Strive™ FAQ’s

STRIVE™ FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: How does this form of therapy benefits athletes?
A: This form of therapy has the capacity to release over-tight, congested muscles. It can  reduce/relieve spasms restoring mobility to the related joint structures and support muscle systems. Examples of some areas which see restriction, pain and demonstrate decreased mobility are often the neck, shoulders, low back and so on. This form of functional mobility therapy process initially works to reduce muscle congestion, bringing a more neutral place of passive rest from which a contraction may occur.

Since muscles only contract, promoting a more natural place of passive rest for the muscle fibers to contract from encourages the best possible muscle contractibility/response. The balance that is produced reduces the need for adaptation of muscles/muscle groups promoting the more full use (compliance) of the individual muscle function. The more open the pathway, the more powerful the muscle response is.

Q: What kind of actual results can I expect?
A: This form of therapy has the potential to:

  • Improve Your Workout (time & ability)
  • Increase Your Personal Best (strength, endurance & recovery)
  • Prevent Injury (general balance & promotes mobility), functional strength and flexibility reduces injuries

Q: How does this form of therapy help my workout?
A: Your work out is only as good as the muscle’s capacity to respond to the electrical/chemical stimulation. Without passive rest, the length of the muscle fiber available for a full contraction is reduced. This form of therapy has the capacity to improve the pathway that allows for the muscle’s best response. It’s like clearing the path to get somewhere quickly.

Q: How can this form of therapy increase my flexibility?
A: Flexibility is a product of increased pliability (fascial and muscle tissue compliance) and improving/increasing over all muscle function gives the athlete the opportunity accomplish the task at hand with greater general freedom of movement. Improved muscle response is essential for functional mobility and increased range of motion.

Q: How does this form of therapy differ from ART, Trigger Point Therapy, Traditional Massage, Rolfing and/or Traditional Bowen?
A: This form of therapy uses a strumming, rolling and or a plucking movement across certain areas of the musculature, done in a specific order across specifically placed muscle, tendon and ligament areas. The above methods while affecting change to some degree do not focus on the global balancing that is required to support specific problem solving.

Through assessment of all muscle groups using a postural evaluation and range of motion testing, we are able to focus on the underlying root causes of specific areas of congestion/restriction. We usually note that the problem you are experiencing in your musculature is not originating from that area,  but in most cases is somehow compensatory. As three dimensional creatures in opposition to gravity, there are many areas that affect others. All systems of the body are interrelated and interconnected.

We use an in depth problem-solving approach. The above methods are not this comprehensive, nor do they see the long term results our method achieves. Each session builds on the previous session.

Q: How many sessions does it take to see results?
A: As with other forms of bodywork, results are based on the long term problems discovered, the injury present or recovery that is ongoing, the body’s response to the process and the commitment on the part of the athlete to follow through with the “home-work” assignments  suggested by the therapist in an effort to perpetuate the muscle release achieved.

We focus on a “team effort” which plays a large part in the time it can take to see the results desired. The more motivated the athlete (barring some significant structural hindrance, as in the case of bone deviations, fractures, post operative healing, and the like) the faster the results. See our testimonials page.

Work out before your STRIVE Functional Bowen™ Therapy session… and then rest well afterwards.

Q: Can I work out after a session?
A: Because what we do immediately opens the blood/nerve pathways to muscle recovery, increasing muscle fiber use – to a larger degree than normal, the temptation is to get right out there and work out. While you can, it is recommended that you wait 6-8 hours to do so whenever possible.

We suggest working out first, coming in for session post-workout and resting afterwards to promote the best outcome possible. You will not ruin a session by working out, but if the work out is ordinarily challenging for the individual – we strongly suggest that you “scale” instead of RX or press the musculature to its maximum potential to prevent a loss of muscle balance which can reduce the overall therapeutic value.

Work out but listen to your body – don’t ignore it because you feel better.