Myosoma™ - Myofascial Release

Myofascial Release is a manual massage technique for releasing bonds between fascia and integument, muscles, tendons, ligaments and bones, in order to reduce pain and increase mobility, fluidity and range of motion. Fascia are sheaths or bands of fibrous tissue that bind muscles and other organs. The main factors that induce fascial abnormalities are trauma, chronic strain, and immobility of fascial tissues.^[1] Injuries, stress, overuse, dehydration and poor posture contribute to restrictions in the layers due to bonding of fascia. Fascia reorganizes itself in response to physical stress and thickens along lines of tension.^[2] This affects motion of the neck, back, arms, legs, feet and elsewhere. This modality is sometimes confused with Trigger Point Therapy and Myofascial Pain Syndrome, which is a completely different modality. However most myofascial pain and dysfunction can be attributed to fascial restrictions and trigger points, thus the two modalities of Myofascial Release and Trigger Point Therapy are good non-invasive options for relief of myofascial pain.

The goal of myofascial release is to release fascial restrictions and allow the layers to move freely as they should in a healthy human body. Light to strong force may be used with various techniques are used frequently beginning distally of where symptoms are prevalent- the problems may be elsewhere from the pain and stiffness. Techniques may include sustained or effleuraging shear, tension, compression, skin rolling, and barefoot deep tissue, sometimes coupled with active or passive joint motion.

Restricted fascia is a common contributing cause of seemingly tight and painful muscles, and restricted joint mobility. Although massage that affects muscles also affects fascia, the effects of myofascial massage may be more potent.^[4] The nervous system's response to physical manipulation of the surface or underlying tissues of the body causes reflexive effects including:

• increased blood and lymph flow
• slowed heart rate
• slowed respiration
• increased immune response
• muscle tonus reduced
• pain reduction
• stress reduction
• general relaxation

Fascia can become more fibrotic when traumatized or overused, and it tends to web after periods of immobility, causing collagen molecules to tether together, leading to fibrosis. When muscle tissue, fascia and other tissues are damaged, the body tends to quickly patch the area with scar tissue which does not necessarily match the original composition; it becomes less elastic, less vascularized, less innervated, less oriented and thus poorer in performance, and possibly numb or painful. When a muscle is stretched, its fascia is also lengthened. If the muscle's fascia is stuck to other layers of fascia, soft tissue, bone or other organs, tightness may be felt locally and in other areas, limiting muscle elongation, when muscle tightness may not be the actual problem. Myofascial stretching or release in one area of the body may be felt in, and may affect, other body areas. When one considers the many layers of broad tissue that the back has, it becomes clearer why myofascial issues can contribute to back trouble even when people do not feel overworked.

Fascia covers all organs, including muscles, of the body, and has two types. Superficial fascia is fibroareolar tissue and is found immediately beneath the integument over almost the entire surface of the body. It contains fat, and connects the skin with the deep fascia. Deep fascia is a dense, inelastic, parallel fibrous membrane, forming sheaths for individual muscles (epimysium) and internal organs and structures, and in some cases, such as intermuscular septa and tendons, affording them broad surfaces for attachment to aponeuroses or periosteum (bone). Examples are Tensor fasciæ latæ and Glutæus maximus in the thigh, Palmaris longus in the hand and Biceps bracchii and Biceps femoris. Targets of myofascial release include adhesions of superficial and deep fascia, integument, tendons, ligaments, retinacula, aponeuroses, bursae, bone, muscle and other organs.

Myofascial Release separates the layers of fascia from one another and from muscle and periosteum, and it also increases the distance between the collagen fibers, allowing for increased hydration, nutrition and a decrease in capillary compression. Many people believe that lack of mobility is prima facie evidence of tight muscle strands. After myofascial release, many people, even highly mobile and flexible athletes, find that mobility may be improved by release of the fascia layers that can limit the extension and contraction of various muscles.

As with muscle contraction theories and muscles stretch theories, the exact mechanism for myofascial release is not yet fully understood. Some theorize that there is a water bond that releases fascia layers and collagen bonds. Some state that vibrational resonance or emotional unwinding affects consciousness and allows healing.^[3] Paul analogizes Myofascial Release with pulling apart a chicken carcass, or pulling the body out of a shrimp tail. If one pulls with the proper force and technique for the situation, fascia and muscles (meat) will be separated; if one pulls hard, unknown results can occur; if one pulls slowly, it might happen... or you might go hungry.

Myofascial release is one of the modalities used by sports massage therapists and physical therapists, and exists in many different forms. Most clinical therapists use direct pressure methods, such as Rolfing^® . Lighter or slower techniques, such as Bowen Technique, use time to release the layers. Paul, with a background in sports massage and Trigger Point Therapy, trained with John Harris, David Dallmeyer, P.T. and Lamar Bush.

Self-help is possible with one's own hands, or tools such as Body Stick or foam rollers, as below:

• Physiological Explanation of Fascial Restrictions
• Fascial Anatomy
• Fascial Anatomy of neck

References
1. Lowe, Dr. John C. The Purpose and Practice of Myofascial Therapy, Houston, McDowell Publishing Co., 1989 (Return to Reference 1 in text)
2. Singer, D. W., Manual Therapy Techniques, Rehab Management, June/July 1994, 153-56 (Return to Reference 2 in text)
3. John F. Barnes, et al. (Return to Reference 3 in text)
4. Marian Wolfe Dixon, Myofascial Massage, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2006, ISBN 0781748321, 9780781748322, 217 pages (Return to Reference 4 in text)

Images

1. Paul Svacina. 2006; Galapagos
2. & 3. Gray, Henry. Anatomy of the Human Body. Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger, 1918; Bartleby.com, 2000. www.bartleby.com/107/.

"clothes on, no oil, pain gone™"