Myofascial Release
Whether you are struggling from an injury, trauma or a chronic pain condition, myofascial release therapy offers a specialised, holistic approach used to effectively treat and rehabilitate soft tissue pain and to ease tension and restrictions.
It is a mild and gentle form of hands on therapy, using a gentle stretching technique that has a profound effect upon the body. The slow and gentle pressure allows the body’s tissues to reorganise without force to release both physical and emotional restrictions held within the body. Myofascial Release Therapy allows the fascia to elongate and restore to a healthy position. Therefore enabling stuck, hardened and dehydrated areas to become pliable, soft, mobile and hydrated.
What is fascia?
Fascia also known as connective tissue intertwines, surrounds, protects and supports every other structure of the human body. It is a single, uninterrupted sheet of tissue that runs from the head to the feet, making up the shape and form of the body. It consists of both superficial and deep fascia.
Why is Myofascial Release used?
If the body experiences any kind of trauma physical or emotional, the fascia will lose its pliability and become hard, dehydrated and stuck. For the person affected this results in increased pain and limited mobility. MFR is used to reduce pain and restore flexibility and motion.
Most movement issues are due to muscle stiffness or tightness, your muscles are really numerous sliding surfaces built upon more sliding surfaces. Often problems arise when these surfaces no longer slide very well. Take a look at the photo above, see the cobweb-like structures on both sides? That is fuzz that has accumulated in between tissue surfaces. “Fuzz” is almost like an adhesive in that it causes your sliding surfaces to stick together as if they were glued down. This can result in poor posture, and a loss of flexibility and movement.
What conditions can Myofascial Release help?
MFR can help a range of conditions, this is only a partial list of the conditions it can help:
• Back and neck pain
• Chronic pain
• Fibromyalgia, Chronic fatigue, ME
• Headaches or migraines
• Emotional trauma
• Sciatica
• TMJ syndrome
• Menstrual problems
• Osteoarthritis
• Scarring
• Bursitis
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
How does Myofascial Release work?
The therapist focuses on soft tissue dysfunction, pain, tension and holding patterns. MFR increases the body’s own restorative powers by improving circulation and nervous system transmission.
The therapist gently applies pressure and movement in the area affected. The technique used starts to improve the pliability of the fibrous network of collagen and elastin fibres that are entwined throughout your body. Consequently pain is reduced and motion in muscle and the ligaments is restored.
I am very much a visual person and when you can see how connected fascia is it helps to understand how this has an impact on the body. Gil Hedleyhas produced an excellent video explaining this.