Myofascial Release

Does this happen to you?

• Do you suffer with pain that hasn’t responded to the conventional treatment?
• Did your pain get better but keeps coming back?
• Did you have it sorted and now it’s on the other side?
• Does it keep moving around?
• Have you been to the Dr or specialist and they said nothing is wrong?
• Have you had a CT scan, MRI, and other tests that do not back up your symptoms?
• Is your pain keeping you awake at night?
• Is it stopping you from being as active as you would like to be?
• Are you totally exhausted and warn out?
• Have you had it for AGES? Years even? Is it getting worse, or spreading?
• Is it making you feel depressed or isolated?
• Does it feel like no-one wants to hear about it anymore?
• Do you feel like your nervous system has become supper sensitive?

If any of this resonates, it is likely that your symptoms are coming from the fascial system and that is ‘good news’ as we can treat the fascia and most likely resolve your pain!

The fascia renews and adapts itself all the time so making changes to the fascial system will bring changes that last.

What is Myofascial Release?

Myo is the Greek word for muscle and the fascia is the connective tissue that permeates the body, forming a 3D matrix of structural support. It surrounds all organs, muscles, bones, nerves, blood vessels and every cell. It is the ‘in between’ space that holds most of the water in our bodies (interstitial fluid or ground substance), and the ‘scaffolding’ (collagen and elastin) that holds the body up against gravity due to a dynamic, ever changing balance between tension and compression. It is highly innervated with sensors for pain and awareness of where our body is in space.

The fascia’s role is to contract during injury or in response to inflammation, infection or surgery and does not release on its own. Because the fascia is an interconnected system, any strain or tension on one part of the body, may generate pain, reduce range of movement or cause dysfunction elsewhere in the body. Thus, releasing restrictions in the Myofascia, will have an effect on the fascia elsewhere, including at a deeper level.

As it surrounds all structures, a thickening in the fascia will inhibit the flow between blood vessels and the cells, starving them of nutrients and hydration and trapping toxins in the cells. Furthermore, scar tissue produces a huge tensile force which can crush nerves and blood vessels anywhere in the body, including in the brain, resulting in changes at cellular level. This could be the cause of many illnesses/ conditions though is is rarely identified by the medical profession as it does not show up in current imaging techniques.

Fascial techniques are very useful in treating a huge variety of symptoms, such as back pain and Sciatica, neck pain, jaw dysfunction and headaches, sport injuries or repetitive strain injuries such as plantar fasciatis. Fascial release is also effective in reducing scar tissue and adhesions post-surgery (even years later), and in addressing symptoms of IBS, constipation and many more.

Treating the fascia allows the body to rid itself of patterns of asymmetry, which may cause excessive wear and tear on joints, pain and dysfunction.  One can then learn to realign the body and re-programme a neutral, symmetrical pattern of movement thus restoring function and reducing pain long term.

More recently I discovered how potent a super gentle MFR technique is in calming down the sympathetic nervous system (fight/flight response) after major surgery (such as open heart surgery, hip and knee replacements, compartment syndrome, hand and wrist surgery) by clearing the memory of the trauma of surgery or intubation from the tissue. More so, a gentle tug on the fascia facilitated an instant reduction in swelling (a major contributor to pain post surgery). Even bruising has cleared at an astonishing rate! All in all, treatment in the first few days post surgery dramatically enhances recovery by reducing one’s anxiety and swelling and pain, allowing the immune system to function at its best.

Myofascial Release Treatment

Treatment requires a focused ‘listening’ touch. A gentle, hands on skin technique allows the therapist to tune in to the tissues and ‘feel’ what is going on.

A prolonged light pressure/ tension on the fascia will induce the piezoelectric phenomenon (pressure/ electricity) which releases the musculo-elastic component causing it to elongate. Holding tension for longer (5 minutes or more) will allow the collagen barrier to relax, the ground substance (liquid crystals) to return to its liquid form, restoring flow to the system and important chemicals (interluekin 3 and 8) to be released, allowing the body to heal itself and produce permanent results.

