Myofascial Release is a very specific form of massage that
has been used successfully for over a hundred years to treat difficult and recurring injuries and pain. In general, myofascial release is used to improve the health of the muscles and fascia, break down
scar tissue and restore good posture.
What is Fascia?
Fascia is like a superficial body suit which allows us to move freely, breath
properly and perform our daily tasks pain-free. It spans the whole body and is totally connected as one piece of material.
It is called "the tissue of movement". And one of the more effective treatments is myofascial release.
When
fascia is damaged or traumatized it can become too tight and cause a number of problems such as:
Headaches, muscle
pain and spasms, chronic back and neck pain, recurring
injuries, sciatica, breathing difficulties,
sensations such as numbness and pins and needles, poor posture and reduced flexibility.
Things that can cause this once flexible tissue
to become too tight are:
Inflammation
Traumas, such as a fall or car accident
Work injuries
Poor posture
Lack of stretching
such as prolonged sitting or standing
Emotional/psychological stress
Repetitive motions, such as factory work
or keyboarding
What does a Myofascial Release treatment feel like?
The pressure can range from very
gentle touch to deeper pressure. The pressure should never be beyond your tolerance and it is important to give feedback to
your practitioner during the treatment.
Some patients may experience a slight tingling or burning sensation in the skin, which is perfectly normal
and safe. Others may feel a gentle to deep stretch on the area being treated. The treatment of myofascial release can last
from 30 minutes to 90 minutes.
Myofascial release was specifically designed to relax the fascia throughout the whole body. And because tension in
fascia can affect and cause pain in other areas, your therapist may treat other areas of the body to positively affect your
treatment outcome. For example, your practitioner may work on the hips and low back to help reduce tension in the neck which
in turn can cause headaches. This is the benefit of a whole body approach that makes myofascial release such an effective
treatment. Because each patient is different the number of treatments required may vary, however a general rule is that
you should notice a change in your condition with the application of myofascial release. We will discuss your treatment plan
and projected outcome with you during your first session. To conclude, myofascial release is a very effective treatment
that can significantly improve many soft tissue and orthopedic conditions.
Janice Marie Scardina, L.M.T.
Janice Marie has enjoyed being a massage therapist in both Texas and the Chicagoland area
for over twelve years. She graduated from Lauterstein-Conway Massage School in Austin ,Texas. She is trained
in the modalities of myofascial release, deep tissue, myopractic, pregnancy and craniosacral therapy. Janice Marie is
extremely interested in and encourages holistic approaches for pain management to restore balance to the body.
Appointments can be made by calling our office at
(847) 842-8070.
