What Is Fascia Stretch Therapy (FST)?

Short answer. Fascia Stretch Therapy (FST) is a type of assisted stretching done on a treatment table. I guide your body through slow, comfortable stretches that work along whole lines of tissue, not one muscle at a time. I use it alongside a movement assessment. It is not a medical treatment, and I don't diagnose conditions.

What is fascia?

Fascia is the connective tissue that wraps around your muscles, nerves and organs. Stiffness can come from muscles, joints, fascia, or a mix. An assessment helps decide where to focus.

How is FST different from stretching on your own?

The main difference is how it is delivered.

• Traditional stretching is active and static. You hold one position, usually for one muscle, in one direction.
• FST is assisted. I move you, so you don't have to hold the position yourself.
• Traction first. I gently pull on the joint to create space before the stretch.
• Whole lines, many directions. Stretches follow tissue chains and move through more than one plane.
• Paced with your breathing. Movement is slow and continuous, matched to your breath.
• Comfortable, not forced. The goal is a stretch you can breathe through. It should not feel sharp or painful. Tell me, and we change it.

What does a session involve?

• We talk through how you move and what you want to work on, then do a movement assessment.
• You lie on the treatment table. Straps are available for FST, but I don't use them. That keeps it easy to move on and off the table and onto the gym floor.
• I guide each stretch. You tell me how it feels, and we adjust.

What should I wear?

Wear or bring comfortable activewear, such as shorts, a sports bra, a tank top or a T-shirt. This makes it easy to move during your assessment and treatment, and it lets me reach the areas we need to work on. I usually don't use linens.

Who is it for?

Active people who feel tight or stiff, including golfers who want to move more freely. FST sits inside an assessment-led session and is not right for every situation. If you have a health concern, tell me before your first visit.

How do I book it?

FST is one of the options in a 30-, 60-, or 90-minute massage. See services and rates. Your first visit is ais part of an assessment-led session and isn't Initial Treatment, which includes a movement assessment.

Credentials

Marco de Leon, RMT, holds Fascia Stretch Therapy Level 3 certification.