I have had the most amazing week working with both fitness and stretch clients. I'm not sure if it is because spring is in the air, but the positivity and enthusiasm that I'm coming across is infectious. Instead of coming to me and saying "I need you to fix me", which is what most people really want when they come to see a body work therapist, I am hearing "Can you show me what I need to do to make this issue improve....". I think that spring does that to people, its the "spring cleaning of your body" coming into play.
Well anyway, one of the most interesting cases I saw this week was a lady who has been suffering from pain between her shoulder blades when she tries to do any kind of exercise. Now, my first concern when I heard this was that cardiac pain can sometimes present as back pain, but Marie* assured me that this had been ruled out by a Doctor who told her that she needed physiotherapy for a muscle strain.
Marie also told me that she suffers frequently with tension headaches and always carries paracetamol in her bag. When I assessed her mobility, a number of things struck me -
1. Marie could only turn her head about halfway towards her shoulder on the right and even less on the left.
2. When I asked Marie to drop her chin towards her chest, she was only able to tilt her head forward slightly.
3. Marie's right shoulder was considerable higher than her left - and her left shoulder was sitting much higher than it should have been. She looked like she was carrying more stress in her shoulders than I have seen in a lifetime.
With some warm towels and a cozy blanket, Marie got comfortable and we started with some gentle mobilisation of the shoulder joints. We worked all the way down the spine, ringing out the muscles and soft tissue that travel the length of the back. We finished up the hour session with some gentle mobilisation of the neck coupled with some PNF stretching of the shoulders and despite pushing against pressure when I asked her to, Marie had to be woken up at the end of the session.
Marie found it quite difficult to relax for the first 20 mins of the session as she wasn't quite sure what to expect from the therapy. However, once we finished working on the first side, she was able to wind down and hand her limbs over to me. Marie* said that one of the best parts of the session was having the gentle traction applied all the way from the middle of her shoulder blades all the way up to the base of her skull - she described it as..."... having an unreachable itch scratched".
Marie will need more sessions to improve her range of movement further, but through gentle mobilisation of her shoulders, back and neck, she now has more movement than she did before she came for FST - and that was with mobilisation only along with some PNF for the upper traps.
We will get an update from Marie in the coming weeks as we continue therapy and see if this helps with her tension headaches. Any comments welcome ;)
Wednesday, 29 February 2012
Thursday, 23 February 2012
STRETCH TO SLEEP
I can't believe that we have hit the end of February already. February has been my busiest month yet for FST and I have had a very satisfying few weeks of therapy delivery. A number of factors have influenced my satisfaction levels.....
1) Word of mouth has provided me with a boost in client numbers - it's always great to hear "John told me about how you helped him with his hip issue....I wonder if you could help me...."
People only spend time talking about a therapy if it has really worked for them - and it has been plain to see over the last few weeks, that Fascial Stretch Therapy has been a welcome addition to the therapies offered in West Cork.
2) I have seen a really wide range of issues over the last month from old injuries, to niggling pains, to individuals who didn't know they had anything up until they got up off the table and felt so much better - one comment was "Oh my God, I havn't been able to do that since I was a teenager....". But you will have to come for a session to find out what 'that' was!
3) I have had a huge amount of positive feedback regarding the therapy. One client, who we will name Marie, told me that she thought that the rounding of her shoulders and her bad 'shape' (referring to the position of her shoulders and upper body posture) was hereditary. After 3 sessions (2 upper body, one lower body) , Marie is standing straighter and taller than she has in her whole life. She is no longer getting pains along her shoulders and she can sleep through the night now as she no longer gets the pains in her arms and shoulders from lying on her side. Marie has been seeing me for six weeks and while I have given her a selection of exercises to do at home, she does find it difficult to find the time to do them.
This is a very common problem, and working in fitness, I hear this every day. This is why group exercise can be so productive. Find a gym that will let you block book your week of classes for a set price - that way, your schedule is planned out for the week and you are more likely to get the work done! Remember that any therapy that you receive - be it FST, deep tissue massage, osteopathy or Active Release Technique, must be followed up with an effort on your behalf to maintain the effects. You must contribute to your own wellness!
One client has returned to me 3 weeks after his first session saying that the tightness in his calves had returned and that once again, he was having to cut down on his marathon training. Bearing in mind that this very fit gent is running in excess of 40 miles per week, I asked him if he had integrated the stretch programme I had given him, into his training week. When he sheepishly said that he hadn't, I did mention that I would be delighted to stretch him twice a week for a nominal fee..... I think he got my point after this. Of course, it would be fantastic for me if nobody took control in the management of their own mobility - but it wouldn't be so fantastic for their finances!
Finally, now that I have started therapy every Monday in the GAA complex in Ahamilla, Clonakilty, I am able to take early morning sessions and late evening sessions and everything in between, so many more will be able to benefit from a fulfilling nights sleep after a relaxing session of FST from me ;)
1) Word of mouth has provided me with a boost in client numbers - it's always great to hear "John told me about how you helped him with his hip issue....I wonder if you could help me...."
