What is Myofascial Release Massage?

Massage incorporating myofascial release techniques works on muscles as well a connective tissue. "Myofascial" comes from the Latin words for muscle ("myo") and elastic band ("fascia "). Connective tissue is called fascia as it has an elastic nature, as do muscles. This elasticity allows muscles and fascia to stretch, much like a rubber band. Myofascial Release is gentle, and consists of light stretching and massage.

What Exactly is Fascia?

According to Stedman's Medical Dictionary, fascia is "a sheet of fibrous tissue that envelops the body beneath the skin; it also encloses muscles and groups of muscles, and separates their several layers or groups." So, fascia is what connects everything to everything else! It surrounds every muscle (actually within the muscle joining muscle fibers and bundles together), group of muscles, organ, bone, nerve, blood vessel in the body. And it extends to the cell level. It is a complex web that extends from head to foot, from the skin to the innermost level of the body.

Some people liken fascia to a knitted sweater or a spider's web due to its interconnectivity. When I explain fascia, I tell people that when they lift the skin away from a raw chicken breast, it is that filmy-like tissue that joins the skin to the meat (actually muscle). John Barnes, a leading proponent and developer of myofascial techniques, says, "The most interesting aspect of the fascial system is that it is not just a system of separate coverings. It is actually one structure that exists from head to foot without interruption. In this way you can begin to see that each part of the entire body is connected to every other part by the fascia, like the yarn in a sweater."

This reminds me of the song Dem Bones (also called Dry Bones or Dem Dry Bones) I remember singing and hearing as a child. See separate article Dem Bones Song.

Why Have Myofascial Release?

When the fascia is normal and healthy, it is relaxed and has the ability to stretch and move easily; there are no restrictions. However, once our bodies experience some physical trauma (injury, inflammation, scarring, poor posture, etc.), the fascia can become tight, losing its ability to stretch, and becomes restricted. When the this occurs, the fascia then puts pressure on the other tissues it surrounds, causing pain, limiting motion, decreasing flexibility and/or affecting stability. Due to the fascia's interconnectivity, this tension/pain sometimes can extend throughout the body.

Some typical syndromes or injuries for which myofascial release is indicated include, but are not limited to the following:

* Injured, stiff, sore muscles
* Chronic Back Pain
* Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
* Poor posture
* Tension, Anxiety
* Repetitive Stress Injuries such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Fibromyalgia
* Frozen Shoulder
* Sports Injuries (e.g., Tennis or Golfer's Elbow)
* Cerebral Palsy
* Scoliosis
* A variety of pains: migraine headaches, menstrual cramps, arthritis, whiplash, sprains, etc.

What Happens During a Myofascial Session?

Myofascial Release is gentle and uses a mix of stretching and massage. The massage therapist (MT) will open with either light massage (Swedish massage, see my article from March 2007 archived on my Blog, see below on how to access the Blog) or extended stretches to the tissue in order to warm the muscles and the fascia. By extended stretches, I mean stretches that last 2 minutes (or even longer). This releases tension (caused by scar tissue or adhesions resulting from injuries) in the muscles or fascia, and even bones, nerves and joints.

Next the MT will use very slow strokes in the direction of the fibers. The strokes can be either long straight strokes or twisting strokes to apply the appropriate pressure to the tissues. This stretches, loosens, softens and lengthens the muscle tissues, thereby allowing it to relax and return to its normal state, thereby relieving the pain. These stretching strokes may be repeated several times until the muscles is fully relaxed and released. Some MTs will have the client move the muscle being worked on by bending and straightening the nearby joint the muscle goes over.

The MT might finish the session with some smoothing Swedish strokes.

The normal session is an hour long. Due to its slow nature, a Myofascial Release session will generally cover one or two areas of the body. However, the effect may be over the whole body. Depending upon the condition being treated and its duration, multiple sessions may be required.
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Sources:

1. Myofascial Release, http://www.massagetherapy101.com/massage-techniques/myofascial-release.aspx, massagetherapy101.com.
2. Stedman's On-line Medical Dictionary, http://www.stedmans.com/section.cfm/45
3. Myofascial Release, John Barnes Webpage, http://www.myofascialrelease.com/mfr/mfr.asp?wss=FF61694AB9B84ABB84A2B98CAE71001C
4. What is Myofascial Release? John Barnes webpage, http://www.myofascialrelease.com/mfr/mfr_what.asp?wss=FF61694AB9B84ABB84A2B98CAE71001C
5. Myofascial Release, Holistic Junction webpage, http://www.holisticjunction.com/categories/HAD/myofascial-release.htm
6. "Myofascial Release Therapy, Body Wisdom Massage Therapy School, http://www.bodywisdomschool.com/myofacial_therapy.htm

Dem Bones Song

This song show hows all the bones are interconnected. Similarly, all the muscles and other tissues in the body are interconnected. And the fascia is the glue that binds them all together. By the way, there are several variations on this song.


(Chorus) Oh those bones, oh those bones,
oh those skeleton bones.
Oh those bones, oh those bones,
oh those skeleton bones.
Oh those bones, oh those bones,
oh those skeleton bones.
Oh mercy how they scare!

With the toe bone connected to the foot bone,
and the foot bone connected to the ankle bone,
and the ankle bone connected to the leg bone.
Oh mercy how they scare!

(Chorus)

With the leg bone connected to the knee bone,
and the knee bone connected to the thigh bone,
and the thigh bone connected to the hip bone.
Oh mercy how they scare!

(Chorus)

With the hip bone connected to the back bone,
and the back bone connected to the neck bone,
and the neck bone connected to the head bone,
Oh mercy how they scare!

(Chorus)

With the finger bone connected to the hand bone,
and the hand bone connected to the arm bone,
and the arm bone connected to the shoulder bone,
Oh mercy how they scare!

(Chorus)

With the shoulder bone connected to the back bone,
and the back bone connected to the neck bone,
and the neck bone connected to the head bone.
Oh mercy how they scare!

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Source:

Dry Bones (or Skeleton Bones), http://www.niehs.nih.gov/kids/lyrics/bones.htm