your nervous system (AKA relaxation).
Using these methods in combination with working with a practitioner (me) who is skilled at identifying your restrictions and creating a custom program personalized to your body, lifestyle, and physical activity demands results in feeling looser, calmer, improved posture, and an easier ability to move.
Benefits of Fascial Stretch Therapy
Some of the things Fascial Stretch Therapy can help with include but are not limited to
Posture
Muscle Imbalances
Flexibility, Range of Motion & Tightness
Pain
Tissue inflammation
Circulation
Recovery
Strength, Muscle Mass & Speed/Force Production
Sleep
Mood and Relaxation
Central Nervous System Regulation
How Does Fascial Stretch Therapy Work?
Fascial Stretch Therapy is based on the concept of stretching an entire fascial line instead of isolated muscles. Fascial Lines (also known as Fascial Nets) are muscles connected by fascia (connective tissue) from head to toe. When a muscle gets tight, all the muscles it is attached to by fascia also get tight.
Studies show that up to 50% of ‘tightness’ lies in joint capsules, but most of the common stretches most people are doing compress joints which creates more tightness, so by creating space in joints not only do your joints move better but it creates a waterfall effect and relaxes the muscles surrounding the joint.
By utilizing the use of breathing during the session we can create downregulation of the central nervous system which helps further relax muscles to provide a deeper stretch.
Most people are familiar with the idea that tightness comes from lack of movement but tightness in a lot of people also comes from muscle weakness, so to prevent muscles re-tightening a day or two later we have to build strength in the tight muscles.
By adding the use of PNF (Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation) into FST we can activate and strengthen muscles in their end range to help with long-term results.
How Fascial Stretch Therapy Can Help With Pain
Pain can happen for many reasons. Pain is usually our body’s way of telling you something is wrong. Chronic pain often occurs from the tissue being inflamed repeatedly. Although FST is not a cure or diagnosis it can help manage your symptoms or remove things that are in the way of healing.
Some examples of this would be:
decompressing joints that are compressed or relaxing muscles that are tight and pinching a nerve
improving muscle imbalances
creating more length in shortened muscles
decreasing inflammation
reducing scar tissue and fascial adhesions
promoting relaxation
How Fascial Stretch Therapy Can Help With Hypermobility
For hypermobile people stretching is generally not recommended because they typically do not have high ‘stretch awareness’ (ability to feel a stretch), and as a result, when they stretch they end up stretching a lot more of their connective tissues like tendons and ligaments than muscles.
Although many people with hypermobility still use lots of static stretches which often result in more pain and discomfort down the road.
Hypermobile joints often feel loose, like Jello due to a lack of joint stability due to a lack of joint stability. When there is a lack of stability in the joint muscles have to work overtime to stabilize joints which often makes them tight.
By stretching with FST instead of traditional stretching we can give joints the stability they need, incorporate lots of PNF to help strengthen the joints and still stretch the muscles that are tight in a controlled range of motion without putting stress on your joints.
