What is Myofascial Release?

Myofascial release is an effective and long lasting technique of applying slow, sustained pressure onto connective tissue restrictions to eliminate pain and restore mobility. Gentle pressure applied slowly will allow a fascia to elongate from a physics perspective. This is different from temporary relaxation of muscle tissue through Swedish massage. It is more similar to passive stretching and slow deep tissue massage, although ideally with much more precision as to the areas of fascia worked on and how they are released. Occasionally, due to the depth and strength of the restriction, additional pressure is necessary. If this area had never received treatment, it may be significantly painful to release but will often feel much better when it is. Often clients feel they have been "waiting years for someone to this." It is important to communicate your pain and discomfort with your practitioner for your safety. For this reason, being on pain medication during this work is strongly advised against.

Causes of myofascial adhesion include: injuries, inflammatory responses, poor posture, stress on the body due to exercise, normal aging if less active, and surgery.

Techniques include: slow stretching of tissue between hands, holding the body in positions of restriction like stretching, skin rolling, opposing friction from client and practitioner, pin and stretch like techniques, and most structural integration.

Results of myofascial release are:

• Increased range of motion in your joints, including ability to do daily functions or sports.
• Reduced pain, tension, numbness, tingling, headaches, clicking in your joints, and stabilization of osteoarthritis damage.

• Gaining more body awareness, feeling parts of your body that you were formerly disconnected from.

• Discovering new alignment in how you walk around and function in everyday life.

• Noticing how you move through daily activities and modify things that don’t feel good like seating, shoes and how you carry things. You may get better shoes or look into a more ergonomic work station.

• Certain areas that are no longer restricted change how every thing else in your body feels.

• Your body might feel sore, disoriented proprioceptively, or unstable as you adjust to the changes. There are things that you can do to lessen the soreness which you may want to discuss with a medical provider such as diet, proper hydration, natural anti-inflammatories, homeopathic remedies, warm not hot epsom salt baths and topical arnica.

• Insights can occur as to how your body got stuck in a dysfunctional pattern, such as memories , lifestyle choices and emotional releases. In this case, counseling, spiritual guidance, movement therapy and other supportive care can be helpful.

Centered Bodywork
6637 SE Milwaukie Ave, Suite 202, Portland, OR 97202
415-410-4622