Rossiter Stretching is still fairly unheard of in the UK and certainly in Norfolk. So whilst some people have heard of fascia and myofascial release work or know of assisted stretching techniques many do not know what Rossiter Stretching is.
To say Rossiter Stretching is a form of fascial stretch therapy probably doesn’t mean much to most people but try imagining the best massage combined with a really satisfying stretch and that can be how it feels at the end of a Rossiter session.
Rossiter Stretching is considered an exercise and is a form of assisted stretching or myofascial release work. Using a two-person stretching technique it can offer fast pain relief with improved mobility, circulation, and sensation. A natural pain relief treatment where you help your body heal itself.
How does Rossiter Stretching work?
As with many myofascial release or assisted stretching therapies Rossiter Stretching utilizes a pin and stretch method. However, the biggest difference with Rossiter Stretching is that both the client and coach work together; the pin comes from the coach’s foot anchoring the tissue in place and the stretch is where the client is actively involved in the exercise.
It works on the principle of relieving pain at its source, the tendons, ligaments and fascia, where restrictions can be held. By working with the tissues that are causing the pain rather than just treating the symptoms results can be long lasting with minimal top-up sessions required. This gives a fast pain relief alternative with no drugs, no needles, no surgery and no ongoing exercise routine.
What does it help?
So much of the pain that people experience can come from held movement patterns or scar tissue from injuries and it is this that Rossiter Stretching works on, to give long-lasting pain relief.
As Rossiter Stretching works from the inside out on the fascia, which is a body-wide system, Rossiter Stretching has the potential to relieve pain from a variety of sources:
Back pain
Sciatica
Neck pain
Migraines
Shoulder pain
Frozen shoulders
Golf elbow
Tennis elbow
Repetitive strain injuries
Carpal tunnel
Plantar fasciitis
Knee and hip pain
By using this global approach to relieving your pain results can be longer lasting than with other pain-relieving modalities.
There were many causes of pain, for example, immobility and weight gain, however, relieving leaving some of this pain to give you the freedom to move again can help you become more active and lose weight or improve your mental health.
What happens in a Rossiter Stretching session?
The best thing about Rossiter Stretching is that you are in charge of your own recovery, you are the person in charge, you know your body best. My job as a coach is to give your tissue an anchor to stretch away from and guidance to get the most out of every movement.
So, let’s get over the scary bit…yes I use my foot as the anchor, there I said it!
But please do not think I stand all my weight on you (that would be very mean) I just anchor a specific area with my foot. Most of my weight is on my standing leg and you have complete control over how much weight is applied.
Once the specific area is anchored, I guide you through a series of movements while the body is ‘locked’ using a specific technique.
Each lock and movement sequence is only done for a few seconds and then released. The results for many clients can be very quick and quite profound. Pain relief, increased range of motion, improved circulation, a feeling of ‘lightness’ are all common end results.
Unlike many osteopath or chiropractic treatments there are no sudden clicking or popping releases, just us working in partnership with your body.
Sessions can last anything from 10 to 40 minutes depending on what we are doing (and how much you want to chat to me) and as an added bonus there is no need to get changed or wear any specialist clothes. Anything you can get down onto the floor and move comfortably in is fine.
Perfect if you don’t like the stripping off needed for massage or other therapies.
Where did it come from? And why the foot?
As a relatively new option in pain relief, I am regularly asked where Rossiter Stretching came from. It started in the USA with Richard Rossiter, the founder of Rossiter Stretching Technique, was originally a Rolfing practitioner working with Ida Rolf.
Through his Rolfing work, he developed Rossiter Stretching using the foot as an anchor which gives much deeper, more profound, longer-lasting and faster results. Initially it was Rossiter Stretching was used in factories to help r
educe sickness rates due to repetitive strain injury. Indeed Rossiter Stretching is still designed to combat the pain from a range of structural and repetitive movement causes.
How many sessions are needed? How long will the results last?
What does it feel like?
These questions (and more) are answered in the frequently asked questions section and in the blogs
To experience a different way of improving your mobility and relieving your pain contact me