MYOFASCIAL RELEASE THERAPY
Myofascial Release Therapy is a safe and highly effective form of soft tissue, hands on manipulation that releases restriction in the fascia and helps restore and individuals "physiologic adaptive capacity." When restrictions are released, space is created, restoring movement and glide-ability in the body. This creates a chain reaction on all levels of the mind-body complex enhancing the efficiency and functioning of whole body systems, enhancing key functioning at the cellular level and facilitating the release of emotions and stores active memories.
To explain Myofascial Release Therapy (MRT), you need to understand fascia. Fascia is a tough, densely woven connective tissue that surrounds every muscle, every bone, every organ, nerve, artery and vein in the body. Fascia is one giant sheet, a single uninterrupted web that encases, connects and interlaces everything in the entire body all the way down to the cellular level. Fascia is involved and influences every action, activity and function within the body. Fascia falls into a broader category of connective tissue, which is the most abundant tissue in the human body.
The fascia that covers the muscular system is called myofascia - myo in Greek means muscle. The myofascia covers every layer within the musculature, literally wrapping every muscle fibre, muscle bundle, muscle and finally every muscle group. By encapsulating the musculature on all levels, the myofasia actually creates the muscles form. If the myofascia is tight and restricted it creates a restricted environment for the muscle. It is the myofascia that ultimately determines the length and functioning capability of the muscles.
The mind-body connection plays and important part in MFR in addressing each person holistically. Every physical trauma - every broken bone, impact injury, inflammation response, torn muscle, dislocated joint, strain and sprain are recorded. Also ongoing trauma like habitually poor posture and repetitive stress injuries have cumulative effects. Emotional holding patterns are internalised in the body as well; stress, lack of self worth, fear, anxiety, depression, active memories and so on. Therefore our life experiences and more importantly our emotional reaction and beliefs around these experiences become the blueprint of our tissue.
So life happens and it is all recorded in the mind-body complex. It all gets absorbed into the memory and structure of our soft tissue, our muscles, the connective tissue.....THE FASCIA!!
Although many conditions appear to have happened overnight, they may have been a long time in the making. Chronic pain and many stress induced conditions like headaches, migraines, chronic fatigue, insomnia and depression are signs of the body no longer being able to support or handle how our bodies have internalised our life experiences.
In a normal healthy state, fascia is relaxed and wavy in configuration. It is free to stretch and move without restriction. It absorbs and distributes tensile forces and acts as a communication network for mechanical, energetic, chemical, experiential and informational exchange. It helps maintain homeostasis in the body at all levels.