What is Fascia
MYO = Muscles FASCIA = The bodies main connective tissue RELEASE = To let go
Fascia is the stuff in our bodies that relatively few people know about until it causes us pain and dysfunction.
Fascia is connective tissue that connects all the parts of our body and holds us together. It’s a 3-dimensional body stocking that envelopes all structures within our body, including muscle, tendons and ligaments, bone, nerves and internal organs and blood cells. In a normal healthy, hydrated state fascia has the ability to adapt, stretch and move without restriction. However, over a life time it is likely that a persons ‘body stocking’ will acquire a few snags and/or restrictions ultimately leading to myofascial problems. These problems can be caused by trauma (physical or emotional), inflammation, scar tissue, stress or surgery.
In its normal state, fascia is elastic and very strong. However, when physical or emotional trauma occurs, fascia will harden, thicken, tighten and become dehydrated. Then its inherent strength, together with a lack of elasticity, acts to immobilise whatever it surrounds, preventing normal function. It is often restriction in the fascia that causes pain, both in itself and also the structures it surrounds. Because fascia is entirely continuous throughout the body, a restriction in one part will affect every other part.
How does Myofascial Release Work
Myofascial Release is a safe and very effective hands on technique that involves applying gentle sustained pressure into the fascial system to effect a change in the viscosity of the fascia. The structure of the fascia will unwind and loosen thereby releasing tight muscles and tissues, freeing up adhesions and improving structural balance and alignment and thus decreasing or eliminating pain and restoring function and movement. It can be an incredibly relaxing and liberating treatment.
Although this is an effective stand-alone treatment, I combine this work within my clinical techniques to create a tailored personal treatment that is unique in approach and looks at the body and the person as a whole in order to help chronic or specific pain and injury.
Fascial work can be used to treat acute and chronic pain as shown with clinical massage and can also be very effective with the following issues:
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Vehicle Accidents
- Fibromyalgia
- ME
- Scar tissue
- Pelvic imbalance
- Headaches or Migraines
- Over-use and sporting injuries
- Sacroiliac Joint Problems
- Back Pain
- Shoulder Pain
- and many other issues causing decreased range of movement