Most people have a good grasp of bones, muscles, and organs, but few have heard much about fascia, never mind myofascial release.
Fascia is the name for the connective tissue which helps to bind everything together in our bodies. It is a 3D web of fibres which runs in all directions. Fascia surrounds and connects every tissue, tendon, muscle, bone, ligament and organ of the body. Research has proven that fascia, like muscle, has the ability to contract and relax and plays a major role in mobility and stability of joints.
Trauma (physical and emotional), and poor posture, can lead fascia to scar and lose mobility. This will have local effects, but may also reduce the movement of the fascia along its line of tension, which can explain why we sometimes have tightness in one part of our body but experience pain in a different place.
Postures may develop over many years. Your rounded shoulder position may have begun as a protective posture as a teenager when you felt embarrassed with sudden/lack of breast development. That nagging neck pain you carry could be associated with the way you used to stoop to avoid looking so tall around your school friends. Despite trying to change these postures, sometimes our fascia has ‘stored’ that position so that it becomes our new normal posture.
Myofascial release is a therapy which helps to stretch and release areas of tension in the fascia. Therapists are taught to feel and stretch slowly into the fascial network, noting areas which are dense, thick or hard. The therapist will then use sustained, gentle pressure to help elongate the fascia naturally. Massage creams and oils are used minimally as it is important to be able to stretch the tissue without slipping on the skin.
If you think you would benefit from myofascial release or wish to discuss this more, then click here to see one of our experienced Physiotherapists today!