People only spend time talking about a therapy if it has really worked for them - and it has been plain to see over the last few weeks, that Fascial Stretch Therapy has been a welcome addition to the therapies offered in West Cork.
2) I have seen a really wide range of issues over the last month from old injuries, to niggling pains, to individuals who didn't know they had anything up until they got up off the table and felt so much better - one comment was "Oh my God, I havn't been able to do that since I was a teenager....". But you will have to come for a session to find out what 'that' was!
3) I have had a huge amount of positive feedback regarding the therapy. One client, who we will name Marie, told me that she thought that the rounding of her shoulders and her bad 'shape' (referring to the position of her shoulders and upper body posture) was hereditary. After 3 sessions (2 upper body, one lower body) , Marie is standing straighter and taller than she has in her whole life. She is no longer getting pains along her shoulders and she can sleep through the night now as she no longer gets the pains in her arms and shoulders from lying on her side. Marie has been seeing me for six weeks and while I have given her a selection of exercises to do at home, she does find it difficult to find the time to do them.
This is a very common problem, and working in fitness, I hear this every day. This is why group exercise can be so productive. Find a gym that will let you block book your week of classes for a set price - that way, your schedule is planned out for the week and you are more likely to get the work done! Remember that any therapy that you receive - be it FST, deep tissue massage, osteopathy or Active Release Technique, must be followed up with an effort on your behalf to maintain the effects. You must contribute to your own wellness!
One client has returned to me 3 weeks after his first session saying that the tightness in his calves had returned and that once again, he was having to cut down on his marathon training. Bearing in mind that this very fit gent is running in excess of 40 miles per week, I asked him if he had integrated the stretch programme I had given him, into his training week. When he sheepishly said that he hadn't, I did mention that I would be delighted to stretch him twice a week for a nominal fee..... I think he got my point after this. Of course, it would be fantastic for me if nobody took control in the management of their own mobility - but it wouldn't be so fantastic for their finances!
Finally, now that I have started therapy every Monday in the GAA complex in Ahamilla, Clonakilty, I am able to take early morning sessions and late evening sessions and everything in between, so many more will be able to benefit from a fulfilling nights sleep after a relaxing session of FST from me ;)
Tuesday, 17 January 2012
WHAT IS FASCIAL STRETCH THERAPY?
Fascial Stretch Therapy is a unique system of therapy and training that dramatically improves your flexibility by lengthening your fascia. This therapy was created by former professional ballet dancer Ann & her husband, Physiotherapist, Chris Frederick of the Stretch To Win Institute in Arizona.
Fascia is the connective tissue that surrounds & all structures of the body. As you age, fascia will thicken & shorten. Add to this the stress that your body is under from poor posture, lack of exercise, injury, surgery, disease or over-training - and you get a body that is stiff, sore and injury prone.
While many therapies can help these conditions, only FST™ can completely treat inflexible fascia at the deepest level - your joint capsule. Tension in the tissue and around the joint is released to restore & improve range of movement and take away pain caused by past injuries. This system focuses on realigning, elongating and balancing the body.
People ask- "Can I not achieve similar results on my own by doing a stretch class?". But when people try to stretch themselves, while they can make some gains, it can be difficult to relax enough or target specific areas as efficiently.
Before beginning a stretch session, you will be asked to perform some basic stretches- touching your toes, squatting, holding your arms over your head/ behind your back. After the session, you will be asked to complete the same stretch so that you can see where gains have been made.
The benefits of this therapy do not stop here. Many clients find a session so relaxing that they fall asleep, and many people report that they get a fantastic night sleep after a session. For a FST session, the client is required to lie on a bed and have one leg strapped down above and below the knee to prevent movement. Clients can book for 40, 60 & 90 minute sessions and a session costs the same as a deep tissue massage @ €35, 50 & €70.
"You don't realise how tight and stuck you were until you float out of a treatment feeling like you have been given a new body - and you literally feel the improved circulation through all areas that have been treated" says Fiona, who received a number of treatments in July of last year. Fiona has treated dancers, musicians, rugby players, boxers, Runners and even a roller derby player....and while this therapy is beneficial to athletes, it is not limited to those who play sports. " I have also treated individuals who spend a lot of time sitting at desks or on computers and the results that I have seen in these areas are just as amazing".
Fiona operates out of her home in Clonakilty and the Ballincollig Osteopathic Clinic, Unit 2, Old Town House, Ballincollig. Contact Fiona on 087 3841233 or email westcorkfit@gmail.com for information or to book a session.
Fascia is the connective tissue that surrounds & all structures of the body. As you age, fascia will thicken & shorten. Add to this the stress that your body is under from poor posture, lack of exercise, injury, surgery, disease or over-training - and you get a body that is stiff, sore and injury prone.
While many therapies can help these conditions, only FST™ can completely treat inflexible fascia at the deepest level - your joint capsule. Tension in the tissue and around the joint is released to restore & improve range of movement and take away pain caused by past injuries. This system focuses on realigning, elongating and balancing the body.
