Dr. Robert Schleip: Fascinating Fascia Research Update with Clinical Applications for Manual Therapy Around the Spine and Thorax, Fascia as a Sensory Organ

Workshop for Hands-on Therapists with Dr. Robert Schleip:

Fascinating Fascia  - Research Update with Clinical Applications for Manual Therapy Around the Spine and Thorax, Fascia as a Sensory Organ

Fascia forms a body-wide interconnected network of fibrous collagenous connective tissues. This network envelops and connects all organs, muscles, nerves and vessels. While being largely neglected in the past, the fascial web recently gained new scientific attention based on new measurement technologies. New research findings suggest that fascial tissues significantly influence muscular force transmission; they also form the basis of perception of our own body (proprioception) as well as of many myofascial pain syndromes.  

This workshop begins with an update on new insights regarding the biomechanical functions of the body-wide fascial network. This background will then be applied to a new understanding for treating several common musculoskeletal dysfunctions around the spine and thorax.

In addition to cutting edge research information from a body worker’s perspective, the workshop will include specific hands-on instruction on different approaches and working techniques aimed at stimulating specific sensory receptors in fascia (such as Ruffini- or Pacinian corpuscles) as well as providing adequate fluid shear to fascial fibroblasts to influence their metabolic behaviour.

This will include work on the dense layer of the Fascia Profunda (‘diving suit’), on muscular septae, and on adhesions within the “Superficial shearing zone” at the bottom of the Superficial Fascia. During many of these techniques, the clients will be instructed to support the hands-on work with active micro movement participations from the inside, thereby making the tissue work more specific, more cooperative and more sustainable. Guidelines for the best orchestration of such micro movement participations will be given and integrated into clinical sessions.

The practical portions of the workshop will focus on a multitude of practical and very detailed hands-on instructions. These will aim primarily to releasing myofascial pathologies around the thorax and include among others:

§ Working with scoliosis, particularly with idiopathic juvenile scoliosis. How to make sense of the latest research insights regarding the aetiology? Tips and tricks for working with this highly interesting myofascial deformity.

§ Softening rigid areas within the thoracic wall

§ Opening curved-in or flattened areas such as in pectus excavatum (funnel chest)

§ Releasing kyphosis as well as dowager’s hump

§ And last not least: working with myofascial back pain originating from thoracolumbar fasciae.