Myofascial Release

Myofascial release is a type of physical therapy often used to treat myofascial pain syndrome. Myofascial pain syndrome is a chronic pain disorder caused by sensitivity and tightness in your myofascial tissues. This can cause limited range of motion in your joints. These tissues surround and support the muscles throughout your body. The pain usually originates from specific points within your myofascial tissues called “trigger points.” 

Myofascial release focuses on reducing pain and increasing range of motion by easing the tension and tightness in the trigger points. It is not always easy to understand what trigger point is responsible for the pain. Localizing pain to a specific trigger point is very difficult. For that reason, myofascial release is often used over a broad area of muscle and tissue rather than at single points.

Most myofascial release treatments take place during a therapy session. 

We will gently massage the myofascia and feel for stiff or tightened areas. Normal myofascia should feel pliable and elastic. We will begin massaging and stretching the areas that feel rigid with light manual pressure. We then aid the tissue and supportive sheath in releasing pressure and tightness. The process is repeated multiple times on the same trigger point and on other trigger points until there is a release in tension.