People ask- "Can I not achieve similar results on my own by doing a stretch class?". But when people try to stretch themselves, while they can make some gains, it can be difficult to relax enough or target specific areas as efficiently.
Before beginning a stretch session, you will be asked to perform some basic stretches- touching your toes, squatting, holding your arms over your head/ behind your back. After the session, you will be asked to complete the same stretch so that you can see where gains have been made.
The benefits of this therapy do not stop here. Many clients find a session so relaxing that they fall asleep, and many people report that they get a fantastic night sleep after a session. For a FST session, the client is required to lie on a bed and have one leg strapped down above and below the knee to prevent movement. Clients can book for 40, 60 & 90 minute sessions and a session costs the same as a deep tissue massage @ €35, 50 & €70.
"You don't realise how tight and stuck you were until you float out of a treatment feeling like you have been given a new body - and you literally feel the improved circulation through all areas that have been treated" says Fiona, who received a number of treatments in July of last year. Fiona has treated dancers, musicians, rugby players, boxers, Runners and even a roller derby player....and while this therapy is beneficial to athletes, it is not limited to those who play sports. " I have also treated individuals who spend a lot of time sitting at desks or on computers and the results that I have seen in these areas are just as amazing".
Fiona operates out of her home in Clonakilty and the Ballincollig Osteopathic Clinic, Unit 2, Old Town House, Ballincollig. Contact Fiona on 087 3841233 or email westcorkfit@gmail.com for information or to book a session.
Saturday, 7 January 2012
BALLINCOLLIG & CLONAKILTY CLINICS
Another reminder folks:
Clinic returns to Clonakilty next week, from Monday 9th of January and in Ballincollig on Monday 23rd of January. Evening appointments available. Book early to avoid disappointment.
Clinic returns to Clonakilty next week, from Monday 9th of January and in Ballincollig on Monday 23rd of January. Evening appointments available. Book early to avoid disappointment.
FST FEATURED IN RUNNERS WORLD
Hi folks,
It's great to see the profile of fascial stretch therapy being raised. In November, FST was featured in the American Runners World and further to this, Human Kinetics have featured webinars and videos on this therapy. If you were curious to see what is ACTUALLY involved in an FST session, check out this link: http://www.humankinetics.com/raisingthebar/raising-the-bar/listen-now-fascial-stretch-therapy-fst-the-missing-link-in-training-fitness-and-rehab
Alternatively, if you would like to see pictures of me treating clients so that you can see what kind of gains can be made during a session, then leave a comment.
Chat soon,
Fiona Bron :-))
It's great to see the profile of fascial stretch therapy being raised. In November, FST was featured in the American Runners World and further to this, Human Kinetics have featured webinars and videos on this therapy. If you were curious to see what is ACTUALLY involved in an FST session, check out this link: http://www.humankinetics.com/raisingthebar/raising-the-bar/listen-now-fascial-stretch-therapy-fst-the-missing-link-in-training-fitness-and-rehab
Alternatively, if you would like to see pictures of me treating clients so that you can see what kind of gains can be made during a session, then leave a comment.
Chat soon,
Fiona Bron :-))
Tuesday, 3 January 2012
OFF SEASON STRETCHING
Well folks,
Happy New Year! I hope everyone enjoyed the break. It was lovely to be able to get out and train for 20 minutes at a time with no long runs taking up the whole morning! But while we lay off the training, we also lay off the stretching. I am filling my books with people who are saying "I went out fr the first run of the year and my hip/calf/hamstring is killing me....". It's no surprise that last years mild aches are presenting themselves as full blown training stoppers now. And while we make that extre effort to stretch as we restart our training, we really are starting back at square one or two. The beauty about facial stretch therapy is that it is the one element of your training regime that you will see changes in JUST ONE SESSION - for exactly the same as you would pay for a deep tissue massage. Give it a try! Just once! It's the athlete's golden goose!
Chat soon, Fi :))
Happy New Year! I hope everyone enjoyed the break. It was lovely to be able to get out and train for 20 minutes at a time with no long runs taking up the whole morning! But while we lay off the training, we also lay off the stretching. I am filling my books with people who are saying "I went out fr the first run of the year and my hip/calf/hamstring is killing me....". It's no surprise that last years mild aches are presenting themselves as full blown training stoppers now. And while we make that extre effort to stretch as we restart our training, we really are starting back at square one or two. The beauty about facial stretch therapy is that it is the one element of your training regime that you will see changes in JUST ONE SESSION - for exactly the same as you would pay for a deep tissue massage. Give it a try! Just once! It's the athlete's golden goose!
Chat soon, Fi :))
Wednesday, 30 November 2011
GET STRETCHED AT THE CLONAKILTY WATERFRONT MARATHON
Hi all, just to let you know that if you are in the registration hall on Friday 9th of December collecting your race pack for the Clonakilty Waterfront Marathon, I will be there booking in stretches for those of you with aching legs from the drive down South, or some roll over aches and pains from DCM.
Look forward to seeing you there, Fiona Bron ;))
Look forward to seeing you there, Fiona Bron ;))
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