What is Functional and Kinetic Treatment with Rehab (FAKTR)?

Soft tissue therapy is one form of therapy that gets utilized quite often in my clinic, which deals with any pain or dysfunction of muscle, ligaments, tendons, and/or fascia. The times I utilize soft tissue therapy is when there has been some overuse or trauma to a particular area and when there is still a tight/tender muscle, even after a chiropractic adjustment. There are many ways I deal with soft tissue in my clinic, which include trigger point therapy, muscle release techniques, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF), reciprocal inhibition, nerve flossing, and neuromuscular rehabilitation (NMR) to name a few. One technique that utilizes a few therapies and molds it into one concept to treat soft tissue dysfunction is Functional and Kinetic Treatment with Rehab (FAKTR).

FAKTR

FAKTR is a hierarchical system/concept of how to approach a patient and treat them based on severity, because sometimes the more severe soft tissue injuries cannot handle the more complex forms of treatment (there is also a pain tolerance factor as well). The system involves provocation of pain of the soft tissue (ranging from no motion and no mechanical load of the muscle, to motion without mechanical load, and motion with mechanical load) while utilizing kinesiology tape and Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Massage (IASTM).

IASTM

IASTM is a big component of FAKTR, and it is exactly what it sounds like in which an instrument (surgical-steel tool with beveled edge) is used to massage the soft tissue to break up scar tissue and promote fibroblastic proliferation. Fibroblastic proliferation is the purpose of the IASTM, because when any soft tissue is injured that means that the integrity and alignment of fibers get ruined, and fibroblastic proliferation is necessary to heal the damaged tissue. When an injury occurs, the human body lays down tissue that is aligned in random directions, and eventually over time will align correctly through natural tensile and compressive forces with use of that particular soft tissue. IASTM is stimulus that will increase fibroblastic proliferation and align them, meaning that strong tissue is laid down more readily, and ultimately a quicker recovery from soft tissue injuries.

Stressors and New Tissue

One concept that was eluded to early deals with increase of new tissue being laid down as a response to a stressor (FAKTR is a controlled stressor). Stressors (exercise/rehab) are the tensile and compressive forces that makes the body lay down new tissue at an increased rate as a compensation to deal with those tensile and compressive forces. After the inflammatory phase (within 72 hours) of an injury, the body immediately starts to lay down new tissue to repair and heal the damaged tissue. That is why it is important to stress the tissue in a controlled way to promote healing, rather than resting the soft tissue. Resting a soft tissue injury has been shown to delay and inhibit full recovery.

One big thing to keep in mind about the stressors is that it should NOT be painful, because that means that the tissue is getting damaged. For example: after 72 hours of a sprained ankle, the person should put enough weight on their ankle to the point where it doesn’t hurt. If full body weight causes pain on the ankle, then crutches should be utilized to distribute weight some of the weight off the ankle so there isn’t any pain. Utilizing FAKTR on injured tissue can be painful, but it is a controlled stressor which will promote healing rather than further damage. Back to the ankle example: the fibularis (peroneal) muscles will most likely hurt during FAKTR, because it is the actual massaging of the muscle that is painful.

The massage is the controlled stressor that will stimulate the body to lay down tissue for healing for the fibularis muscles (as well as other tissues that were massaged).

Conditions that Respond Well

Generally, the conditions that respond excellent to FAKTR include: ligament sprains, muscle strains, tendonopathies, bursitis, fascial syndromes, edema reduction, nerve entrapement syndromes, delayed onset muscle soreness, and scar tissue/adhesions. Just like anything else in the healthcare field, there are contraindications to FAKTR, that is why it is important to go to a FAKTR certified practitioner. With all that being said, the majority of soft tissues should fully recover and return to a normal state when properly treated. Proper treatment for any soft tissue injuries require nutritional interventions as well.

About Dr. Eric Johnson

Dr. Eric Johnson, Doctor of Chiropractic and Diplomate of the American Clinical Board of Nutrition as well as owner of Functional Wellness and Chiropractic Center in Madison, WI, is a functional medicine doctor that identifies root causes of pain and/or dysfunction. His systems-based, not symptoms-based, approach is a comprehensive, holistic approach that helps identify mental, chemical, and physical stressors that are underlying numerous health conditions. If you are in the Madison, Middleton, Verona, Waunakee area and looking to not only feel better, but live better, contact Dr. Eric at (608) 203-9272.

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