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Trip Report: Fascial Stretch Therapy™

An in-depth look at this learning-intense, sold-out PICP seminar

Another sold-out seminar, another group of highly trained personal trainers. That’s the best way to describe the recent hands-on training seminar we sponsored, Fascial Stretch Therapy™: Level I Certification.

The seminar was held over five days, February 1-5, at the Poliquin Strength Institute in East Greenwich, Rhode Island. Ann and Chris Frederick, the founders of the class, were the instructors, so students were learning from the best.

Due to the amount of material covered and because the Fredericks wanted to ensure that the students mastered the numerous skills taught, the classes started at 7 a.m. and ended at 6 p.m. Whew! An extensive training manual was provided, and each skill was explained and demonstrated throughout. But the focus was on practice, practice, practice. Students also switched partners frequently so they would know how to adapt their skills to different body types. And as has been the trend at all Poliquin seminars, the body types ranged from slender Pilates instructors to serious bodybuilders with arms that resembled, as Hulk Hogan would say, “bone crushing pythons.”

In addition to the Fredericks’ emphasis on making sure that what the students learned in class could be applied immediately to their athletes, what impressed me about this class was their practical and logical approach to stretching. For example, here are their 10 Fundamental Principles of Fascial Stretch Therapy:

1. Synchronize breathing without movement
2. Tune nervous system to current conditions
3. Follow a logical order
4. Achieve range-of-motion gain without pain
5. Stretch fascia, not just muscles
6. Use multiple planes of movement
7. Target the entire joint
8. Get maximal lengthening with traction
9. Facilitate body reflexes for optimal results
10. Adjust stretching to the current goals

Can’t argue with that!

One of the unique aspects of this class was that it went into great detail about assessing the needs of the client. This approach included instruction on how to assess posture and range of motion of each major joint. With this information, the instructor can help set realistic goals for their clients and also determine which approach to use to achieve these goals.

The primary stretching method used in this class can be described as assisted fascial stretching, whereby a client is placed on a treatment table and the practitioner moves the client’s limbs through various ranges of motion. Comfortable straps are used for certain stretches to stabilize limbs or parts of the body that are not being worked on. But it is much more than simply static stretching, as many of the techniques used also stretch the connective tissue in the body known as fascia. Chris says the condition of the fascia plays a very important role not only in determining the range of motion of each joint but also in the physiology and kinesiology of all muscles.

The basic method the Fredericks use to develop a stretching program is called the Stretching Matrix™. Here is how they describe it: “It begins with the core eight stretches for the low back, pelvis, and hips for the lower body and the shoulder girdle for the upper body. It builds outward to the rest of the trunk and extremities. The program progresses in a logical and comprehensive fashion, with stretching regions of muscle and fascia that are both short and long as well as both deep and superficial.”

In addition to demonstrating assisted stretching, the Fredericks also introduced a practical form of self-stretching for not just clients but also the practitioners. As with the assisted stretching methods, students performed all the stretches with the Fredericks supervising to ensure perfect technique.

Because each student will be a representative of their program, the Fredericks administered written and practical tests throughout the five days of classes to ensure mastery of their methods. The required readings for the class were Stretch to Win by Ann and Chris Frederick, and Science of Flexibility by Michael Alter, 3rd edition. In addition, the Fredericks distributed a list of additional readings so the students could further their education. One of their favorites is Anatomy Trains, 2nd edition, by Thomas W. Myers, which goes into extensive detail about the fascial system. Another is Muscles, Testing and Function by Florence Peterson Kendall, PT, which is considered a classic textbook on postural assessment.

All participants received four Fascial Stretch Therapy™ table belts, a course manual and DVD set, a special book on how to grow their business using the skills they learned, permission to use the Stretch to Win® Certified logo, and a listing on the Stretch Therapist Locator section of the Stretch to Win website. As a bonus, Ann and Chris presented valuable information on marketing this type of training, based upon their success and the success of their students. Chris says adding this type of service to a personal training business becomes an “amazing cash generator” because you can offer a service that few trainers can provide – a service that will help people improve the quality of their lives.

I thought this seminar was amazing, and my conversations with students confirmed my opinion. For example, here is what Maria Mechor, a Pilates instructor from Toronto, Ontario, said: “Ann and Chris Frederick’s knowledge of fascial therapy is unsurpassed. I can hardly wait to use this new knowledge and skill to enhance the flexibility and mobility of my clients.”