Feeling the connection, extending the range: the benefits of Fascial Stretching Therapy
Last week we talked about the importance of incorporating stretching into your workout and outlined its many benefits. Today, we’re going to focus on Fascial Stretch Therapy — a type of stretching that targets not only muscles but fascia.
Fascia is the connective tissue that surrounds muscles, bones, and joints. It wraps and supports muscles, bones, tendons, ligaments, organs, nerves. Fascial Stretch Therapy (FST) is an assisted stretching body treatment that is performed on a treatment table. Because FST targets the entire joint and joint capsule by gently pulling and moving your arms, legs, spine, and neck in a smooth motion through varying planes of movement, the experience is both stimulating and relaxing at the same time. In a session, your body will be moved and stretched in ways that you just can not do on your own.
Traction is very important to the treatment. Gentle traction is applied to the joint being targeted, opening up the joint and creating space for increased range of motion before taking the limb through the movement pattern — paying attention to the fascia restrictions that may need to be addressed.
FST is not a painful practice. However, you might find the stretching sensation uncomfortable if a joint is really restricted. As we always advise, it’s very important that you speak up if you are in pain or feeling intense stretches beyond your comfort zone.
Following your treatment, you may experience a sense of lightness or of being more open. Like most types of body work, the effects are cumulative. Long-term benefits of FST can include an increased range of motion and muscular balance. While FST can reduce risk or injury and improve muscle function, this type of stretching will decrease compression and impingement in joints.
A number of our trainers at TrainingSpaces offer FST — so don’t hesitate to contact us for more information.
For more information about FST, check out these links:
- http://performancebodywork.com/fascial-stretch-therapy-treatment/
- https://www.semisportmed.com/blog/what-is-fascial-stretch-therapy-
- https://www.shape.com/fitness/tips/fascial-stretching-benefits
- http://pushfitstudio.com/blog/51842/What-is-it-and-what-are-the-benefits-of-Facial-Stretch-Therapy-
Video: activekinetix.com, Burnaby / Vancouver