Myofascial Release
Myofascial Release
Myofascial Release is a relatively new addition to the techniques of the physical therapist. Because it is somewhat different from traditional physical therapy. Many clients ask questions such as “What is it?” and “How does it work?” Myofascial Release is generally an extremely mild and gentle form of stretching that has a profound effect upon the body tissues. Because of its gentleness, many clients wonder how it could work. To help you understand click hear for further information.
Myofascial Release
Or Fascia(also called connective tissue) ISA tissue system of the body to which relatively little attention has been given in the past. Fascia is composed of two types of fibres.
Collagenous fibres which are very tough and have little stretch ability.
Elastic fibres which are stretchable.
From the functional point of view, the body fascia may be regarded as a continuous without interruption from the top of the head to the tip of the toes. It surrounds and invades every other tissue and organ of the body including nerves, vessels, muscle and bone. Fascia is more dense in some areas than others. Dense fascia is easily recognisable for example by the tough white membrane that we find surrounding butchered meat.
When Fascia is injured
Because fascia permeates all regions of the body and is all interconnected, when it scars and hardens in one area (following injury, inflammation, disease, surgery, etc.) it can put tension on adjacent pain-sensitive structures as well as on structures in far-away areas.
Some clients have bizarre pain symptoms that appear to be unrelated to the original or primary complaint.
As the fascia of the body is all interconnected, and a restriction in one region can theoretically put a “drag” on the fascia in any other direction. Therefore during myofascial Release treatments , you may be treated in areas that you may not think are related to your condition. This is, therefore a whole body approach to treatment. A good example is the chronic low back pain client ; although the low back is primarily involved, the client may also have significant discomfort in the neck.
This is due to the gradual tightening of the muscles and especially the fascia, as this tightness has crept its way up the back, eventually creating neck and head pain.
The key to the success of myofascial Release treatments is to keep the pressure and stretch extremely mild. Muscle tissue responds to a relatively firm stretch, but this in not the case with fascia. The collagenous fibres of fascia are extremely tough and resistant to stretch. In fact, it is estimated that fascia has a tensile strength of 2000 pounds per square inch.
Sometimes there is increased pain for several hours to a day after treatment , followed by improvement. Often remarkable improvement is noted immediately during or after a treatment. Occasionally new pains in new areas will be experienced. There is sometimes a client experiences a temporary emotion realise. All are normal reactions of the body to the profound, but positive, changes that have occurred by releasing fascial restrictions.
It is felt that release of tight tissue is accompanied by release of trapped metabolic waste products in the surrounding tissue and blood stream. I recommend that you “flush your system” by drinking a lot of water during the course of your treatments.