Fascial Stretch Therapy (FST) has been used in professional sports for over 25 years. FST is a pain free movement improved system that can benefit any athlete related to improving their performance of sport specific movements. FST is a huge benefactor to add into an existing strength and conditioning program from high school, collegiate and professional sport programs.

1. Using Fascial Stretch Therapy™
In Training To Win
Sean Freitas – B.S. Kinesiology, CPT, CFST, ICF-PCC
Heidi Freitas – B.S. Kinesiology, CPT, CFST, ICF-PCC

2. www.StretchToWin.com
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Holdings

3. Objectives
Fascia for coaches:
1. Functions
2. Problems
3. Solutions
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4. Mobility & Stability
Stabilit
y
Mobility
Fascial
Net
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5. Function of fascia
Movement
system
Communication
system
Force
trans-mission
system
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6. Muscle
Tendon
Ligament
Bone
Force transmission system
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Permission: Somatics.de

7. Movement system
Head to toe
container/connector
Joint
Muscle
Nerve
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8. Communication
Kinesthesia
Proprioception
Interoception
Nociception
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9. Problems with fascia…
Movemen
t system
Communicatio
n
system
Force
trans-mission
system
…are training problems!
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10. Common problems with fascia
Injury Thickens Scars
Glues Dehydrates
Restricts movement
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11. Solutions must…
Heal
Injury
Reduce
Thickening
Release
Scars
Detach
Glue
Rehydrate
Dehydrated
Free movement
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12. Solutions are few
 Training cannot always correct
 Manual therapy, massage or bodywork
techniques.
 Tools, e.g. Graston, ASTYM, etc.
 Assisted fascial stretching - FST
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13. Fascial Stretch Therapy™ (FST)
• Frees most restrictions to
movement
• Trains the brain and
nervous system
• Groove new movement
patterns immediately
• Faster, better training
results
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14. Fascial Stretch Therapy™ (FST)
1. All fascial layers accessed & corrected
2. Works fast
3. Pain-free
4. Based on
scientific evidence
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15. PRACTICAL
Assessments Fascial stretch protocols
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16. Fascial Assessments
ROM of Linked Joints
|
Myofascial chain stability & mobility
|
Nervous system mobility
||
Movement
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17. Fascial Mobility Assessments
Lower Body
• Squat
• Check Leg Length (LL)
• Passive SLR
• Passive hip joint capsule traction & stretch
• Lateral neuro-myofascial chain traction &
stretch
Re-assess LL, SLR, squat: Group 1, then 2
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18. Hip joint capsule traction notes
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19. Copyright©2014 Stretch to Win Holdings

20. Lateral Line Stretch Movement
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 position: Supine with arms at their side.
Therapist:
• Lift both of the client’s extended legs with
traction 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 until the client’s
movement stops.
• If their hip begins to roll up off the table you
have reached the end of their ROM.
Traction: Lean back with your body, stay relaxed.
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21. Fascial Mobility Assessments
Upper Body
Supine:
• Active arm length (palms together): 90°, full flexion
• Arms overhead (palms apart)
• Passive shoulder joint capsule traction-stretch: 90°
Side lying:
• Shoulder abduction-lateral line assessment-stretch
Re-assess: arm length and overhead [Group 1 then 2]
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22. Shoulder joint traction
Goal: Target tissues within the
posterior aspects of the shoulder joint.
Check for anterior posterior joint glide
and restrictions.
Client position: Client lying supine on
the table
Trainer/coach:
• Grasp client arm on the lower
arms bones to traction their arm
upward, keeping the clients elbow
straight. Hands are placed on each
side of their wrist above the joint.
• Traction 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 restrictions by gently lifting the
arm upward.
Traction: Shoulder up at 90° flexion.
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23. Lateral Line – upper body (part 1 of 2)
ROM-with client lying on side
• Hook your Traction arm at 90 deg
abduction
• Traction up to ceiling
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24. Lateral Line – upper body (part 2 of 2)
Stretch movement 1
• On exhale, traction out & down to floor
• Lift their arm up and over a stretch wave
• Increase overhead abduction
• Squat down for better 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 times
Stretch movement 2
• Maintain stretch position in #1 & have
client gently rotate torso toward/away
from floor/table. No PNF.
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25. 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
Kinetics: Champaign.
• Alter, M.A. 2004. The Science of Flexibility. Human Kinetics:
Champaign.
• www.fasciaresearchsociety.org
• www.fasciacongress.org
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26. Thank you!
www.StretchToWin.com
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