WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT MYOFASCIAL RELEASE
Our bones, muscles and ligaments are kept in place with a connective soft tissue known as fascia. Just like other parts of our body, fascia can become injured which can then become very painful. People with inflamed or constricted fascia can find movement very difficult, which often materializes into significant pain and frustration.
Unlike other joint injuries that are easily identified using technologies such as CAT scans and X-rays, fascial are not as easy to identify. However, an experienced physical therapist can usually recognize symptoms connected with injured fascia.
If an individual has been diagnosed with a fascia injury, they can undergo Myofascial Release Therapy to relieve them of their pain and regain their mobility, strength, flexibility and comfort in the problem area.
What Does Myofascial Release Include?
Myofascial Release Therapy should only be carried out by a trained professional such as a physical therapist. This is because the techniques used in this type of therapy require an in-depth knowledge of the body to avoid further injury or trauma.
Treatment will consist of a tailored plan of gentle massaging, pressure, and stretching. Typical Myofascial Release Therapy will gradually restore the individual’s range of pain-free motion at their problem region and allow them to regain their comfort, flexibility and strength.
How Physical Therapists Use Myofascial Release
Myofascial Release Therapy takes a hands-on approach. This means that a physical therapist will use their hands to complete a range of stretches and massages in order to relieve the symptoms of the damaged and constricted fascia. Each session will last a couple of minutes and may change as progress is made.
When undergoing this type of treatment, the therapist will be able to understand the condition more as they work on the problem area. However, it is also beneficial for clients to give feedback so their therapists can better understand the issues that the client is experiencing.
What Conditions Can It Treat
Overall, it is designed to treat constricted and injured fascia. Therefore, this therapy is not aimed at a particular condition. Instead, it can be used in many different circumstances.
It can be used to treat more generic problems such as back pain, or it can be adopted after work-related injuries. It’s also been a popular choice of therapy among athletes at all levels and those wanting to aid their recovery post road accidents.
Some more niche instances when Myofascial Release Therapy has been called upon is to treat Carpal tunnel Syndrome, Fibromyalgia and Plantar Fasciitis.
The Key Takeaways
To summarize, there are some key takeaways when considering this type of therapy:
- It can be used in a number of generic situations
- It can also be used to help specific issues
- It is a hands-on and non-evasive therapy
- Treatment includes tailored stretching and massaging at different pressures
- Injured fascia is hard to diagnose without an experienced physical therapist
- Myofascial release therapy should only be carried out by a trained professional to avoid further issues or complications