Functional Therapy
It is a combination of bodywork, mobility work and strength training, developed into one program that suites your specific needs.
We will assist you in creating an optimal recovery, maintenance and training plan to support your goals and active life style.
What is Functional Therapy?
Functional therapy refers to a group of body-based approaches to treatment that emphasize manipulation and realignment of the body's structure in order to improve its function as well as the client's mental outlook. These therapies typically combine a relatively passive phase, in which the client receives deep-tissue bodywork or postural correction from an experienced instructor or practitioner, and a more active period of movement education, in which the client practices sitting, standing, and moving about with better alignment of the body and greater awareness of their movements.
Bodywork should not be equated with massage simply speaking. Massage therapy is one of the modalities of the bodywork. In addition to the traditional massage therapy, the practitioner uses trigger point therapy, acupressure, myofascial treatments, cupping, etc. The goal of this type of hands-on treatments is to mobilize, warm, relax and stretch the fascial layer (a band or sheath of connective tissue that covers, supports, or connects the muscles and the internal organs) and underlying tissue to promote oxygenation, blood and lymph flow .
Purpose
The purpose of functional therapy is the correction of issues within one’s muscular-skeletal system. This includes client's overall posture, connective tissue alignment, musculature tone and function in order to bring about greater ease of movement, less discomfort, and a higher level of energy in daily activity. As well as healing and/or prevention of repetitive stress injuries, particularly for people whose occupations require intensive use of specific parts of the body (such as dancers, musicians, professional athletes, opera singers, etc.) Bodywork may also have a healing and restorative effect on body’s internal systems.
Functional therapy works holistically! It helps to increase self-awareness and intelligent use of one's body as one of the goals of treatment. With use of verbal ques, visualization or guided imagery along with movement education it facilitates the disruption of old patterns and promotes the programing of new proprioception and movement patterns. Although bodywork therapists do not address mental disorders directly in their work with clients, they are often dealing with cases of suppressed emotions, such as depression, anger, and/or fear. Unresolved emotions have a strong effect on movement and posture. Increased awareness in the body brings about increased awareness of the emotions and offers an opportunity to resolve them.
Some bodywork traditions prescribe a specific number of sessions or lessons, Functional therapy emphasizes individualized approach and treatment plan. At ABFT we respect the uniqueness of each individual's body and situation. We work with clients on a one-to-one basis, we create a custom treatment plan and closely monitor individual progress.
Precautions
Persons who are seriously ill, acutely feverish, or suffering from a contagious infection should wait until they have recovered before beginning a course of bodywork. As a rule, types of bodywork that involve intensive manipulation or stretching of the deeper layers of body tissue are not suitable for persons who have undergone recent surgery or have recently suffered severe injury. In the case of Tragerwork, shiatsu, and trigger point therapy, clients should inform the therapist of any open wounds, bruises, or fractures so that the affected part of the body can be avoided during treatment.
Persons who are recovering from abuse or receiving treatment for any post-traumatic syndrome or dissociative disorder should consult their therapist before undertaking bodywork. Although bodywork is frequently recommended as an adjunctive treatment for these disorders, it can also trigger flashbacks if the bodywork therapist touches a part of the patient's body associated with the abuse or trauma. Our therapists are well informed about post-traumatic symptoms and disorders, and able to adjust their treatments accordingly.