Bend Health WINTER EDITION 2017 | Page 27

Highest Potential Massage focuses on getting you back on your feet doing what you love. Specializing in Sports and Therapeutic Massage as well as Fire Cupping. Brandi Jacobson is an Athlete, caregiver and coach, she understands the setbacks and stresses that come with acute or chronic pain. Brandi Jacobson, LMT#22000 Highest Potential Massage Therapy • (541) 420-8051 [email protected] • Find me at: 2100 NE Neff Rd. Suite B Fascial Stretch Therapy for Pain Relief by Tyler Kragerud Fascial Stretch Therapy (FST) is a technique used to stretch the body using a series of natural movements. FST isused by elite athletes around the globe including teams within the Olympic Games, NFL, and NHL. How does FST differ from massage? It’s performed with clothes on, eliminating a need for draping and allows the practitioner to maneuver a body through all ranges of motion (ROM). FST utilizes straps to anchor down one leg at a time, allowing opposite leg to move more freely through ROM without compensation patterns. It uses a client’s’ own body to massage itself from the inside out! Each FST stretch is performed with mild traction to create space within the joint capsule. This increase in space allows deep fascial restrictions to release, then increases circulation and healing. By accessing and mobilizing a joint in 360-degrees, long-standing fascial restrictions that inhibit proper movement can be assessed and eliminated. The combination of traction, joint mobilization, and pain-free movement releases areas of the body that may not get touched by other therapies.  How does FST differ from regular stretching? A comparison between FST and traditional stretching can be illustrated with the hamstrings. FST targets the entire posterior chain of myofascial tissue, a hamstring stretch via FST can be felt from the bottom of a person’s foot through the calf, hip, and up through the spine. We view the body as a whole, so we treat it as one. We are trained to feel and release hips, thighs, lower leg, spine, shoulders, arms, and neck via myofascial meridians. Who can benefit from FST? Those who hold tension in their connective tissues, such as joint stiffness, hip and low back tension/pain or a feeling of whole-body tightness, fatigue, or imbalance. Active populations such as recreational athletes are a great fit for FST and the aging population that desires pain-free movement. What’s the best part about FST? Results LAST! WINTER 2017 || BEND HEALTH GUIDE || 27