Adirondack Myofascial Release

What can you expect during a treatment? Each treatment session begins with a brief postural evaluation so that the therapist can see what is happening in the patient's body at that moment in time. During the treatment portion of a session, a patient often lies on a treatment table. The therapist places her hands on the patient and sinks in to the "depth barrier" to connect with the fascial system, providing sustained pressure. The therapist may use a broad spectrum of pressure during a treatment session from very light to deep tissue depending on what each part of the patient’s body needs. A well trained therapist is able to “read” the patient’s body and will know which amount of pressure will work best. Some treatments may take place with the patient sitting or standing during a portion of the treatment. Verbal feedback from the patient is also very important. Myofascial Release is done on skin, so patents should wear gyms shorts, tank top/sprots bra, bathing trunks, (men) two-piece bathing suit (women) or underwear, whichever he or she feels comfortable in is perfectly appropriate.

As part of treatment, patients will learn valuable self-treatment techniques to allow them to make progress between sessions and empower them in safeguarding/reclaiming their own good health.

One specialized form of Myofascial Release involves treating the pelvic floor. The pelvis is made up of two hip bones and the saccrum, a wedge shaped bone that is the base of the spine. The word "pelvis" is latin for bowl, at the bottom of that bowl lies the pelvic floor.The pelvic floor is made up of several pairs of muscles running from the the pubic bone to the coccyx (tail bone). In their optimal state, these muscles act as a sling or hammock providing support for the many structures in the pelvic cavity. Dysfunction of the pelvic floor can occur causing some of the muscles to become overstreatched and weak and opposing muscles to become too tight in an attempt to provide stability. The fascia in these muscles and in the surrounding structures is restricted, each restriction tugging and pulling on the delicate structures involved. It is estimated that as many as seven out of ten women experience problems due to pelvic floor dysfunction which may be due to surgeries, injuries, poor posture, difficult pregnancies. Symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction can include: menstrual problems, incontinence, frequency, urgency, infertility and vulvodynia to name a few. By releasing restrictions through a combination of external and internal MFR, a therapist trained in the area of Womens' Health can reduce pain and return function to many of the structures in this area.

Each week I send out a short health tip through e-mail. If you would like to be included, click and fill out the form on the contact page. To see a few sample tips, click on the titles listed here:

Soften

Computer Awareness

Breathing