Myofascial Release
Myofascial Release (MFR), as taught by John F Barnes, is a gentle hands on bodywork therapy that targets the fascia—the connective tissue surrounding muscles. If you’re experiencing chronic pain, stiffness, or limited mobility, MFR can help restore your body’s natural balance.
MFR is a highly effective, full body, hands-on approach that can provide amazing results for decreasing pain and increasing range of motion. It views each individual as a whole person and creates an environment to allow the body to tap into its inherent healing capabilities.
Fascia (aka connective tissue) is a 3 dimensional web-like system in our body that runs from head to toe without interruption. It supports, protects and stabilizes the body, from the largest structures, down to the cellular level. The fascia directly impacts and influences every system and motion center of the body.
Until recently most professionals in the health care industry have largely ignored the fascial system, because in medical school, they were taught it was a useless packing material. New science in the last 10 years has discovered that it is actually a responsive and adaptive system.
Physical trauma, whether accidents or surgery, as well as inflammation and postural misalignment can cause fascial restrictions leading to pressure on pain-sensitive structures. This excessive pressure acts as a “straight jacket” in our body, producing symptoms such as pain, headaches or limited range of motion.
The modality of MFR uses sustained pressure and gentle stretching or compression into the fascial system allowing it to regain fluidity and relieve the tensions in the connective tissue system.
Fascial restrictions, do not appear on standard medical tests (Xrays, MRIs, CT scans, etc). They are a frequent root cause of chronic pain, immobility, &/or decreased function in millions of frustrated clients.
Hilary took classes directly with John F. Barnes himself, the creator of authentic MFR.
What to Expect
An MFR session will start with a visual assessment of your posture in standing. Ideally, you will be dressed to allow the therapist to see what is occurring in the body: males just in loose shorts; females in a jog bra and loose shorts.
The therapist will look at how your body is aligned when under the influence of gravity, as well as asses when lying on the treatment table, to se if there is any pulling or internal fascial restrictions. The therapist will also speak with you briefly at the beginning of each session about your issues, challenges, and symptoms since your last visit.
There is no oil or lotion used with MFR because the therapist uses the skin as a lever/handle into the connective tissue (fascial) system. The therapist will provide gentle sustained stretch, pressure, or traction (pull) into your tissue for a prolonged period of time (5+ minutes per technique). This prolonged contact allows for a release/response throughout the entire 3-dimensional fascial system, which is uninterrupted head-to-toes.
Some patients feel physical sensations as the tissue restrictions release and lengthen. Typical physical sensations include: heat, tingling, pulsation, vibration, and melting. Some patients also feel emotions during MFR sessions. Emotional expression is normal and highly therapeutic during an MFR session. Some patients Unwind: their bodies begin to spontaneously/involuntarily move as their tissue system eases and releases stored trauma. Unwinding is extremely therapeutic and healing.
How does it work
Trauma, inflammatory responses, and/or surgical procedures create Myofascial restrictions that can produce tensile pressures of approximately 2,000 pounds per square inch on pain sensitive structures that do not show up in many of the standard tests (x-rays, myelograms, CAT scans, electromyography, etc.)
The medical approach is to drug patients so they temporarily are free from pain, but does nothing about the “straight-jacket” of pressure that is causing the pain.
Traditional physical, occupational and massage therapy treats the symptoms caused by the pressure of the “straightjacket” of the Myofascial system, but does nothing about the “straightjacket” of pressure that causes and perpetuates the symptoms.
This is why so many patients only have temporary results never seeming to get better with traditional therapy.
Only Myofascial Release treats the entire Myofascial mind/body complex eliminating the pressure of the restricted Myofascial system (the straightjacket) that causes the symptoms.