FR^® Release Principles

While it is often claimed that manual practitioners feel for “scar tissue” or “adhesions,” these terms simply represent inaccurate analogies. “Scar tissue” (or fibrosis) represents normal tissue laid down in a haphazard fashion. Therefore, if a single tissue fiber is oriented in the wrong direction, this is technically considered “scar” tissue. Because human touch receptors are UNABLE to feel or distinguish such small variations, those who claim to palpate them are making an inaccurate, and highly unscientific claim. One must therefore wonder if practitioners truly understand what they are feeling for?

The FR^® system utilizes a more scientifically logical approach when it comes to palpatory assessment. Instead of feeling for “scar tissue,” “knots,” “ropeyness,” and other unrealistic findings, FR^® practitioners practice, and master the art of finding, and defining areas of abnormal tissue tension (restrictive forces countering the ability to produce efficient movement) which is believed to represent areas of fibrotic tissue. Further, the FR^® system teaches practitioners to distinguish between mechanical tension (tension created by the deposition of fibrosis), and neurological tightness (tissue tension deriving from increased neural discharge). This distinction is of utmost importance when attempting to select the appropriate treatment method or modality.

The FR^® system first utilizes FAP™ method to locate tissue lesions, and then what is known as the Tissue Tension Technique to define said lesions in order to form sound clinical decisions regarding treatment application.

The selection and application of sound soft tissue treatment depends greatly on the practitioner’s ability too not only locate, but also to define soft tissue lesions.  Further, only with an advanced understanding of the target tissue’s composition, as well as the histological process underlying the injury can one create the most effective, and efficient treatment strategy guided by science.

These concepts constitute a large focus of the Functional Range Release^® technique certification seminars.  FR^® practitioners are therefore able to truly define musculoskeletal lesions or biomechanical dysfunction making their treatment results specific, and effective.

On the surface, application of the FR^® release technique would appear to the observer to be similar to various other myofascial release applications.  The difference lies in the specifics …and there are a lot of them!  Functional Range Release^® technique does indeed draw upon previously utilized strategies, concepts, and approach’s however adds multiple improvements based on the current scientific literature making it a completely new and improved approach to musculoskeletal management.

One of the main factors that separates Functional Range Release^® from other soft tissue techniques is the focus on understanding the target tissue.  For the most part, soft tissue techniques have focused primarily on the treatment of muscular tissue by means of soft tissue manipulation and/or stretching.  However when considering the physical make-up of muscle tissue, it is simply composed of contractile proteins (i.e. actin, myosin, etc.) situated in a series, grouped into bundles.  Each fiber, bundle, and muscle is encased by fascia (a form of connective tissue).  These fascial layers are then continuous with various other forms of connective tissue in the body (e.g. tendons, ligaments, capsules, bone, etc) forming full-body continuity.

The goal of soft tissue therapies has never been to tear muscle proteins apart.  It has been to remove restrictive “scar tissue,” or fibrosis.  But where does this fibrosis form?

Injury to tissue is followed by various processes including:

PAILs & RAILs™ procedures utilize specific isometric loading strategies for the purposes of enhancing neurologic function and control across articulations, as well as to induce progressive adaptations in connective tissue structures improving their structural quality and resilience.

PAILs & RAILs are used in conjunction with FR^® release procedures for several reasons:

• To produce internal tissue load that helps to stimulate specific remodeling of connective tissues
• To aid, and speed up soft tissue healing and repair
• To over come the neuromuscular barrier that develops post injury (muscle guarding/spasm)
• To expand the usable range of motion across articulations by developing angle specific strength (teaching the nervous system how to control expanded ranges of motion)