Fascial Balancing

These three courses introduce you to the traditional osteopathic manual practice concept of Fascial Balancing (FB). You may be familiar with many different fascial techniques such as myofascial release, visceral manipulation and craniosacral therapy. These approaches are all built from the traditional osteopathic manual practice principles of Fascial Balancing. The purpose of FB is to treat fascial tension or scar tissue which can be found at the superficial level, the deep level around muscles, bones, joints, sutures, and organs and at the deepest level around the brain and spinal cord. As a student, you will learn what fascia is, where it is found, its role in the body, and how it gets injured. FB helps to reduce fascial tension, muscle tension and pain, and will help to increase joint mobility, decrease swelling, and restore proper joint biomechanics, functional ROM and postural alignment. FB utilizes both short and long lever mechanical, and listening & following fascial balancing techniques to address fascial dysfunction.

FB can be either a direct, indirect, or a combined manual therapy technique in which the practitioner evaluates the patient for fascial tension or scar tissue. You will learn to chart the fascial tension you have found on a scanning evaluation sheet and prioritize your findings using the general principles of treatment. The practitioner will treat the fascial tension region with the greatest restriction. This technique alleviates both articular and soft tissue dysfunctions in the body, thus restoring proper pain-free movement.

FB will help reduce fascial tension, muscle tension and pain, and will help to increase joint mobility, decrease swelling, and restore proper joint biomechanics, functional ROM and postural alignment. You will see immediate changes in your patient's pain and functional level.

FB can be used in the treatment of back pain, sciatica, neck pain, headaches, rib pain, upper and lower extremity orthopedic dysfunctions, swelling and postural deformities. Because of the gentleness and effectiveness of FB, it is appropriate with the following patient populations: pediatrics, geriatrics, sports injuries, auto accidents, general orthopedic conditions, amputees, respiratory and neurological patients. You will be given a highly illustrated manual outlining each evaluation and treatment technique. This course involves a combination of theory, demonstration and hands-on practice. Evaluation and treatments will be performed by each participant using the methods learned. Plenty of time is allotted for hands-on practice as well as questions, discussion and review.

Fascia as seen on the Principles of Practice DVD Program for Fascial Balancing

FB, like all other manual techniques, begins with evaluation. You will learn to utilize the principles of ARTS to evaluate The Total Body Lesion.

The A stands for Asymmetry: The practitioner evaluates the patient for Postural Asymmetry in the sagittal, frontal, and transverse planes in both standing and sitting. Which body part displays the greatest asymmetry?

The R stands for Range of Motion: The practitioner evaluates the range of motion (ROM) of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine, the rib cage, upper and lower extremities. You will learn to assess any restriction to normal ROM in both active and passive movement.

The T stands for Tension Tests: The practitioner will perform tension tests for the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine, the rib cage, upper and lower extremities. Normally, when performing tension tests, the palpation should find a soft, supple and springy end feel. If the sensation is hard and restrictive, dysfunction is present.

The S stands for Special Tests: The practitioner will perform specific orthopedic tests to confirm your findings.

Fascial Balancing is taught as three courses. The purpose of these courses is not to teach you hundreds of fascial balancing techniques but rather to teach you 7 key principles to Fascial Balancing that can be applied through the body.

1. FBUQ: Fascial Balancing: Upper Quadrant. This course will teach you how to evaluate and treat superficial and deep (muscle, bone, joint, and organ) fascial tension in the anterior torso and upper extremities. The anterior torso includes the anterior rib cage, thoracic inlet, respiratory diaphragm, pelvic floor, and the fascia surrounding the organs of the thorax and the abdominal region. The upper extremities include the shoulder, elbow, and wrist/hand.
2. FBLQ: Fascial Balancing: Lower Quadrant. This course will teach you how to evaluate and treat superficial and deep (muscle, bone, and joint) fascial tension in the posterior torso and lower extremities. The posterior torso includes cervical spine, thoracic spine, posterior rib cage, lumbar spine, pelvis, and sacrum. The lower extremities include pelvis, hip, knee, ankle and foot.
3. FBCR: Fascial Balancing: Cranium. This course will teach you how to evaluate and treat superficial and deep (muscle, bone & sutures) and deepest (intracranial membrane system around the brain and spinal cord) fascial tension in the face, cranial vault and cranial base. The structures of the face include the teeth, mandible, maxilla, palatine, zygoma, and nasal bones. The cranial vault includes the frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital bones while the cranial base focuses on the sphenoid and occipital bones. Either FBLQ or FUQ is a prerequisite for FBCR.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of these 3 courses participants will:

• Gain an understanding of the history, principles and neuromuscular basis of Fascial Balancing
• Conduct a thorough orthopedic and fascial evaluation for the cranium, spine (cervical, thoracic and lumbar), rib cage, diaphragms, pelvis, sacrum (lumbo-sacral and sacro-iliac joints), upper and lower extremities
• Ability to chart your results of the evaluation and formulate a treatment plan
• Decide on the proper sequence of treating the Total Body Lesion
• Perform Fascial Balancing Techniques on the cranium, spine (cervical, thoracic and lumbar), rib cage, diaphragms, pelvis, sacrum (lumbo-sacral and sacro-iliac joints), upper and lower extremities
• Understand the clinical importance of Fascial Balancing Techniques and the treatment of joint, sutural and muscular skeletal dysfunctions
• Integrate Fascial Balancing Techniques with other treatment modalities taught at DAI.