Some patients arrive at our center with recurring pain that does not subside with any physiotherapy treatment. In these cases, we may be referring to myofascial pain, which is very different from muscle pain in the root, symptomatology, and treatment. A single point we know as a trigger point can generate pain in areas of the body that, a priori, would not be related to each other.
WHAT IS THE MYOFASCIAL RELEASE TECHNIQUE?
The goal of myofascial release therapy is to release tension from the fascial tissue through gentle, sustained pressure on or near the painful area. It is a mechanical stimulation of cognitive tissue. Also, the therapist will seek and release other areas away from the main pain point as they may be interconnected.
As we mentioned at the beginning, the pain caused by a myofascial problem differs from a muscular one, although both are totally linked. When working with this technique, the therapist acts directly on the fascia, a membrane of tissue rich in collagen similar to a spider web that covers everything from bones and muscles to vital organs.
One of the most interesting aspects of the fascia is that it is actually a continuous structure that goes from head to toe connecting fascia to fascia and all the organs in our body. This interconnection means that a problem originating in an organ, such as the stomach, may be causing constant pain in another point, such as the back.
THE FUNCTIONING OF THE FASCIAS AND THEIR CARE
In its normal state, the fascia is relaxed and stretched, but any trauma, inflammation, or even emotional factors can change both its shape and composition, causing pain. This pain will, in turn, create muscle tension, inflaming and affecting other areas due to the enveloping property of this network that connects different parts of our body.
To better understand the functioning of fascial tissue, let us give an example: Imagine a tomato wrapped tightly in a fine cloth. Now, let’s imagine that this cloth has a knot at some point, and we begin to wrap the tomato well. Oh! The tomato is starting to not look good, right? In the same way, this fabric has acted on our fruit, the fascial tissue acts on our muscles or organs, oppressing them and causing pain. If the fascias are contracted, the muscle will also be and vice versa.
WHAT FACTORS CAUSE INFLAMMATION OF THE FASCIAS?
Myofascial tissue is very sensitive to movements; thus, it can be affected by trauma, intervention, overload, or lack of activity. Likewise, physical, mental, or emotional stress tenses these fibers, restricting the full range of motion you should be doing and creating deep pain that worsens.
Precisely the stressful rhythm of life that we carry is the cause of multiple pathologies that we suffer. Stress causes an alarm reaction in our body, preparing it to flee. Heart rate, blood pressure, muscle tension, etc., increase; our most primitive brain prepares our body to flee or attack. The accumulation of these situations can cause collapse and lead to injury to myofascial tissues.
EMOTIONS AND MYOFASCIAL RELEASE
Since muscular discomfort is caused by factors such as stress, or any trauma in general, it is not surprising that, on some occasions, the manipulation of trigger points also releases the “residues” of the emotion that created them. Feelings and emotions coexist and control our body, helping it or making it sick. With this technique, the patient can go through different emotional states, but all of them will lead him to recover the integral balance of the body.
WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM MYOFASCIAL RELEASE THERAPY?
The professional therapists at our center, the best massage in NYC, have extensive experience dealing with physical pain. Depending on the individual needs of the patient, one technique or another will be applied. Some pathologies in which great results have been shown with the myofascial release massage are:
- spinal pain
- tendinitis, carpal tunnel
- shoulder pain
- fibromyalgia
- Post-traumatic and post-surgical healing processes (scars)
- Headaches or migraines
- TMJ (temporomandibular joint) dysfunction
- whiplash syndrome
- Stiffness in patients with neurological involvement
- chronic prostatitis
BENEFITS OF MYOFASCIAL RELEASE THERAPY
The main objective of myofascial techniques is to give relief in a more global way to the different pathologies:
- Increases joint movement
- Restores the balance of the musculoskeletal system
- Reduces or eliminates pain
- Recovers the function of the locomotor system
- Improves the circulation of antibodies
- Blood supply to the sites of restriction is increased through the release of histamine
- A greater blood supply to the nervous tissue is achieved, thus accelerating the healing process
- Decreased stress and improved rest
CONCLUSION
You can save and free yourself from pain by visiting our center for myofascial release massage. At Elite Healers Sports Massage, we help you recover your body’s overall balance. You can easily book a section with us on our website; the best massage in NYC awaits you!
