What Is Functional Stretch Therapy

Functional Stretch Therapy(FST)Great to know you're here wanting to know more about stretch therapy, or functional stretch therapy to be precise. Stretching has long has been commonplace in various training programmes of both recreational and competitive athletes to improve flexibility, movement, fitness, & the list goes on below. It's also used in sports medicine on preventative & post injuries, & is also used by many healthcare providers which include physiotherapists, chiropractors, osteopaths, & sports medicine trainers/ specialists all over the globe.
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Whether you're an athlete or have injuries that didn't heal properly or just want to take better care of your body for improved overall wellness, let's get you into a session of functional stretching therapy & how can stretching therapy may help with everything from being pain-free movement, to improved health.

Top 15 Benefits of Functional Stretch Therapy

While the list can go on, these are the top 15 benefits that a typical session can bring you:

1. Improved blood flow(decreased muscle soreness)
2. Decreased pain
3. A better joint capsule range of motion
4. Improved sports performance
5. Better flexibility in connective tissue(muscles)
6. Hydration of muscles and fascia(brings in more fluids to target/overall area)
7. Improve function
8. Increased strength
9. Improved endurance(buffer lactic acid in muscle)
10. Decrease stress levels(regulate your nervous system to rest & digest)
11. Lower risk of injury(end range of muscle motion)
12. Promotes lymphatic network system flow
13. Faster recovery between exercise sessions
14. Improved fitness/ health
15. Better joint mobility

What is Functional Stretch Therapy?

While most people would assume it's just stretching, there is more than that what happens during a session. Typically the first session is always longer with assessments on your musculoskeletal system to find any compensation that may be causing you pain, or to find out what may be holding back your athletic potential. The session follows through to two types of assessments:

1. Active standing assessments
2. Passive lying assessments

These will be combined to give the therapist an idea how your body is, both at rest & while at work(standing/ movement).

Is Stretch Therapy(FST) the same as massage therapy?

While many people think so, simply put, massage therapy is different from stretching therapy. A massage manipulates a muscle via kneading, strokes using forearms, elbows, & palms. Stretching on the other had elongates the tissue to bring in elasticity & blood flow along with breathwork to facilitate the nervous system to rest & diegst.

What does a stretch therapist(FST) do?

An FST session typically aims to manipulate the:

1. Connective tissue(muscles and fascia)
2. Visceral organs
3. Tendons

via your nervous system to allow a gentle release of the fascia using both active & passive stretches on a treatment table. Think of the functional stretch therapist as a robot software engineer who is trying to reprogram the computer system(the brain), so that the hardware(body) now can upregulate its functions. During an fst session, you may also be asked to do simple breathing techniques to facilitate further relaxation of the nervous system, which will allow a broader while stretching you.


You will also be positioned on your back, front, or sides to target specific chain of muscles/ movement. Often throughout the fst session, most of what they do is feel the tension in the fascia/connective tissue as they stretch and test your range of motion in various direction. This can only be achieved through professional training and experience a form of release.
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To help improve sporting activity which include :

• Strength
• Power
• Speed
• Agility
• Endurance

The Functional Stretching Therapists are also trained to work with joint mobility in those who have injuries such as post surgery, or pain caused by compensations which could decrease in:

• Movement(range of motion),
• Strength, &
• Flexibility

To help improve sporting activity which inlude :

• Strength
• Power
• Speed
• Agility
• Endurance

How often should i go for Functional Stretch Therapy?

Based on your current health, & physical activities in life, we give you the best guidelines on how you can have an effective session
One - two times weekly - Well if you exercise regularly, and have an active lifestyle, you can use the fst sessions as a way to help you get stronger, improve movement patterns (form), prevent injuries.
Two - three times weekly - To recover faster, better your flexibility. posture, have a more dynamic, & decrease chronic pain to being pain-free. AS you go by the therapy sessions, you start decreasing the frequency.

Is Functional Stretch Therapy Effective?

Is Functional Stretch Therapy Effective?Oftentimes, people who experience chronic pain from old injury will seek to see a functional stretch therapist to help with decreasing pain immediately, learn to manage before even treating the root of the pain. For those seeking fitness based goals, the FST therapist can custom the stretch session to suit their goal & change the stretches accordingly just like personal training. While stretching is a simple act, just trying to stretch into a new range of motion may hurt you more than having benefits of it, and leave you feeling unmotivated for a long time.

FST is a compilation of what is known as manual therapy techniques that helps with improving joint capsule lubrication, promoting less tension overall in the connective tissues.

While both of the systems are effective at stretching the body,& base the session on the fascia flexibility, Functional Stretch Therapy uses more of a clinical approach to stretching with orthopaedic tests to learn, & plenty of feel on every muscle tissue on the body through the clinical practicum. The functional stretch therapy course gives the stretch therapist in training ample time to hone a more dynamic session.

Is Fascial Stretch Therapy (FST) the same as Functional Stretch Therapy(FST)?

They have similarities in stretching techniques based on Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation(PNF) which both stretching systems use, & is for every one from professional athletes to managing injuries. Both the stretching systems don't stretch an isolated muscle, rather the kinetic chain.
Here is where the difference lies:

• Fascial stretch therapy(fst) trainees go through an extensive five days course
• Functional stretch therapy(fst) trainees go through a rigorous 7-8 weeks course(theory & clinical practicum) before completing an online test(85% passing rate), & having passed two practical case studies with a tester.
  
• They also learn about lymphatic systems, & neurology

Clients often report the immediate effects of functional stretch therapy every time, and even within the first session :

• Less tension
• Relaxed(sleepy)
• Improved range of motion
• Feeling lighter
• A higher self-awareness(connection with your own body)

All of this is achieved via the therapist's intent of working with your nervous system to help with stretching your body/fascia.
NOTE: Please never settle for anything less than a functional stretch therapy professional as they have been trained to accurately assess, stretch, & bring your body more life. Each FST therapist goes through a grueling minimum duration of 8 weeks of training & studying of the human anatomy, physiology, the systems of the body, plenty of hands-on & to meet all requirements to qualify as one.

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Get the best out of your body therapy & improve the dynamic flexibility of muscles, & overall health. Book yourself an appointment today, & get your stretch on. Best way to get any of your questions answered that wasn't answered in this article, contact our partnered stretching studio on WhatsApp +6587693235 or book your appointment staight below.

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