The mechanoreceptors in muscles and joints convey information about the posture and movements of the body and thereby play an important role in proprioception and motor control” (1). Probably the most important breakthrough in soft tissue treatment is that important receptors, especially the muscle spindle cells that are responsible for normal muscle control, and coordination are not in the muscle, but in the fascia within the muscle. Most soft tissue techniques deal with a form of stretching and strengthening which of course is necessary, but our total treatment of neuromusculoskeletal problems must include an organized method of evaluating and treating the fascial system. 

The fascial system is directly related to nociceptors and the kinetic chain, i.e., an old ankle injury responsible for a current knee, hip or lumbar problem. You will learn how to determine exactly what particular fascial sequence is involved. Immediate improvement of functional testing will allow the practitioner to know they are on the correct path.

The training consists of theoretical lectures, demonstrations by the teachers and hands-on training of the participants. Level 1A will include understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the fascial system and use of the biomechanical model necessary for the application of the Fascial Manipulation technique. It is important that students learn how to palpate and localize the FM points. In this process, an emphasis is placed on the assessment of musculoskeletal system and on how to develop a treatment strategy.

First developed by the famous Australian Physiotherapist and co-founderof IFOMPT(1), Geoffrey Maitland, the Maitland-Australian approach was introduced to the U.S. by MAPS founder Robert Sprague, PT, PhD, GDMT, COMT, FAAOMPT.

 

This approach is based primarily on the assessment and treatment of the patient’s signs/symptoms, respecting the diagnosis, understanding the pathology and using biomechanical knowledge when applicable. Biomechanical theory plays only a small role. The examination and subsequent treatment is intended to gently provoke the patient’s actual symptoms and thus confirm the source and specific tissues potentially at fault. Carefully graded osteokinematic (physiological) and arthrokinematic (accessory) passive mobilization techniques are performed to reproduce the pain of a stiffness disorder (pathomechanical) to restore normal movement and mechanics, OR to reduce/eliminate the patient’s pain dominant disorder (pathophysiological) related to inflammation or other pathophysiological processes.