Recent research confirms that intentional skin to skin touch by a skilled therapist not only calms the autonomic nervous system (ANS) but can also reduce cancer cells around a tumour while increasing cytokines – immune fighting cells!

Following a traumatic experience such as an operation, the body will go in to what is known as a ‘fight/ flight mode’. This is a normal stress response caused by activation of the Sympathetic nervous system, and should, but doesn’t always resolve when the threat is over. Very gentle but deep touch activates the Ruffini receptors in the fascia calming the fight/flight response, thus bringing a sense of relaxation, and restoring well being.

Gentle fascia release following a fracture or surgery assists the lymphatic system to operate; by creating flow in the system, toxins can be cleared and local swelling reduced to minimise pain and optimise healing.

The fascia also holds a strong connection with emotional holding patterns which may be contributing to pain and will be released during treatment. Some may experience a therapeutic pain following a session, before feeling better. This is also referred to as a ‘Healing crisis’ and is the experience of old, blocked pain/emotion being released from a locked system. Fascia release can do no harm. The worst that can happen is … nothing at all!

Every person has their own unique fascial system so every treatment is different. In releasing the fascia we treat the cause, rather than the symptoms. This is a truly transformational touch which releases restrictions that hold both physical and emotional pain.

A series of treatments can not only address pain but also bring on a deep and lasting change in body awareness, posture, movement and flow, allowing the body to heal itself and restore well-being.

Self Release

Our body is built for movement. Fascial restrictions build up overnight and need breaking up in the morning with a good dynamic wiggling stretch.

So what do you do? How do you stretch? Is your stretching effective in releasing your stiffness?

In my sessions I will teach you how to become aware and respond to what your body needs, and how to make your stretches highly effective whilst staying gentle and pain free.

Assessment of ergonomics (objects you interact with) and ADL (activities of daily living)

The way we sleep, sit, work, garden, exercise and move is often a contributor to our pain and stiffness.

Pain which has been treated and has returned, especially more than once, is often an indicator that something in your daily activity is aggravating or indeed causing the irritation.

An integral part of your assessment will be to identify irritating factors.

Alongside hands-on treatment for pain relief and realignment of the tissues, very specific advise will be provided on how and what needs changing. Anything from the height of your pillow (to ensure neck support), to the angle of your bike saddle, from the armchair you use to the position of your TV.

I will also provide advice on optimising and modifying your workspace, be it a computer on a desk at work or a laptop in bed.

Once we can eliminate the contributing factors we can maximise recovery and your chances of staying well.

What does fascia look like?

Click on the links below to view some excellent videos explaining more about the fascia and Myofascial Release:

What does the fascia look like? https://youtu.be/JgNoUrNlgr4

The Fuzz Speech, Gil Headley: https://youtu.be/_FtSP-tkSug

Skin, scars and stiffness, Dr Gimbarteau: https://youtu.be/RQloBVwkieM

Strolling under the skin, Dr. Gimbarteau: https://youtu.be/eW0lvOVKDxE

What is fascia? https://youtu.be/frgQ3k0v_Dg

Biotensegrity, Tom Mayers: https://youtu.be/BzgxYpDyO0M

I highly  recommend this informative and easy to follow documentary called ‘HEAL’, which explains how our bodies are designed to self heal, highlights the most important factors in the healing process and explains the new science behind new thinking. (I would recommend purchasing it as you may well want to watch it more than once.)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=atv_dp_pd_star?url=search-alias%3Dinstant-video&field-keywords=%22Dr.%20Deepak%20Chopra%22&rh=k:Dr.%20Deepak%20Chopra%2Cn:3010085031&ie=UTF8

And JUST for fun, watch ice crystals form on a freezing soap bubble…. so beautiful! Is this how the crystalline water of the fascia crystallises in the body –https://youtu.be/8UhjxHurl0Y