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- Effectively Reduces Painful Muscle Spasms That Can Restrict Your Movement.
- Ideal For Relief Of Back Pain & Neck Pain
- Often Used As Treatment For Alleviating Stress Related Pain.
- Safe, Natural Form Of Therapy.
- Also May Provides Relief From Jaw Related Pain.
- Myofascial stretching can effective for muscle pain related to cerebral palsy.
Myofascial release is a soft tissue therapy that involves a mix of massage and gentle long strokes to release the tightness in the fascia or connective tissue that surrounds muscles and other systems in the body.
As in most body tissues, irritation of the fascia or muscle causes local inflammation. Chronic and prolonged inflammation results in fibrosis, or the thickening of the connective tissue.
This thickening, in turn, causes pain and irritation, resulting in reflexive muscle tension that further aggravates the inflammation. This way, the cycle creates a positive feedback loop and can result in dysfunctions even in the absence of the original injury.
Myofascial restrictions arise due to high amount of pressure exerted on the bones, nerves, blood vessels and muscles which result in headaches, limited mobility, pain and disease.
PT Health clinics offer an approach to Myofascial release that is safe, hands-on, and helps remove painful pressure in affected areas, thereby allowing the body to naturally heal and function properly.
1. The International Journal of Orofacial Myology has published a research summary that talks about the effectiveness of the treatment in craniomandibular pain and dysfunction.
2. The Clinical Importance of Active Scars written by Karel Lewit and Sarka Olsanska studied treatment of active scars through soft tissue manipulation from myofascial release.
3. A 1999 study in the ‘New England Journal of Medicine’, deduced that osteopathic spinal manipulation in the form myofascial release, was as effective as standard therapy for back-pain but without the need for patient to resort to costly painkillers that have side-effects.
Myofascial release is an effective hands-on technique that works in the form of sustained pressure into myofascial restrictions to remove pain and result in unrestricted motion. The fascial system is connective tissue similar to the web of a spider.
The fascia is densely woven and covers every bone, muscle, artery, vein and internal organs of our body. It is one structure that moves from head to foot without interruption. We can safely say that every part of our body is interconnected with the other by the fascia like the yarn in a sweater.
The organs in our body would not be stable, were it not for the constant pull, flexibility and support of fascia. If our bones are tent poles, then the fascia are like wires or ropes that create the right tension to let the tent (body) remain upright and balanced.
In the state of normal health, the fascia is relaxed and has a wavy pattern. When we experience injury, scarring, physical trauma and infection, the fascia loses its flexibility and stretch-ability. It becomes restricted and taut.
Repetitive stress injuries and poor posture can lead to more worries.It is normal for us to have fascia related problems, which unfortunately adds to the pain and intensity of the injury or illness. As a result, our body functioning is altered and we experience discomfort in movement.
Myofascial release makes use of hands-on therapy and massage to set the myofascial system right, so that we get freedom from pain and are able to enjoy unrestricted motion of our body.
1. What can I anticipate from myofascial release therapy? After finding the myofascial problems that lead to inflammation and restricted movement, therapists softly massage the area and gently knead the tissue to align it well. With stretching exercises, massage and deep breathing, our body is restored to normalcy.
2. Who are these ‘experts’ at myofascial release? People who do myofascial release are massage therapists, chiropractors, physical therapists and fitness experts.
3. How did myofascial release treatment come into existence? The term ‘myofascial’ came into existence in the 1940’s by Janet G. Travell M.D. who associated it with musculoskeletal pain syndrome and trigger points. In 1976, Dr. Travell formally coined the term ‘Myofascial Trigger Point’ and published the reference ‘Myofascial Pain & Dysfunction: The Trigger Point Manual’ in 1983.
4. How much time does the myofascial therapy last? The myofascial therapy usually lasts between 30 minutes and one hour on an average.
5. Are there types of treatment in myofascial release? There are two schools of massage techniques involved in myofascial release:
a. Direct myofascial release: This method relies on the use of low force by the knuckles, elbows or massage tools by the practitioner. The objective is to slowly stretch the restricted fascia.
b. Indirect myofascial release: Few grams of pressure in the form of low force are used to gentle stretch the affected area which relaxes the fascia. The objective is to increase the blood flow and supply of oxygen in the area that is being massaged.
Some people experience some amount of stiffness in their muscles, which does vanish in a couple of days, making them feel totally alright. This happens because myofascial release works on the basis that many people hold stress in their muscles which keep the ‘tension’ blocked.
Due to muscle injury or scarring, the problem is made worse.
With the treatment of myofascial release, the tension in these muscles is released and we experience relief from pain.
Top 5 reasons to consider myofascial release
1. Treat muscle spasms: Myofascial release is very useful in treating muscle spasms that restrict bodily movement. Fascial adhesions lessen the circulation of blood by compressing the arteries. This lead to muscle spasms and painful crams. Myofascial release increases the circulation of blood in the body that allows nutrients to reach the tissues and disposes metabolic wastes effectively.
2. Back pain: It is very useful and effective in giving pain relief from back pain. We experience pain and soreness at the back, because of fascial adhesions pressurizing on our nerves. Myofascial release relieves the pain and pressure on the nerves of the lower back.
3. Stress injuries: Myofascial release is considered an ideal treatment for healing stress injuries. There are trigger points or areas of muscles that are stressed and can be exacerbated through injuries and even stress. Myofascial release can ease the tension in these trigger points and give relief from inflammation.
4. Menstrual problems: This form of treatment can soothe and ease the discomfort of menstrual problems. Menstrual pains and inflammatory disorders likes endometriosis can be really painful and suffering. Myofascial release works on giving relief from pain by not only addressing the core problem but also taking care of the pain and discomfort in at the back and the legs. Usually medication is only able to do a part of the job, is expensive and can cause side-effects.
5. Cerebral palsy: Myofascial release is known to be very effective for treating cerebral palsy. It does not work only on the area afflicted with pain, but address disorders throughout the body. That is why the techniques of myofascial release works in areas, where other treatments have failed.
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