What is Fascia Stretch Therapy® (FST)?

FST is an assisted stretching technique developed with the body’s lines of fascia in mind. The client on a treatment table with comfortable straps to stabilize the part of the body not being worked on, while the therapist helps you into specific stretches. 

FST utilizes proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) stretching, traction, and breathing techniques to help relieve tightness in the joint capsule and muscle tissue and restore flexibility and range of motion. 

 

What is Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) Stretching?

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PNF; also called ‘contract-relax stretching’, is a stretching technique. During a FST session, the client is guided into a gentle stretch and then is asked to contract the muscle isometrically (contracts the muscle without movement) using 5-25% of max force for a few seconds and then relaxes. We then take advantage of the post contraction relaxation of the tissues to increase range of motion. This helps to create a gentle and enjoyable stretching experience. 

 

What are the benefits of FST?

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The light traction used throughout a FST session allows for a deeper stretch by creating more space in the joint; making FST a unique program. 

Some potential benefits of FST include:

• Decreased pain

• Decreased stress

• Increased sleep

• Increased flexibility and mobility

• Reduced muscle soreness 

• Increased balance and symmetry of the body

 

Although, first popularized with athletes, FST is also beneficial for anyone wanting more flexibility such as factory workers, drivers, office workers, PSWs, and just generally stiff individuals.

 

FST differs from massage therapy in that there is almost no direct muscle manipulations and it is practiced fully clothed

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Check out my blog post 'What the heck is FST??'