Functional Fascia Protocols (FFP)

This is the product of many years examining patients and trying to find my way to the cause rather than just naming, and treating the symptoms.

Whilst standard orthopaedic tests have their place, they provide only a small part of what is usually a much bigger picture.  I was always intrigued as to why, for instance, someone might tear one achilles and not the other? Why, when using both arms a person will “strain” only one tricep?

Of course direct traumas, occupations and life stresses can cause things to happen however, what about those cases without a direct trauma, that don’t actually make sense? I have often questioned whether it is normal to get injured from using one limb more the other?  Is it enough to call it a repetitive strain, tendonitis or tendinopathy? I personally do not believe that is an adequate explanation.

One could argue does it really matter? Well, in my experience, it does matter quite a lot.  Many people are looking for the label to describe what they are feeling, and, these labels are often reached without much thought at all.  Elbow pain becomes either “tennis or golfers elbow”, wrist pain becomes “carpel tunnel syndrome”, low back pain becomes “slipped disc or sciatica”.  Or, if you are over a certain age, they are all labelled “arthritis”.  My point here is, the why is never being addressed, too often people are given pills and advised to ice and rest.  Unfortunately these three things are the worst you can do for musculoskeletal pain. Also these “labels” can have detrimental effects on recovery, with many people believing they should not be moving or doing things. They become scared and stop moving due to fear which frankly, can become the beginning of the end of quality of life.

During my years studying I began to use the musculofascial and nervous systems as a guide.  By studying how the systems function as a team, I started using a form of neurokinetic testing. Not to test individual muscles as I do not believe this is biomechanically possible, but to test resisted ranges of movement for symmetry and weakness. I then began using various movements and exercises that I deemed specific to the issue as an intervention.  The majority of movements I use are related to primal movements, especially early on in cases, I never use isolated exercises.  Once I find how to get someone moving with increased confidence, I then treat them using various manual therapy techniques including, chiropractic and myofascial release.  Level of exercise and complexity of movement increases as people are able to move more however, I do make people work hard right from the start, if a load isn't challenging enough, it will never achieve change. 

It took me some time to be able to put this procedure into words. It eventually developed into my 6 step protocol which practitioners are finding incredibly helpful.  I am not usually a fan of protocols as such however, a base from which to start is always needed. The protocol once learned, encourages you to think outside the box and make both exercises and treatments bespoke for each patient according to their individual patterns of dysfunction.

The protocol is available to see in detail in my masterclass course, a short course on the recent workshops is available which, will give you an overview of the concepts and a provide a great starting point. Should you wish to have a succinct idea of the protocols a course on this is also now available which is completely visual where, I take you through a full examination, exercise intervention and treatment.