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Myofascial Release |
Creating a Better Quality of Life through a gentle Approach What is Myofascial release ? Myofascial release is a massage technique that focuses on the fascial system, which creates more durable releases and long lasting therapeutic benefits. Without the use of oil, the therapist must work with some moderated pressure over the skin of the person according to the body in question and a variety of strokes in different directions. Creating stretches on this system deep and superficial fascia layers can be impacted by working at the superficial level. Myofascial release can be very gentle but deep work. Many physical therapists will use this technique to rehabilitate patients and athletes. What are some of the benefits some might experience after a treatment or treatments?
Where can we find this Fascia system? . It is the largest system of the body. Fascia, or connective tissue, permeates throughout the entire body. It is first present between the skin and the underlying tissue simply attaching the skin to underlying tissue, which often is muscle. The muscles themselves are surrounded by a fascial sheath, which differentiates the muscle tissue into the anatomical muscle (i.e. biceps, triceps, quadriceps, etc. see illustration 1.A below). How is this system composed? The muscles are composed of bundles of muscle fibers, with each bundle and the fascia supports the smooth contraction and relaxation of the muscles. Some medical authorities stated that this system is part of the electromagnetic system of the human body. Since fascia is responsible for the sensory-motor information through nerve conduction via central nervous system, its neuromuscular connections with the brain and the quality of those nerve impulses is what our entire body depends on. What might happen to the body when this system becomes affected? However, trauma, disease, lack of use, improper posture, poor circulation, improper nutrition, sedentary life style, loss in range of motion, prolonged bracing, immobility, hypertonicity, etc., the fascial layer becomes disorganized. The layers start adhering to each other, limiting the ability of the muscle to contract or relax. Eventually, these adhesions become more solidified, much like a scar, and even calcified, like a heel spur. This disorganization and subsequent adhesions are created three dimensionally and interconnect with fascia throughout the body, creating pain, dysfunction and ultimately disease. While the focus has been in this description on the relationship between fascia and muscles, the same relationships hold true for fascia and the joints, bones, blood vessels and internal organs, with ability to very significantly impact one's health.
In the illustration below: cross section of a myofascial bundle, you will observe the epimysium, perimysium and the endomysium. These envelopes wrap each muscle cell, fascicle and bundle of fasciles to comprise a whole muscle. These connective tissue bundles collectively extend through and beyond the muscles and emerge as tendons or as broad flat tendons called aponeurosis. These structures in turn attach to periostium (skin of the bone), other muscles and ligaments. All three bundles are extensions of the body's deep fascia. |
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Illustration 1.A shows the Myofascial bundle cross section: epimysium, perimysium and endomysium of the muscles. The significance of these structures to soft tissue dysfunction is in the development of many consequences mentioned before. When bonding of these connective tissue structures occurs it facilitates further tissue pathology by creating an environment of compromised local muscle metabolism, deceased muscle contractibility, decreased muscle extensibility, inhibited circulation and if severe enough, vascular, lymphatic, and nerve entrapment. What is the core intent of the therapist? In myofascial release, the intention is to encourage the reorganization of the fascia on different body parts. The fascia system is first accessed at the skin fascia layer and as releases occur, progresses to deeper layers. The three-dimensionality of the fascia is an advantage here. The distinguishing feature of the Myofascial work however is the longer applications of the techniques, which affects the fascial structure rather than the state of contraction of the muscle. Through this structural reorganization, a greater therapeutic effect is experienced as mentioned before. By inducing this structural relaxation in the muscle, rather than neurological relaxation, optimal anatomical position and alignment can occur. Similar effects can be demonstrated in the physiology of internal organs. |
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This pictures show the superficial fascial manipulation techniques exercise by the therapist. The vertical arrows means direction of pressure applied over the skin of the person receiving it and the horizontal arrow means direction of the hand’s movements. These techniques are performed in different and opposite directions if we want to achieve the desire structural integration and its results from the body when we are sensitive enough to feel where the body or the tissue in question lead us. |
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This pictures show the superficial fascial manipulation techniques exercise by the therapist. The vertical arrows means direction of pressure applied over the skin of the person and always keeping in mind to communicate with the person what would be the right pressure for the client. |