Flexible Times Newsletter — Summer Issue 6

SUMMER NEWSLETTER — ISSUE 6

FST Technique - Integrating Compression for Hypermobility

Increasingly, FST practitioners have been asking us for guidance on how to manage clients and patients with hypermobility. First, we’ll discuss systemic or global hypermobility.

Some of you may have seen Chris Frederick’s interview with functional medicine physician Aaron Hartman, MD in which Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder (HSD) is extensively discussed. What was covered and not commonly known or recognized is that HSD accompanies many complex medical conditions like POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome), Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, Marfans Syndrome, and others. One major take-away from that interview was that despite the complexity of those conditions, treating hypermobility was one major factor in reducing morbidity (or suffering) from accompanying symptoms like pain, fear, anxiety and depression from lack of confidence in functioning with an unstable body structure.

Chris Frederick also wrote a blog on this topic that thoroughly discussed hypermobility, how to test for it and train proprioception. Additionally, valuable resources were cited to help you manage your clients with this condition.

Recently, Ann Frederick has been working on our employee, Madison who helps manage our workshops, with what Ann suspects may be Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, an extreme or severe form of hypermobility. Madi has also adapted to a gait anomaly which manifests as a high step, short stride gait due to ankle dorsiflexors that cannot fully activate from a complex past medical history and surgery. Chronic symptoms include systemic pain and tightness, especially neck, shoulders and hips.

In the video below, Ann introduces you to what will soon become new training for all FST practitioners – integrating compression and dynamic stabilization with FST. While this is a basic educational and not an instructional video, it will introduce you to important concepts that we are working on before we create training for you in this extremely helpful technique. Enjoy!

FST Practitioner Highlight

Susan Bonin, ER physician’s assistant, personal trainer, yoga instructor & Level 3 FST practitioner created a NEW shoulder reduction method that was inspired by our FST training! Relatively pain-free and without medications, her method will revolutionize how dislocations can now be reduced without further trauma to tissue which commonly happens with the way they are now treated in all emergency departments and urgent care centers.

In this video, Chris Frederick, PT & co-director of the Stretch to Win Institute discusses with Susan how she developed this incredibly effective method that is less invasive, more patient friendly and caring to a person in severe pain and disability.

Referral Program

For every person you refer to our Level 1 workshop in the USA or Canada, you will get $50 unlimited account credit!

Go to this link to read the details and start referring now.

Do you have someone in mind – a colleague, friend, family member, or even a client – that you know would love a new opportunity to get trained to be a FST practitioner?

Some of our best students whose lives were changed after our training came from our FST Family. We want to extend an invitation to you to help someone’s dream come true and start a passionate career helping others with their hands and heart!

Go to this link to read more and start referring now. 

Thank you!!

REGISTER NOW for Level 2 Frederick Stretch Therapy®

“Level 1 is FST technique, but Level 2 is the art of FST”.

Following the “protocol or recipe” of Level 1 has helped the majority of clients and patients of our students. However, with success comes the challenge of getting more referrals with complex conditions. Clients often hit a plateau and progress stops when the limits of Level 1 technique are reached. This is when advanced methods are needed, not only with complex conditions but with the higher expectations and goals required from professional and high-level athletes. Instead of just hearing this from us, we introduce you to one of your FST Family members who has a very inspiring story to tell you.

Blake is a personal trainer, nutritionist, and now a Level 3 and Sports FST Specialist. In the video above, she just completed Level 2 and talks about how she has significantly helped not only the people closest to her, personally, but also made a huge impact on the citizens who make some of the biggest sacrifices – the people in the military and their families.

You know you need Level 2 when you get stuck just doing the Level 1 routine, your client hits a plateau or when you know you need more skills and tools to make the biggest impact in your client’s quality of life. Enjoy!

The Controversy about Stretching

click here to enlarge

A great deal of controversy was generated by an article about the effects of stretching before and after exercising. This article appeared in August of 2002 in a British Medical Journal (1). So much controversy, indeed, that the esteemed editor of the highly regarded Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapy, Leon Chaitow (now deceased), felt compelled to invite ten commentaries from professionals and put them together into an article, ‘The stretching debate’(2). Incidentally, FST was given due mention as a comparison and contrast to the stretching cited in the article about negative or insignificant stretching effects and exercise.

Over the 20 years since that article, many others across all media formats have added content, with further debates mostly focused on whether one should stretch at all (3). Despite all the controversy, stretching has never been more popular than today. In fact, it is now a business worth over $22 billion in the United States alone, and the focus of some of the top franchises, a number that is still expanding, with the StretchLab brand leading the pack at over 300 locations in North America and 800+ licensed locations globally (4). Yet, stretching still has its controversies and detractors, more amongst some professionals who then inform the public about their opinions and advice about stretching.

FST practitioners should be aware, informed and educated about any controversies on stretching, so that you may feel confident and articulate enough to explain your answers to clients, patients, referral sources and the media. Here are some main points:

• Stay tuned for upcoming simple graphics that you can use in your practice to educate your clients and the public about FST vs traditional stretching that is being done in franchises today!

