What is it?
The fascia is a thin, tough, elastic connective tissue that envelops most structures in the human body, including muscles. Fascia supports and protects these structures. In osteopathic practice, these soft tissues may be restricted by psychogenic disease, overuse, trauma, infectious agents, or inactivity, often resulting in pain, muscle tension, and concomitant reductions in blood flow.
Myofascial release (MFR) treats immobility and musculoskeletal pain by relaxing contracted muscles and fascias, improving blood and lymphatic circulation, and stimulating stretch reflexes in the extremities to stimulate muscles. It is an alternative medicine therapy that is claimed to help with the pain and discomfort.
How does it work?
Massage can have both mechanical and reflective effects on the muscles it is applied to, which can lead to various benefits. Mechanically, massage can produce heat, which can make tissues more pliable, and also enhance circulation, allowing for better fluid transfer to tissues. Massage can also stretch muscles both lengthwise and transversely, helping to release or dissolve scar tissue, adhesions, and fascia around muscles, potentially aiding in muscle repair and relieving muscle tension. By manipulating muscles, massage can help to loosen and increase flexibility in the muscles. Massage may also be helpful as a complementary treatment for pain or muscle spasms and cramps.
What does it target?
Therapists frequently trigger a region where clients are in pain or they seem to have cramps, or contractures. When treating cramps, massage heats the region, increases blood flow, stretches the muscle, increases range of motion, and eases the pain by releasing pressure on the nerves.
The benefits of this treatment?
- increases blood flow
- stretches the muscle
- increases range of motion
- eases the pain by releasing pressure on the nerves.
- Reducing pain and muscle soreness and tension.
- Improving circulation, energy and alertness.
- Lowering heart rate and blood pressure.
- Improving immune function.
- reduced muscle tension
- increased joint mobility and flexibility
- improved skin tone
- improved recovery of soft tissue injuries