What is Myofascial Release?

Myofascial Release uses gentle, sustained pressure applied to the body to create a mechanical & neurological response. Therapuetic affects include inducing pain relief and a ‘freeing’ affect to dysfunctional fascia, joints and limbs.

Applying tension through the skin in specific directions creates mechanotransduction, provoking an immediate effect on myofascia, altering musculoskeletal tension across that area of the body.

Myofascia is extremely good at responding to physical force and kinetic energy by instantly redistributing load and tension around the body: Biotensegrity (Ingber, 2008).  This affords great resilience and adaptability to our muscloskeletal system.  However overload, overuse or disuse can lead to compensatory tension remaining for sustained periods of time.  Leading to excessive collagen matrix remodelling, leading to thickening, adhesion, scarring and fibrosis of fascia.

Langevin et al. (2011) demonstrated thickening and loss of mobility of lumber fascia in people with chronic back pain. However, myofascial tension can occur anywhere in body causing varying degrees of pain and immobility.

Using myofascial release techniques (direct and indirect) the skilled therapist can trigger or stimulate a therapeutic affect for long-term release of this tension.   When combined with other soft tissue techniques and rehabilitation exercises it can be an effective and powerful treatment.

The Role of the Central Nervous System (CNS)

Proprioceptors are specialised nerves that inform the CNS of where and how the body is moving in space. And they are primarily situated in the myofascia of the body. The affects of myofascial release will be stimulating the CNS alongside the mechanotransduction effects.

Therapeutic stimulation of these nerves effects the CNS, creating an environment that can desensitise a muscles or skeletal joint and at the same time unconsciously increase tolerances of a muscle or joint to ‘load’. Ensure effects are not short-lived and follow a progressive mobility and strengthening program. This will increase the chances of long-tern resolution of pain, rather than temporarily reliving symptoms of the problem.

What Myofascial Release is NOT:

Many therapists, doctors & surgeons have derided the term ‘myofascia release’, arguing that unless you physically cut fascia (or any soft tissue) with a scalpel there is no way you can ‘release’ it using just your hands (a tensile strength of around 900kgs after all).  It’s possibly a semantic argument but every day manual therapists including myself use various forms of ‘release’ technique to effectively to treat chronic pain and dysfunction.   And its is not by cutting, tearing or dissecting fascia with our hands (as if!). 

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Myofascial Release vs Massage Therapy

Massage Therapy focuses on the relaxing and physiological effects of hands-on mobilisation of soft tissue whilst body is still. Soft tissue includes skin, muscle, ligament, tendon, subcutaneous tissue and fascia. A medium such as oils or lotion are needed facilitate gliding over the skin. Massage can be used for relaxation and/or therapeutic effects.

Myofascial Release (MfR) is a more targeted therapy looking to resolve specific pain complaint or dysfunction. There isn’t the same ‘sliding’ across the skin as with traditional massage techniques, with more focus on particular areas of the body. It will often involve moving or stretching a limb or body part. A skilled practitioner uses intentional and slow application of gentle pressure to take advantage of the physical properties of myofascia.

MfR technique can be further divided direct and indirect techniques. Direct can be more uncomfortable, similar to Soft Tissue Release techniques used in Deep Tissue Massage to help stretch and stimulate soft tissue. Indirect techniques use very little pressure, clients often describe the hands-on feeling as “supportive” rather than “pressure”. It can be very useful with complex, multifactorial conditions.

Mark Skoyles BSc has trained in Myofascial Release techniques with leading therapists from the USA and UK. To book a Myofascia Release treatment in Marlow, Bucks with Mark, please check availability and book here.

Langevin et al. (2011) Reduced thoracolumbar fascia shear strain in human chronic low back pain.  BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 12:203.

Ingber (2008) Tensegrity-based mechanosensing from macro to micro.  Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology 97(2-3), pp.163-179