What is Myofascial Release?
Myofascial release is a unique manual therapy that applies gentle sustained movement and pressure to release tight areas in the myofascial tissues throughout the body. It aims to remove pressure from pain sensitive structures and free restrictions so that the body can move effortlessly without pain.
What is fascia?
Fascia is a connective tissue which extends continuously from the head to toes surrounding every organ, tissue and cell of the body.
What does myofascial mean?
Myo means muscle and myofascial tissue is the fascia that is related to muscles. Fascia acts as a shock absorber for muscle and when muscles are damaged from injury and strain the fascia is damaged more than the muscle cell themselves.
The myofascial tissue is an integral part of the whole network of fascia throughout the body and treating the myofascial tissues can also affect other parts of the body.
What causes damage to the fascia?
The network of fascial tissue can be damaged and restricted through physical and emotional injury, inflammation and diseases, poor postures and moving with faulty body mechanics and muscle control.
How do I know if I have a fascial restrictions?
Fascial restrictions cannot be seen on x-rays and scans. They can often be felt, especially in the muscles. The tissue can feel hard and tight and painful when pressed. The effects of restrictions can sometimes also be seen, pulling parts of the body out of alignment.
Fascial restrictions can make the muscles feel tight, tender and weak and joints feel stiff and aching as well as a whole host of other symptoms. The more restrictions you have in your body the more likely you are to suffer pain, lack energy and find using your body hard work. Having lots of restrictions in the fascia is often described like wearing a straight jacket.
What does the treatment involve?
Myofascial release is a safe and effective hands-on technique that works on the fascia to release restrictions. Movement or pressure is applied very slowly and gently and held for some time, at least 2 minutes but often more.
Myofascial is different from massage because it works very gently through the skin into the fascia surrounding the muscles gradually stretching out restricted parts of the fascia.
Techniques are applied gently so that the tissue can slowly adapt and permanently change. Forcing the tissues does not achieve effective or lasting results. The body tends to tighten and protect itself against too much force.
