Myofascial Release™
How does it work ?
Myofascial Release is a very effective, hands on technique which provides sustained pressure into myofascial restrictions to eliminate pain, headaches and to restore motion. In order to understand the theory of Myofascial Release, an explanation of the fascial system (or connective tissue) is necessary.
What is fascia?
The fascia is actually one uninterrupted structure of the body which has an appearance similar to a spider’s web. All the parts of the body are connected, from your head to your feet, like the yarn in a sweater. In the normal, healthy state, the fascia is Relaxed and wavy in configuration. It stretches and moves without restriction. If we should experience trauma such as a fall, whiplash, surgery or emotional pain, the fascia loses its flexibility. It becomes very tight and can be a source of tension to the rest of the body. The fascia can exert excessive pressure producing pain, headaches and/or restriction of motion.
Who can benefit from Myofascial Release ?
Below is a list of the most common complaints successfully treated with Myofascial Release™:
- Chronic pain
- Fibromyalgia
- Headaches
- Scoliosis
- Post surgical/traumatic scarring
- Neurological dysfunction
- Sports injuries
- Jaw pain
- Incontinence
- Menstrual/pelvic dysfunction
- Repetitive strain injury
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
If you suffer with any of the above symptoms, we can offer you hope of relief, possibly even eliminating them completely from your life.
As I give Myofascial Release Seminars around the country, I meet an enormous number of therapists and physicians. Many of them are on this diet or that, vegetarians, taking vitamins, supplements, or the latest nutritional breakthrough. And yet, despite their good intentions and best efforts, they don’t look or feel very healthy or vital, and many still suffer with pain, headaches, fibromyalgia, etc. What have they missed? Consider looking at the myofascial system on the cellular level as a sieve. When we are traumatized, have surgery, or have inflammatory responses to illness, the ground substance of the myofascial systems tends to dehydrate. As it loses its fluidity, it tends to become more viscous or solidify. This is equivalent to pouring glue into the sieve. In other words, it doesn’t matter how much good food, medication, vitamins, or supplements we put in our mouths; if these substances can’t get to and be processed by the cell, of what value are they? What has been ignored in today’s health care is the vital role of the ground substance and the microtubules of the fascial system’s main function to transmit our bio-energy or life force through the cells to all aspects of our being. Another word for bio-energy is love. Love is our basic and most important nutrition and healing power. Food, vitamins, etc., are just supplements to the important role of love flowing through us. Without love, life is a struggle.
John Barnes, P.T.
