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Joaquin Farias

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Spanish-born Canadian neuroscientist, researcher, and writer (born 1973)
Joaquin Farias
Born1973
Murcia, Spain
NationalityCanadian
OccupationNeuroscientist
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)
Websitefariastechnique.com

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

Early life and education

Farias was born in 1973 in Murcia, Spain. He holds master's degrees in neuropsychological rehabilitation, psychosociology, and ergonomics and a doctorate in biomechanics.

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. 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.

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

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.

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

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.

Research

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

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

Bibliography

  • Intertwined. How to Induce Neuroplasticity (2012)
  • Rebellion of the Body: Understanding Musicians' Focal Dystonia (2012)
  • Limitless: Your Movements Can Heal Your Brain (2016)

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. ^ "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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