Adirondack Myofascial Release

In order to have some insight into this treatment approach, it is necessary to have a basic understanding of the fascial system. Fascia is a connective tissue made of elastin (a springy, stretchy substance) and collagen (a more fibrous, sticky substance that gives structures in the body strength and form). Fascia covers every muscle, tendon, nerve, bone, blood vessel and organ, It permeates every fiber, every cell in the body in a continuous system that runs from head to toe in a three-dimensional web. In effect, every part of the body is connected to every other part of the body and can influence every other part of the body through fascia.

In its normal, relaxed state, fascia allows different body structures to move and glide easily over each other as a person goes about his or her daily activities. It also provides form and structure to some of the body’s organs similar to a net bag that holds onions together in the grocery store.

When the body undergoes trauma, through falls, injuries, surgeries or even repeated poor posture, fascia can become tight and form restrictions. Fascial restrictions can apply tremendous pressure on the body’s structures, up to 2000 pounds of pressure per square inch creating pain, headaches, limited motion and loss of function. Unfortunately conventional testing methods such as x-rays or CAT Scans cannot detect fascial restrictions. As a result, many people with chronic pain, limited movement and loss of function due to fascial restrictions are undiagnosed or misdiagnosed.

Many forms of body work address the elastic component of fascial restrictions, but because they ignore the collagenous component, the effects are temporary. Myofascial Release as taught by John Barnes provides sustained pressure into fascial restrictions addressing both the collagenous and elastic components, allowing the fascia to return to its natural state. MFR combined with self-treatment techniques your therapist will teach you often results in fewer visits than more conventional physical therapy methods and gets you back to a pain free, mobile lifestyle as quickly as possible.

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.

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