| Myofascial release is a highly specialized stretching | | | | order. |
| method utilized by massage therapists to treat | | | | The same components are used when a therapist |
| patients with various soft tissue disorders. | | | | utilizes myofascial release. First, the therapist |
| To know what myofascial release is and why it | | | | locates the area of tightness. Then a light stretch |
| works so well, one must know something about | | | | is applied to the area of tightness. When the |
| fascia. Fascia refers to the thin layer of | | | | tissue begins to relax, the massage therapist then |
| connective tissue that covers all organs of the | | | | applies greater force to increase the stretch. This |
| body. This tissue covers every muscle bundle as | | | | process is repeated until the entire muscle is fully |
| well as every muscle fiber inside each bundle. All | | | | relaxed. Then, the therapist addresses another |
| muscle stretching really is stretching of the fascia | | | | area to be stretched. |
| and the muscle, collectively known as the | | | | The massage therapist will be able to locate sore |
| myofascial unit. When a person injures his muscle, | | | | spots just by light palpation. Many times, patients |
| the fibers and the surrounding fascia become | | | | are unable to show the therapist where the sore |
| short and tight; i.e. muscle spasm. This imbalance | | | | spots are or have grown accustomed to them |
| of stress can radiate through the fascia and | | | | until the massage therapist palpates them. These |
| ultimately to other parts of the body, thus | | | | myofascial trigger points as they are called will |
| promoting pain and various other symptoms in | | | | disappear with treatment. |
| places you normally would not expect. Myofascial | | | | Many patients are amazed at how gentle |
| release addresses these symptoms by releasing | | | | myofascial release really is. Some of them doze |
| the uneven tightness in the injured fascia. | | | | off during a massage therapy session. Others go |
| To put it in other words, myofascial release is the | | | | home and take a nap. Most patients find that |
| stretching of the fascia. The stretch is guided by | | | | myofascial release can be a very relaxing form of |
| the feedback that the massage therapist gets | | | | massage therapy. |
| from the patient's body. The therapist can gauge | | | | Keep in mind that myofascial release is not |
| how much force to use, the direction of force | | | | massage therapy entirely. Myofascial release is |
| and for how long to maintain that force. Small | | | | only one of many techniques used in massage |
| areas of muscle are stretched at any one time. | | | | therapy to equalize muscle tension throughout the |
| Occasionally, the massage therapist uses only two | | | | body. Uneven muscle tension can put pressure on |
| of his/her fingers to stretch that part of a | | | | the nerves and muscles and promote pain. |
| muscle. The feedback that the therapist receives | | | | Progress is determined by an improvement in |
| from the patient allows him/her to determine | | | | overall posture and the decrease in the patient's |
| which muscles are stretched and in what particular | | | | pain. |