The Benefits of Fascial Stretch Therapy (FST)

I’m so excited to offer Fascial Stretch Therapy or FST in Milton! This is still a relatively new technique and it is performed through fascia or connective tissue lengthening and balancing both sides of your body. FST has been known to work on chronic, longstanding, or treatment-resistant conditions where little else has provided relief. In fact a “2017 FST RESEARCH STUDY shows statistically significant improvements in pain and ADL scores noted in the table. Ranges between 31% and 57% improvement after 1-3 treatments were measured compared to pre treatment time point.”(*)

Benefits of FST include:

• increased flexibility and mobility
• decreased pain
• decreased joint compression and impingement
• improved posture
• improved sports performance and muscle function
• increased blood supply
• reduced risk of injury
• reduced mental and physical stress
• better sleep

What is Fascia?

Fascia refers to the connective tissue that runs between muscles and internal organs. It’s made primarily of collagen and it serves, basically, to keep all those internal structures in place, enclosing the different tissues and separating them from each other. You can think of it as something like a flexible spider’s web that links and holds the different bodily structures together.

When those tissues are injured or stretched, it can result in scarring. Fascia at joints can become compressed over time, which can result in overcompensation by muscle groups, along with aches, pains, strain, and other symptoms. Fascial adhesions occur when the collagen fibers bond together and form harder – and less flexible – areas. It can result in decreased movement, pain and soreness.

How does FST work?

FST does just that – stretch the fascial (connective) tissue and please don’t mix it up with face (facial) stretch, lol. While traditional massage techniques work to manipulate and stretch one muscle or group at a time, FST looks to stretch multiple fasciae at a time by combining stretching with traction. FST helps to loosen up the fascia and joints, creating space where the lubricating synovial fluid can flow and ease movement. It works on the joint capsule and the fascia becomes more flexible, pliable and hydrated. FST is great to maintain healthy joints at any age!

FST is a pain-free and while therapeutic results are highly individualized and depend on each case, it has been known to help people with chronic conditions that didn’t respond to other treatments. What you should experience are improvements in mobility and flexibility, improved posture, increased strength, and improve blood flow.

Fascial Stretch Therapy is fully compatible with other forms of treatment and training. You will need 1-3 sessions to see the results and they are going to accumulate over time. Combined with exercises to help maintain mobility and strengthen your body in its new range, FST will help you move and feel better for whatever your needs may be.

Contact us today to book your Fascial Stretch Therapy (FST) session in Milton, Halton Hills, Georgetown or Mississauga, with a certified practitioner.

References:

(*) Stretch to Win Institute – full research abstract is available at https://stretchtowin.com/page/FST_Research