Who wouldn’t want a good massage on a weekend after stressing out your muscles all week long? The answer of course is, nobody. It just seems like the right thing to do, not minding the cost or whatever.
Let me put this to you straight; instead of paying that masseur of yours, may I recommend you get one who is a specialist at doing fascial stretch therapy to help you with your massage this weekend? Believe me, it’s another realm of a mind-blowing experience. I bet you’d love to go there.
With this piece, I’d attempt to describe how fascial stretch therapy is done, and I’d also intimate you on its enormous benefits. I’m quite convinced that before you finish reading this article, your appetite would have been whet to the extent that you’d on the internet searching for the best place to get a fascial stretch in your area.
However, without much ado, let’s quickly get into the discussion.
What is Fascial Stretch Therapy?
This question has been lingering on your mind since you caught a glimpse of the title right? Of course. Its answer is not far-fetched though. Stretching the muscles is normal as it helps you increase blood flow, and heal sore muscles. However, fascial stretch therapy is much more than that. It entails stretching the fascia. What then is the fascia? The fascia is the connective tissue that envelopes the bones, muscles, and organs. In other words, the fascia is like the binding thread that binds every muscle, bones, tendons, ligaments, and organs of the body together.
The fascial stretch therapy was pioneered by Ann Frederick in 1996. She was a manual therapist who helped professional athletes get in shape. The fascial therapy works by stretching the joints along with the muscles that surround it such that both the fascia tissue and muscles are relaxed simultaneously.
What makes the Fascial Stretch Therapy Unique?
Unlike the massage therapy that focuses on only muscle rejuvenation, the Fascial Stretch therapy helps to achieve a more intense relaxation. It is an all-encompassing process which is also deeper than massage therapy. While massage entails a lot of various activities such as kneading and stroking to loosen muscle knots, the fascial stretch makes use of sustained pressure on the concerned fascia which consequently releases any tension in that muscle. In other words, FST saves more time while achieving more than massage therapy.
Some other benefits of fascial stretch therapy include the following;
- Heightened performance
Fascial stretch therapy is reputable for increasing the performance of athletes. It is scientifically backed to improve speed, endurance, and balance. Also, it has helped weight lifters to lift heavier bars. It’s the ability to improve coordination while also enhancing flexibility is second to none. An athlete who regularly engages in the fascia is better off their contemporaries who are just into massage therapy.
- Quick recovery
Apart from the fact that the fascial stretch therapy has the ability to ease soreness and rejuvenate the worn-out muscles, it also has the ability to boost blood flow hence, helping you to recover swiftly from a rigorous work out session.
- Increases range of motion
The fascial stretch therapy is equally renowned for its ability to break up worn-out tissues thereby allowing a free flow of motion in those injured areas. Unlike other types of therapy which takes time to heal, the fascial stretch is just like a magic touch. Its therapeutic ability is guaranteed any day anytime.
- Stress relief
Nothing helps better to relieve stress than the FST. The miracle of this therapy is in the doing. Initially, it was a procedure only meant for professional athletes. However, in modern times, people from different walks of life are beginning to covet its many benefits. Hence, it is now being favoured above the usual massage.
- Less pain
Unlike massage therapy which is usually painful because of the processes involved in repairing affected muscles, fascial stretch therapy simply focuses on the target area upon which steady pressure is applied. After the stretch has been done within the space of three to five minutes, the stretched muscle is already rejuvenated. It’s a process that is somewhat painless.
- Injury recovery
FST makes it possible to recover on time from injury. Where sprained muscles exist, FST is done and in no time, the muscle is resuscitated.
- Muscle activation
It helps to reinvigorate muscles to such an extent that numb muscles are reactivated. This and more are the many benefits of the fascial stretch therapy.