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 If you could see below your skin, you'd see a densely woven, web-like system of connective tissue that covers your body and plays an important role in holding everything together. This tissue is called the fascia (pronounced "FAW-sha").
A healthy, normal fascia stretches and moves freely, when you do. Fascia that has experienced physical trauma, inflammation or scarring gets tight and shorter. You can't move without feeling pain or the feeling of being restricted. Sometimes the pain is referred elsewhere in the body. Sometimes it causes a change in posture, even a slight one, and that causes more problems.
Myofascial release ("my-oh-FAW-shawl") is a physical therapy technique that massage therapists can offer, if they're so trained. A session consists of techniques to find and stretch the areas of tightness - light stretches at first, then time for the tissue to relax, then longer stretches and repetitions of stretches. Then, on to the next area. The touch techniques are so gentle and rhythmic that some of our clients even doze off during treatment.
If you have an old or more recent injury or if you're seeing a doctor for carpal tunnel syndrome, plantar fasciitis, TMJ pain, fibromyalgia, whiplash or post-polio symptoms, we encourage you to consult with him or her before scheduling myofascial release. Many people with these and similar conditions have found this therapy to be very effective. |