• Traditional stretching is based on the mechanical model of the body structure and function being like a machine, i.e. body is the sum total of its parts. So, if a part is broken or not working then the part needs to be fixed or replaced (regardless of any other factors for the most part).
• FST is based on the newer biodynamic model that the body is not like machine at all. One body part affects all other parts simultaneously through the fascia web that structurally connects all elements. It functionally communicates all information separate from and integrated with the brain and nervous system.
• Traditional assisted stretching is performed passively (or with a contract-relax phase) with the intent of pushing the barrier of restriction further until ‘normal range of motion’ is achieved one muscle at a time. The joint capsule is not addressed. Intensity is usually moderate to strong, duration 30-60 seconds, repeated twice. This experience is often reported as painful or uncomfortable by the client and results are temporary.
• FST may be performed passively, actively or with resistance through the range of motion with the intent of improving omni direction range of motion both in the joint capsule and neuromyofasciae of the entire body. Intensity is light to moderate, duration of the stretch is breath guided and frequency is individualized for the needs and goals of the client. The experience is non painful, highly enjoyable and long lasting.
• Little to no physical evaluation and assessment is performed at most stretch franchises, while FST practitioners give a full body flexibility examination of the joint capsules, myofasciae and neural mobility at the highest levels of training.

References:

1. Herbert, R., Gabriel, M. 2002. Effects of stretching before and after exercising on muscle soreness and risk of injury: systematic review. British Medical Journal 325: 468.
2. Chaitow, L. 2003. The stretching debate. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies (2003)7(2), 80. doi: 10.1016/S1360-8592(02)00113-4
3. Reynolds, G. 2013.Do we need to stretch? N.Y. Times. well.blogs.nytimes.com [Accessed 4 November 2013].
4. stretchlab. com/franchise

Clients over 65? We Need Your Help!

You may possibly get FST covered in the USA and paid for by Medicare Advantage if you are willing to help us.

Please ask clients / patients the following 3 questions, then have them fill out a simple form at the link below.

1) Are you 65 or older?

If yes, then continue to question 2.
If no, do not continue as client must be 65 or older.

2) Are you currently on Medicare A&B? If yes, then ask the next question.

If yes, then continue to question 3.
If no, do not continue as client must have Medicare A & B.

3) Do you participate in a Medicare Advantage plan? 

If yes, ask: would you like to participate in our pilot research program to see if your FST sessions can be a covered service under your health insurance plan?
If they answer yes, please complete the Client Participation Consent Form, and someone from the STWI office will be in contact with you.
If no, do not continue as client must have a Medicare Advantage plan.

FST Business Ad-ons

As many of you know, we use PRōZE products because their organic, non-THC CBD based full spectrum hemp products WORK for sleep, immunity, myofascia and performance.

Integrate these products into your life and work for even better results and increased client satisfaction, while increasing revenue both passively and actively as you choose.

NODZZZ
(Ann's personal favorite sleep supplement) 😴
helps support restful sleep + calmness + promotes relaxation

SHIELD
helps support a healthy immune system + a healthy inflammatory response

NERVE
a topical cream to soothe aches + muscle tightness + nerve discomfort + protects skin

GUMEEZ
helps supports calmness + peace + mellow

YIPEEZ
helps focus + clarity + concentration

All of these products are available for purchase at the Stretch to Win Institute.
Just visit the front desk anytime to purchase at a 15% discount!

You can also receive 15% off all products at PRōZE.com by entering the
discount code STRETCHTOWIN at checkout every time you order.

PRōZE is searching for those individuals that want to live organically fierce + want to help others achieve their best, healthiest, happiest self through our products and community. If that’s you, then apply to become a PRōZE Ambassador or Retailer!

Ambassador: Receive a personalized code and a link to post for your followers. Anyone who uses the code will get 15% off of any products they buy and the Ambassador gets 20% commission on all sales!

Retailer/Wholesaler: Purchase products at 50% off and then sell them at retail price. (Once you are set up as a Retailer you become an Ambassador automatically.)

BECOME AN AMBASSADOR | BECOME A RETAILER

Go to Top          

For FST Practitioners Only

RECERTIFICATION ONLINE is available and has been extended to 2 YEARS for anyone currently certified and to those who have been certified within the last 5 years, but have not recertified. Online FST re-certification registration is available on a continuous basis. You must register on our website prior to certificate expiration or submit a contact form for more information if you cannot login.

Anyone at 5 years or longer must attend a live FST certification workshop at your current FST level, or the next level up. A 50% discount off tuition for a live workshop is available to repeat the current level. Please submit a contact form for more information.

FREE WEBINAR Aug. 1st

Solutions for chronic postpartum pain & dysfunction with Chris Frederick, PT and Diane Lee, PT,
author of The Pelvic Girdle and creator of the Integrated Systems Model

Description: discussion of evaluation and treatment of persistent pelvic girdle pain (especially sacroiliac joint or pubic symphysis region); chronic separation of the left and right rectus abdominis (i.e. diastasis rectus abdominis); posture related persistent neck and mid-back pain (e.g. nociceptive and neuropathic burning between the scapulae).

When: Tuesday, August 1^st at 5pm Pacific / 6pm Mountain / 7pm Central / 8pm Eastern in North America (or GMT-7).

REGISTRATION LINK: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_vg-9XlcJTzK3M91BDUdLWQ

Photo of diastisis condition with kind permission from Diane Lee, PT

Go to Top

Recommended Podcasts

Recommended Books

Notes on Complexity
A Scientific Theory of Connection, Consciousness, and Being

Fascia: What It Is, and Why It Matters
Second Edition

Stretch to Win
Second Edition

Fascial Stretch Therapy
Second Edition