What is Myofascial Release?
Myofascial Release (MFR) is the gentle application of sustained pressure into fascial restrictions. This is done by a doctor or therapist using their hands, although occasionally therapeutic equipment such as balls, foam rolls or wedges are utilized in adjunct to the manual soft tissue treatment. Gentle pressure is applied slowly to allow the body fascia to elongate. This manual therapy addresses the tightness of fascial/connective tissue due to inflammation, poor posture or trauma. Patients have seen results for conditions such as headaches/migraines, neck pain, back pain, chronic postural issues, chronic pain conditions, internal pain conditions and female/pelvic concerns. Expect an office visit for MFR to last between 30 minutes to an hour. It is a safe, gentle and permanent release of soft tissue restrictions.
What is Fascia?
Fascia is the tough connective tissue that spreads through the body in a three-dimensional web from head to toe without interruption. Trauma, posture or inflammation can bind down the fascia resulting in excessive pressure on nerves, muscles, blood vessels, bony structures and organs. Standard tests such as x-rays or CT scans do not show fascial restrictions, therefore many people that are suffering with pain or limited motion may have undiagnosed fascial restrictions. It is estimated that fascia can bind down tissues with 2,000 pounds of pressure per square inch of tissue!
The Science Behind it:
The gentle sustained pressure of the restricted fascial barrier creates a phase transition for the restricted tissue. The Phase Transition phenomena is due to Piezoelectricity and Mechanotransduction. Piezoelectricity means pressure electricity. When pressure is applied to the fascial and cellular structure, it creates a bioelectrical flow. Mechanotransduction is the sustained mechanical therapeutic pressure that creates biochemical changes within the body. This produces Interleukin 8, which is our body’s own natural anti-inflammatory agent.
Fascial restrictions are often caused by inflammation that solidifies the ground substance of the fascial system. This blocks healing and continues to solidify into crushing restrictions that produce symptoms. The art and science behind Myofascial Release is to return the fascial system from an inflamed, solid condition to a more natural fluid system, thus allowing the tissue to rehydrate and glide.
Experience:
Dr. Crystal Foresman-Landers has taken the following John F. Barnes Myofascial Release Courses:
Myofascial Release I
Myofascial Release II
Myofascial Unwinding
Fascial Pelvis Myofascial Release
In addition to these courses, Dr. Crystal has worked and trained at the esteemed myofascial release clinic, Ganfield Therapeutics, with MFR Senior Instructor, Lisa Ganfield, OTR/L, CHT.
Current Office Specials:
5 one-hour session pack: $830
10 one-hour session pack: $1,620 (buy 9, get one session for free!)
30-minute session: $110
60-minute session: $180
If you are experiencing chronic pain that is not resolving from traditional therapies, this may be the solution for you!
To learn more about the technique Dr. Crystal is experienced in, visit: http://myofascialrelease.com.
photo credit: RelaxingMusic via photopin cc
