Joaquin Farias

Last updated
Joaquin Farias
Born1973
Murcia, Spain
NationalityCanadian
Occupation Neuroscientist
Known forFarias Technique
Notable work
  • Intertwined. How to Induce Neuroplasticity (2012)
  • Rebellion of the Body: Understanding Musicians' Focal Dystonia (2012)
  • Limitless: Your Movements Can Heal Your Brain (2016)
Website fariastechnique.com

Joaquin Farias (born 1973) is a Spanish-born Canadian neuroscientist, researcher, and writer specializing in movement therapy for dystonia. [1]

Contents

Early life and education

Farias was born in 1973 in Murcia, Spain. [2] He holds master's degrees in neuropsychological rehabilitation, psychosociology, and ergonomics and a doctorate in biomechanics. [3] [4] [5]

Career

At the age of 21, while training as a professional musician, Farias developed dystonia, leading to involuntary curling of his fingers and impacting his ability to play the piano. [6] [7] He began his research work on dystonia in 1996 following his own experience with dystonia as a young musician, which led him to create his own exercises to manage his condition. [8] [9] [10]

After his recovery from dystonia, Farias developed a training program based on neuroplasticity principles. [11] In 2018, he started the Dystonia Recovery Online Program, aiming to provide wider access to treatment methods. [12] [13]

Farias has also worked as a coach for musicians, as well as with Olympic and Paralympic athletes, and dancers, focusing on the recovery from focal dystonia and other practice-related disorders. [14] [15] [16]

Previously, Farias served as a professor at the Music and Health Research Collaboratory of the University of Toronto. [17] He also serves as the director at the Neuroplastic Training Institute in Toronto. [18] [19]

Farias is also the author of three books on dystonia: Limitless: Your Movements Can Heal Your Brain, Intertwined: A New Approach to Rehabilitating Dystonias, and Rebellion of the Body: Understanding Musicians' Focal Dystonia. [20] [21]

Research

Farias's work hypothesizes a link between dystonia and the insular cortex, which plays a role in controlling motion and emotion. [22] Farias theorizes that repetitive activities might reinforce improper neural pathways, thereby exacerbating the condition. [22]

His method, now known as Farias Technique, involves using movement-based exercises to help retrain brain functions related to motor and sensory processing. [22] [23] The core of his treatment approach is centered on relearning and normalizing repressed movements, through specific exercises. [22]

Bibliography

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References

  1. ↑ "Focal Dystonia: A Musician Overcomes a Movement Disorder With a Change of Mind". Discover Magazine. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
  2. ↑ "Así es la misteriosa enfermedad que silencia a los músicos: "Mi sonido empezó a temblar y no era capaz de sacar una nota"". ELMUNDO (in Spanish). 2023-10-05. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
  3. ↑ "After seven years of debilitating muscle spasms, I have hope". The Globe and Mail . 2015-03-06. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
  4. ↑ "Así es la misteriosa enfermedad que silencia a los músicos: "Mi sonido empezó a temblar y no era capaz de sacar una nota"". El Mundo (in Spanish). 2023-10-05. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
  5. ↑ "JOAQUIN FARIAS, PhD, M.S., M.A. – Music and Health Science Research Collaboratory" . Retrieved 2024-03-09.
  6. ↑ "Focal Dystonia: A Musician Overcomes a Movement Disorder With a Change of Mind". Discover Magazine. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
  7. ↑ "Using the brain to retrain the body to overcome dystonia". The Globe and Mail. 2015-03-06. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
  8. ↑ "Focal Dystonia: A Musician Overcomes a Movement Disorder With a Change of Mind". Discover Magazine. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
  9. ↑ "Using the brain to retrain the body to overcome dystonia". The Globe and Mail. 2015-03-06. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
  10. ↑ "Así es la misteriosa enfermedad que silencia a los músicos: "Mi sonido empezó a temblar y no era capaz de sacar una nota"". ELMUNDO (in Spanish). 2023-10-05. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
  11. ↑ "Focal Dystonia: A Musician Overcomes a Movement Disorder With a Change of Mind". Discover Magazine. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
  12. ↑ "Así es la misteriosa enfermedad que silencia a los músicos: "Mi sonido empezó a temblar y no era capaz de sacar una nota"". ELMUNDO (in Spanish). 2023-10-05. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
  13. ↑ "Dystonia plagues musicians and has no easy remedies | Aeon Essays". Aeon. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
  14. ↑ "After seven years of debilitating muscle spasms, I have hope". The Globe and Mail. 2015-03-06. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
  15. ↑ "Using the brain to retrain the body to overcome dystonia". The Globe and Mail. 2015-03-06. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
  16. ↑ "Así es la misteriosa enfermedad que silencia a los músicos: "Mi sonido empezó a temblar y no era capaz de sacar una nota"". ELMUNDO (in Spanish). 2023-10-05. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
  17. ↑ https://mahrc.music.utoronto.ca/joaquin-farias-cv/
  18. ↑ "Así es la misteriosa enfermedad que silencia a los músicos: "Mi sonido empezó a temblar y no era capaz de sacar una nota"". ELMUNDO (in Spanish). 2023-10-05. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
  19. ↑ "Joaquin Farias, CV – Music and Health Science Research Collaboratory" . Retrieved 2024-03-09.
  20. ↑ "After seven years of debilitating muscle spasms, I have hope". The Globe and Mail. 2015-03-06. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
  21. ↑ "Joaquin Farias – Focal Dystonia". Farias Technique. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
  22. 1 2 3 4 "Using the brain to retrain the body to overcome dystonia". The Globe and Mail. 2015-03-06. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  23. ↑ "Inside the Mysterious Malady Known as Runner's Dystonia". Runner's World. 2023-01-17. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
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