What Is Fascial Stretch Therapy?

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Copyright (c) 2014 Stretch to Win, LLC

Fascial stretch,��what is fascia?��By Chris FrederickCo-Director of the Stretch to Win Institute at StretchToWin.com �


Objec3ves

Fascia for trainers: 1.  Func?ons 2.  Problems 3.  Solu?ons

Permission: FasciaResearch.com Copyright (c) 2014 Stretch to Win, LLC

Mobility & Stability

Stability Mobility Fascial Net


Func?on of fascia

Movement system

Communica?on system

Force trans-‐mission system


Muscle

Tendon

Ligament

Bone

Force transmission system


Head to toe

container/connector

Joint

Muscle

Nerve

Movement system


Kinesthesia

Propriocep?on

Interocep?on

Nocicep?on

Communica?on


Problems with fascia…

Movement system

Communica?on system

Force trans-‐mission system

…are training problems!


Common problems with fascia

Injury Thickens Scars

Glues Dehydrates

èRestricts movementç Copyright (c) 2014 Stretch to Win, LLC

Solu?ons must…

Heal Injury

Reduce Thickening

Release Scars

Detach Glue

Rehydrate Dehydrated

çFree movementè Copyright (c) 2014 Stretch to Win, LLC

Solu?ons are few

ý Training cannot always correct ý Manual therapy, massage or bodywork techniques.

ý  Tools, e.g. Graston, ASTYM, etc. þ Assisted fascial stretching -‐ FST


Fascial Stretch Therapy™ (FST)

•  Frees most restric?ons to movement

•  Trains the brain and nervous system

•  Groove new movement pa]erns immediately

•  Faster, be]er training results


Fascial Stretch Therapy™ (FST)

1.  All fascial layers accessed & corrected 2.  Works fast 3.  Pain-‐free 4.  Based on scien?fic evidence


PRACTICAL

Assessments

Fascial stretch protocols


Fascial Assessments

ROM of Linked Joints

| Myofascial chain stability & mobility

| Nervous system mobility

|| Movement


Fascial Mobility Assessments (edited)

Lower Body •  Squat •  Check Leg Length (LL) [edited] •  Passive SLR •  Passive hip joint capsule trac?on & stretch •  Lateral neuro-‐myofascial chain trac?on & stretch

Re-‐assess LL, SLR, squat [edited]: Group 1, then 2


Hip joint capsule trac3on notes



Check lateral movement (moving to the therapist’s right side) Goal: To assess the client’s ROM on the lateral side of their body and to ascertain where they may be restricted as you move them laterally. Client posi?on: Supine with arms at their side. Therapist: • Lid both of the client’s extended legs with trac?on at 10°–20° again. • Hold both of their heels in the palms of your hands and gently wrap your fingers around their heels. • Engage your core and bend your knees slightly. • Move slowly to the right un?l the client’s movement stops. • If their hip begins to roll up off the table you have reached the end of their ROM. Trac?on: Lean back with your body, stay relaxed.

Lateral Line Stretch Movement


Fascial Mobility Assessments

Upper Body Supine: •  Ac?ve arm length (palms together): 90°, full flexion •  Arms overhead (palms apart) •  Passive shoulder joint capsule trac?on-‐stretch: 90°

Side lying: •  Shoulder abduc?on-‐lateral line assessment-‐stretch

Re-‐assess: arm length and overhead [Group 1 then 2]


Goal: Target ?ssues within the posterior aspects of the shoulder joint. Check for anterior posterior joint glide and restric?ons. Client posi?on: Client lying supine on the table Trainer/coach: • Grasp client arm on the lower arms bones to trac?on their arm upward, keeping the clients elbow straight. Hands are placed on each side of their wrist above the joint. • Trac?on of the shoulder up at 90° flexion. • Stand very close to client and lean slightly over them to have the best leverage. • Check for posterior joint glide and restric?ons by gently liding the arm upward. Trac?on: Shoulder up at 90° flexion.

Shoulder joint trac3on


ROM-‐with client lying on side • Hook your Trac?on arm at 90 deg abduc?on •  Trac?on up to ceiling

Lateral Line – upper body (part 1 of 2)


Stretch movement 1 •  On exhale, trac?on out & down to floor • Lid their arm up and over a stretch wave • Increase overhead abduc?on • Squat down for be]er leverage PNF -‐ cue is have them pull their scapula down to their same hip as they roll their body back down to the table; Repeat PNF 2 or more ?mes Stretch movement 2 •  Maintain stretch posi?on in #1 & have

client gently rotate torso toward/away from floor/table. No PNF.

Lateral Line – upper body (part 2 of 2)


References

•  Frederick, A., Frederick, C. 2014. Fascial Stretch Therapy. Handspring: Edinburgh.

•  Schleip, R., et al. 2012. Fascia: The human tensional network. Elsevier: London.

•  Frederick, A., Frederick, C. 2006. Stretch to Win. Human Kine?cs: Champaign.

•  Alter, M.A. 2004. The Science of Flexibility. Human Kine?cs: Champaign.

•  www.fasciaresearchsociety.org •  www.fasciacongress.org


Thank you! www.StretchToWin.com


Health & Medicine

What Is Fascial Stretch Therapy?