What is Fascial Stretch Therapy?
FST is one of the quickest, most effective pleasant methods to eliminate pain, restore function, move and feel better in life activities fitness and sports.
Chris Frederick, Co-Director of the Stretch to Win Institute, gives a basic explanation of one of FST's main concepts.
FST is a form of assisted stretch therapy on a massage table that helps increase your flexibility, reduce aches and pains, and improve athletic performance while making your workouts more effective. FST is very different than what we think of as traditional stretching or bodywork, in that it is more functional and dynamic. Unlike traditional stretching or bodywork that only attempts work on muscles, FST engages the entire myofascial system by targeting muscles as well as their neighboring joints, ligaments, tendons, and bones.
What is Fascia?
Fascia is a spider web like connective tissue found in, around, and between the joints, muscles, and ligaments. It is the most prevalent tissue in the body. The health and function of your muscles, joints, arteries, veins, brain, and spinal cord are all a direct result of the condition of your fascia. FST helps to “unwind” fascia, which is full of nerves, reducing pressure between joints and the pain associated with it, while releasing joint-lubricating synovial fluid that improves the flexibility of muscles.
Is Fascial Stretch Therapy for me?
Absolutely! Anyone can benefit from Fascial Stretch Therapy! FST is for you whether you are an athlete, a weekend warrior, a desk job employee, a long-distance commuter, a member of the aging population, a chronic pain sufferer, or someone with pain &/or limited mobility due to various medical conditions.
What to expect:
Fascial Stretch Therapy is a pain-free, relaxing, easy and convenient form of bodywork. Clients stay fully-clothed dressed in gym or loose clothing and remain passive as the therapist performs the assisted stretches on a massage table. There is no use of massage oils or creams. Clients will leave a session feeling renewed and relaxed.
What is different about FST?
FST is pain free. It improves the mobility of your nerves and flexibility of your muscles and fascia. Other methods focus on isolated muscle stretching which is often uncomfortable or even painful and the results are only temporary.
Remy uses a specific type of manual traction which releases adhesions in the joint capsules and other connective tissues. Traction is the instrumental component of FST which opens the joint capsule by decompressing the joint. This creates optimal mobility of the joint and increases flexibility. Remy also uses PNF (Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation) technique to increase range in the stretches without pain. Breathing is synchronized with stretches for greater efficiency and additional therapeutic effect. This pain-free therapy allows your body to relax and receive greater benefits versus traditional bodywork, like deep tissue or Rolfing, that is often painful and where the body can become guarded.