BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam//NONSGML v1.0//EN NAME:PhD defence R.N. van Amstel METHOD:PUBLISH BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART:20260105T134500 DTEND:20260105T151500 DTSTAMP:20260105T134500 UID:2026/phd-defence-r-n-van-amste@8F96275E-9F55-4B3F-A143-836282E12573 CREATED:20260417T091524 LOCATION:(1st floor) Auditorium, Main building De Boelelaan 1105 1081 HV Amsterdam SUMMARY:PhD defence R.N. van Amstel X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:

Exploring Working Mecha nisms and effect of Fascia Focused Interventions by skin displacement in Low Back Pain

Fascia Therapy Offers New Perspecti ves on Chronic Low Back Pain

FFIs focus on fascia, the connective t issue that links skin, muscles, and bones. In physiotherapy, these tr eatments have been applied for years through mechanical stimuli such as pressure, stretching, and skin displacement. For a long time, howe ver, it was unclear how these interventions actually work and what be nefits they offer for patients with low back pain. Van Amstel aimed t o close this knowledge gap.

His research shows that fascia play s a larger role in low back pain than is often assumed. By deliberate ly moving the skin, the underlying fascial structures move along with it. This can increase range of motion and reduce pain. Notably, this effect is measurable and occurs relatively quickly. A simple test, t he so-called DAMT test, also helps therapists determine the direction of skin displacement that is most effective for an individual patien t.

Part of a Standard Treatment Protocol

The greatest benefit is achieved when fascia-focused interventions a re not applied in isolation but are incorporated into a standard trea tment protocol. In the so-called 4xT protocol—testing, treating, ta ping, and exercise therapy—patients experience greater improvement than with exercise therapy alone. They move more easily, experience l ess pain, and report a better quality of life.

Low back pain le ads each year to high healthcare costs, work absenteeism, and loss of quality of life. Van Amstel’s research provides physiotherapists w ith practical tools to apply treatments in a more targeted and person alized way. This can result in faster functional recovery and potenti ally a reduced reliance on pain medication or invasive procedures.

In the longer term, these insights may contribute to better subst antiated, non-pharmacological treatment guidelines for low back pain. In this way, the research aligns with a broader shift in healthcare: away from symptom management and toward a stronger focus on movement , functioning, and quality of life.

More information on the thesis

DESCRIPTION:

Fascia Therapy Offers New Perspectives on Chr onic Low Back Pain

Low back pain is one of the most com mon health complaints in the Netherlands. Often, no clear structural cause can be identified, while the pain can significantly limit daily functioning. Human movement scientist Robbert van Amstel investigate d a widely used but, until now, poorly substantiated treatment approa ch: Fascia Focused Interventions (FFIs). His results show that this a pproach can indeed have a positive effect on pain, mobility, and qual ity of life. FFIs focus on fascia, the connective tissue that links s kin, muscles, and bones. In physiotherapy, these treatments have been applied for years through mechanical stimuli such as pressure, stret ching, and skin displacement. For a long time, however, it was unclea r how these interventions actually work and what benefits they offer for patients with low back pain. Van Amstel aimed to close this knowl edge gap. His research shows that fascia plays a larger role in low b ack pain than is often assumed. By deliberately moving the skin, the underlying fascial structures move along with it. This can increase r ange of motion and reduce pain. Notably, this effect is measurable an d occurs relatively quickly. A simple test, the so-called DAMT test, also helps therapists determine the direction of skin displacement th at is most effective for an individual patient. Part of a Sta ndard Treatment Protocol The greatest benefit is achieved wh en fascia-focused interventions are not applied in isolation but are incorporated into a standard treatment protocol. In the so-called 4xT protocol—testing, treating, taping, and exercise therapy—patient s experience greater improvement than with exercise therapy alone. Th ey move more easily, experience less pain, and report a better qualit y of life. Low back pain leads each year to high healthcare costs, wo rk absenteeism, and loss of quality of life. Van Amstel’s research provides physiotherapists with practical tools to apply treatments in a more targeted and personalized way. This can result in faster func tional recovery and potentially a reduced reliance on pain medication or invasive procedures. In the longer term, these insights may contr ibute to better substantiated, non-pharmacological treatment guidelin es for low back pain. In this way, the research aligns with a broader shift in healthcare: away from symptom management and toward a stron ger focus on movement, functioning, and quality of life. More informa tion on the thesis Exploring Working Mechanisms and effect of Fascia Focused Interventions by skin displacement in Low Back Pain END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR