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Functional Range Conditioning (F.R.C.)

FRC_v3 (2)

So, this has me more excited about the future of manual and rehabilitative medicine than anything I’ve ever studied since chiropractic college: Functional Range Conditioning.  Don’t get me wrong, when I bought my “Cold Laser” machine at the start of my career (and it continues to be one of the best in the world for tissue repair) I was really excited.  When I added the Graston Technique (Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization) to my treatment tool belt, I was again really excited.  And, in turn, patient care and results have been excellent.  Combining these techniques with my chiropractic approach has largely been my calling card.  I take my time with each patient, and I blend techniques to get the best result.  Kinesio-Tape makes an appearance from time to time in my patient care as well.  But, wow.  Just wow.  Functional Range Conditioning is going to dramatically change the way I work with my patients to achieve quicker and greater results.  I will incorporate F.R.C. into my treatment and especially into my prescription exercise programs.

F.R.C. is relatively new.  It is a scientifically based exercise system that can be used by various practitioners working in the neuro-musculoskeletal field.  From the various manual therapists to the personal trainers and strength coaches at the gym.  It will be applicable to the “everyday Joe or Jane” all the way to the professional athlete.  It will be used to rehab injury and progress to achieve optimal mobility.

Mobility?  Why did I use that word?  Mobility is really the combination of flexibility and strength.  What good is passive flexibility if you can’t control your body parts.  And, conversely, what good is strength if you have no range of motion.  You need both.  And, fortunately, science tells us that functional strength requires flexibility and flexibility is achieved through functional strength.

The creator of F.R.C. is actually a classmate of mine from my four years at CMCC.  Dr. Andreo Spina was top of the class then, and has proved his worth in spades with this system.  Look for it to trump Yoga and Pilates in the coming years.  When I watch him move through his functional ranges and contort and control his body in positions seemingly unimaginable, I know without a doubt that F.R.C. is the future of training and rehabilitation.

I had to share this with you all.  I will (and already have) spoken to my patients about incorporating F.R.C. into your individualized treatment plans.  I will continue to study F.R.C. to further my abilities to apply it to you, but also to myself.

Confused about how it works?  Ask me.  Don’t understand how or why it’ll be better than just your regular routine? Ask me.  I’m actually really excited to talk about it.

Check it out here …. 

2 Join the Conversation

  1. Maria says
    Dec 02, 2014 at 1:06 PM

    Great article. Am really excited about FRC and look forward to knowing and seeing it in action. Does it help with arthritis? And if so in which way?

    • drb@michaelberenstein.com says
      Dec 04, 2014 at 11:14 AM

      Hi Maria, Thanks for the feedback. Working components of the FRC system into your regular work out routine, or helping you create a work out routine, will definitely help with arthritis. One of the main purposes of FRC is to ensure proper joint motion, control, and health. Stiff joints need to move; moving joints need to stay moving, but in control. FRC, especially the joint rotations component, will be right up your alley.

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