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.