MYOFASCIAL RELEASE -WHAT IS IT?
If you have undergone testing which concludes “normal” results, yet you still suffer from pain, the likely cause is restricted fascial structures someplace in your body.
Fascia is a specialized system of connective tissue that give our bodies their form. Much like the orange above, the fascia has different densities and layers. Research has shown that the fascia spreads through the body as a three-dimensional web that connects our body - muscles, bones, nerves, arteries, veins, and organs (heart, lungs, stomach, liver, brain, spinal cord, etc.) down to the cellular level. Furthermore, it is estimated that the fascia has the ability to exert 2000 lbs of force per square inch. That's a lot of force, so it's no wonder that sensitive structures, like the nerves, can be painful when they are exposed to fascial restrictions.
Fascial restrictions can arise from trauma inflicted by injuries or surgeries, inflammation, emotional trauma or posture. A good way to think about a fascial restriction is to imagine that you have a fish net body stocking on. When in balance, the squares are all the same size and shape. If you lean to the right, the squares on the right would clump together and the ones on the left and surrounding areas would get stretched out of shape. If you looked closely, you would see that every single separate square would be impacted by leaning to the right. If in balance, when you returned to the upright position , the squares would return to their normal shape. Now imagine, that you ran into a burdock plant and now you have burrs stuck in your "network of squares". That burr is like an injury, a surgical scar or even inflammation, which causes a restriction in the shape and mobility of your "net" or fascial system.
Myofascial release is a technique that can improve the mobility of the restrictions in the fascial system. There are many forms of myofascial release but the most effective Kim has studied and used is the John F. Barnes' Myofascial Release Approach. John F. Barnes, PT, LMT has been teaching myofascial release techniques for over 45 years. His techniques impact the fascia because they take into consideration what is now known about the structural make up of the fascia and its interconnectedness to everything in the body.
This form of myofascial release is designed to locate fascial restrictions that contribute to pain, dysfunction and postural deficits and then treat those restrictions with gentle but deep forms of manual or hands-on techniques. Another unique quality of this work is teaching the client how to self treat which is in itself very empowering, especially to those living with chronic pain.
Fascial restrictions can arise from trauma inflicted by injuries or surgeries, inflammation, emotional trauma or posture. A good way to think about a fascial restriction is to imagine that you have a fish net body stocking on. When in balance, the squares are all the same size and shape. If you lean to the right, the squares on the right would clump together and the ones on the left and surrounding areas would get stretched out of shape. If you looked closely, you would see that every single separate square would be impacted by leaning to the right. If in balance, when you returned to the upright position , the squares would return to their normal shape. Now imagine, that you ran into a burdock plant and now you have burrs stuck in your "network of squares". That burr is like an injury, a surgical scar or even inflammation, which causes a restriction in the shape and mobility of your "net" or fascial system.
Myofascial release is a technique that can improve the mobility of the restrictions in the fascial system. There are many forms of myofascial release but the most effective Kim has studied and used is the John F. Barnes' Myofascial Release Approach. John F. Barnes, PT, LMT has been teaching myofascial release techniques for over 45 years. His techniques impact the fascia because they take into consideration what is now known about the structural make up of the fascia and its interconnectedness to everything in the body.
This form of myofascial release is designed to locate fascial restrictions that contribute to pain, dysfunction and postural deficits and then treat those restrictions with gentle but deep forms of manual or hands-on techniques. Another unique quality of this work is teaching the client how to self treat which is in itself very empowering, especially to those living with chronic pain.
Kim Fuller of Haelen Hands is a licensed physical therapist trained in the John F. Barnes Myofascial Release Approach. As with other forms of physical therapy, Kim provides clients with self care techniques to use at home to help continue encouraging release of the fascial restrictions which assists with returning clients to a more productive life with less pain.
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Contact Haelen Hands today to ask for more information about myofascial release or to schedule a myofascial release treatment with Kim Fuller in Barre, Vermont. Haelen Hands is a cash based practice and will gladly provide you with paperwork for you to submit to your carrier for possible reimbursement.
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