Integrated Myofascial Release
myofascial slings
First, what is this "myofascia" (pronounced my-o-fash-a)?
Breaking the word into it's parts: "myo" refers to muscle tissue; fascia is the connective tissue that wraps around everything in the body. A myofascial technique therefore is working on both the muscles and the fascia helping to lengthen both muscles and fascia; releasing tension and pain.
So what makes myofascial release different?
To change fascia takes a different approach than just working on muscles. Fascia reacts to heat and pressure. To get this effect when working on your body, the therapist must use slow deliberate moves: using their body weight to slowly sink into your tissue. The underlying tissue will start to "soften" under the pressure. As this happens, the therapist will apply a slow stretch. Muscles and fascia will then start to lengthen. You may feel connections in your body that you did not know existed! These are functional connections that need releasing.
What can it help?
Do you have chronic postural problems such as a stiff neck, a stooped posture, tight shoulders, overuse injuries?
Part of the problem could be due to tight, inflexible fascia. Your body adapts to how you use it. Part of this adaptation occurs in the fascia. Fascia can act a "support wire" so that it holds the body in your habitual position without your muscles having to do much work. That sounds great but there is a "down side". The same "support wire" will limit how far you can move in certain directions. Sometimes this will be felt as pain.
Have you had surgery or been involved in an accident?
The scar tissue that results is the fascial tissue that is laid down as part of the healing process. In healing, however, this scar tissue tends to be less "organised". Movement can be restricted. Working with the tissue using myofascial release can help reduce scar tissue. Breaking down the scar tissue will improve local tissue flexibility. Tension and pain may resolve.
Fascia is the new "buzz word" in bodywork.
Fascia is the body's connective tissue. It is the glue that binds the body together. It surrounds, and supports the bones, muscles, blood vessesl, nerves, and organs of the body. It connects tissues together such as muscles to bones and bones to each other. It is also the binder tissue in scar tissue.
Fascia is not "inert", it is reactive. can, however, connect or bind tissue in the wrong place such as scar tissue. With long standing conditions, for bodywork to have a lasting effect on the body, the fascia has to be changed.
Have you felt that although you really enjoyed your massage, the effects didn't last? This could be because the bodywork technique did not address your fascial system. If the massage is not specific for fascia, the connective tissue will return to its previous shape (kind of like a rubber band). Fascia needs slow stretching moves to help it to change, to release, and to lengthen.
Releasing the fascia, means that there is more space for muscles to move. Joint movement restrictions may resolve. Tissue that is tethered such as as there is better alignment. Postural changes can be effected. You will feel different.
Breaking the word into it's parts: "myo" refers to muscle tissue; fascia is the connective tissue that wraps around everything in the body. A myofascial technique therefore is working on both the muscles and the fascia helping to lengthen both muscles and fascia; releasing tension and pain.
So what makes myofascial release different?
To change fascia takes a different approach than just working on muscles. Fascia reacts to heat and pressure. To get this effect when working on your body, the therapist must use slow deliberate moves: using their body weight to slowly sink into your tissue. The underlying tissue will start to "soften" under the pressure. As this happens, the therapist will apply a slow stretch. Muscles and fascia will then start to lengthen. You may feel connections in your body that you did not know existed! These are functional connections that need releasing.
What can it help?
Do you have chronic postural problems such as a stiff neck, a stooped posture, tight shoulders, overuse injuries?
Part of the problem could be due to tight, inflexible fascia. Your body adapts to how you use it. Part of this adaptation occurs in the fascia. Fascia can act a "support wire" so that it holds the body in your habitual position without your muscles having to do much work. That sounds great but there is a "down side". The same "support wire" will limit how far you can move in certain directions. Sometimes this will be felt as pain.
Have you had surgery or been involved in an accident?
The scar tissue that results is the fascial tissue that is laid down as part of the healing process. In healing, however, this scar tissue tends to be less "organised". Movement can be restricted. Working with the tissue using myofascial release can help reduce scar tissue. Breaking down the scar tissue will improve local tissue flexibility. Tension and pain may resolve.
Fascia is the new "buzz word" in bodywork.
Fascia is the body's connective tissue. It is the glue that binds the body together. It surrounds, and supports the bones, muscles, blood vessesl, nerves, and organs of the body. It connects tissues together such as muscles to bones and bones to each other. It is also the binder tissue in scar tissue.
Fascia is not "inert", it is reactive. can, however, connect or bind tissue in the wrong place such as scar tissue. With long standing conditions, for bodywork to have a lasting effect on the body, the fascia has to be changed.
Have you felt that although you really enjoyed your massage, the effects didn't last? This could be because the bodywork technique did not address your fascial system. If the massage is not specific for fascia, the connective tissue will return to its previous shape (kind of like a rubber band). Fascia needs slow stretching moves to help it to change, to release, and to lengthen.
Releasing the fascia, means that there is more space for muscles to move. Joint movement restrictions may resolve. Tissue that is tethered such as as there is better alignment. Postural changes can be effected. You will feel different.
