What the Fascia?
Think about how your body reacts when you experience trauma; a motor vehicle accident, a slip and fall, surgery, the loss of a loved one, the list could go on and on. Your muscles become taunt and tense, you may get a headache, or suddenly you just don’t feel right no matter what you try. That is because these traumas create Myofascial restrictions that can produce up to 2,000 pounds per square inch of pain! Restrictions that are not visible in many of the common tests such as x-rays.
Myo- is a prefix meaning muscle. Fascia is a specialized system of our bodies. It is continuous and densely woven, much like the yarn of a sweater, covering and interpenetrating every aspect of our body. From the tops of our heads to the bottoms of our feet, fascia wraps in and around our organs, bones, muscles as well as nerves, arteries and veins. Myofascial is the fascia surrounding and separating muscle tissue.
So, what are we to do about these invisible pain causing restrictions? Myofascial Release (MFR) is a modality of massage that was created to specifically address this need. This modality of massage is different in nature from what you might think of when you think massage, but the benefits can often be seen as early as the closing of the first session. Here is what you can typically expect:
- Identify the problem or pain area~ Where does it hurt?
- Massage Therapist will assist and instruct range of motion testing, both active and passive, to identify the severity of restrictions. This gives a measurable starting point to be able to identify the degree in which treatment is working.
- The beginning of the massage portion will be the time at which the Massage Therapist will apply traction to the muscle, using very little massage crème or lotion, moving very slowly to allow any taunt bands, adhesions, knots or trigger points to be located.
- Next, the Massage Therapist will apply pressure to any located problem areas, allowing time for the trigger points, or taunt bands to dissipate.
- Finally, while applying pressure your Massage Therapist will ask you to make a movement that would engage the muscle to which pressure is being applied. This engagement of the muscle will assist in dissolving the knot or trigger point.
- Applying traction, locating trigger points or knots and following the steps to dissolve these located adhesions will be repeated as necessary and as long as time allows.
- Pressure is always a touchy subject in massage, and the number one thing to remember is the only right pressure is the pressure that YOU need. In MFR the most therapeutic pressure to dissolve adhesions is a 7 on a scale of 1-10. HOWEVER that 7 is based on your scale alone, your 7 isn’t going to be the same as the next persons!
Myofascial release is such an excellent avenue of healing for those that seek relief from long-term, otherwise seemingly unexplainable pain. In addition to being its own appointment, it can be combined with a different modality of massage, such as a one hour Deep Tissue massage, with MFR concentration on a specific area of pain, to create a full body health experience. No matter the need or the time that the pain has been present. Let Liz, our Licensed Massage Therapist, address your concerns and provide the healing relief you’ve been seeking. Call (270)783-4500 to schedule your appointment today.