By Janet Hardy, LMT, BCTMB
Unexplainable tightness or pain could be caused by restrictions in our fascial tissue. Wrapping every cell, even infusing some cells, our fascia, or connective tissue, forms one continuous web from head to toe throughout the entire body, surrounding all structures, not just the muscles. Ideally, the fascia’s ground substance is fluid, but injuries, surgeries, stress and poor posture can cause it to become dehydrated and shortened or ‘restricted.’
Restrictions can pull, twist and squeeze muscles, nerves, blood vessels, organs and lymphatic vessels with an enormous amount of tensile strength. Fascial restrictions do not show up on many standard diagnostic tests such as X-rays and CAT scans. So, it’s possible that people experiencing pain or limited mobility could often be dealing with undiagnosed fascial restrictions. Although fascia, now considered to be a part of an organ system, has been known to scientists, it was greatly overlooked and neglected as an area of study. In most anatomical drawings, fascia is usually removed so the student can more easily see other structures.
As a result, curricula in health care fields didn’t pay much attention to how this miraculous tissue influences so many areas of health and disease. Fascia Research Congresses held biennially are shining new light on fascia. Worldwide scientists and researchers are sharing their latest discoveries with health care professionals and clinicians.
All myofascial release (MFR) therapy treatment methods are not the same. John F. Barnes, PT, has been working in the field of MFR for 50 years and is considered by many therapists to be the guru of this therapy. He has, to date, trained more than 100,000 physicians and therapists and recent scientific research is now supporting what he has been teaching for all of those years. Barnes’ method of therapy uses gentle, not forceful, sustained pressure into fascial restrictions.
Initially, the elastic part of the fascia will stretch but for a true release to transpire, where a transition phase occurs, similar to ice melting, it will take five minutes or more. This softening takes pressure off of nerves and sensitive areas and anti-inflammatory interleukins are then released allowing for lasting results.
A Barnes MFR therapist often begins a session by looking at the patient’s posture. Deviations are used as a guide as to how to treat each individual. In balancing the stance often pain can be alleviated without having actual work done on the specific troublesome area.
A JFB MFR therapist will most likely give suggestions for self treatment. There are a lot of simple, yet effective home therapies to release our own myofascial restrictions. Being aware of the major influence connective tissue has on our health can be key to choosing a lifestyle of wellness. Myofascial release can make a difference in the way we feel and move, as well as serve as an adjunct to prevention and treatment of disease. MFR can relieve tightness and pain and even help achieve optimal health.
Janet Hardy, LMT, BCTMB, is a board certified massage therapist, a JF Barnes expert level myofascial release therapist and a stretching and flexibility instructor. She recently relocated her office to Freeport and also teaches a Stretch Therapy class every Friday at 10:30 a.m. Contact her at 850-835-2231 or CaringTouchTherapy.net.
