There are a variety of forms of myofascial release. Finding the form of myofascial release that is best for your body is important!
A Brief History
The myofascial system of the body is one that has historically received little attention.
That has changed in recent years through the work of organizations like the Fascial Net Plastination Project (FNPP), a collaboration of the Fascia Research Society, Somatics Academy, and the Gubener Plastinate (GmbH) in Guben, Germany.
Part of its mission has been to create a 3-D model of the myofascial system in a human body. FR:EIA (Fascia Revealed: Educating Interconnected Anatomy) was unveiled at the Body Worlds Museum in Berlin in 2021.
FR:EIA is an astounding visual representation of the connectedness and inter-connectedness of everything in the body through the myofascial system!
In addition, Jean Claude Guimberteau, a renowned French surgeon, captures the beauty of the myofascial system in a living body, in his work Strolling Under The Skin. His videos are remarkable to watch, showing clearly how myofascial tissues weave into each other and are meant to shift and glide with movement.
Today more doctors, scientists, anatomists, and health professionals are recognizing the importance of addressing and maintaining good health in the myofascial system.
How The Myofascial System Works
The myofascial system of the body is a tensegrity system, meaning, all of the parts are under continuous tension and respond to the movement (or lack of movement) in other parts.
Said differently, everything in your body is connected by, supported by, and infused with myofascial tissue. Every bone, muscle, tendon, ligament, organ, blood vessel, nerve, and cell is surrounded by and influenced by the tension in the myofascial system.
The myofascial system is the only whole body system of the body.
The health of the myofascial system, it’s ability to glide and move without restriction, is THE primary determinant of long-term health and well-being.
Because of it’s unique role in giving both support, structure, and movement to the body, the myofascial system responds in specific ways to pressure, stress, and tension.
When the myofascial system is subjected to continuous strain, its structure adapts to support the imposed demand. Over time, this adapted tissue becomes rigid, dehydrated, solidified, and adhered.
We call these myofascial restrictions.
Myofascial restrictions affect the ability of the bones, muscles, tendons, organs, blood vessels, and cells to do their jobs properly.
Long term, unaddressed myofascial restrictions lead to pain and dysfunction.
Resolving Myofascial Restrictions
Myofascial restrictions may be felt as trigger points, thickened and tender to the touch areas of the body, knots, a sense of tightness in muscles, adhesions, and scar tissue.
Some forms of myofascial release involve forcefully breaking up these areas of restriction. And there can be some temporary improvement using these methods.
However, the body perceives force as something to be braced and protected against. And the myofascial system will thicken and tighten in order to protect the body from damage.
The most effective myofascial work requires working in a way that your body can allow. This means NEVER FORCING through adhesions or restrictions.
Specific amounts of pressure, applied in specific ways to areas of restriction, for specific amounts of time are REQUIRED for the myofascial system to soften and change. Repetition is required to deepen releases and maintain fluidity over time.
Too much pressure and the body will resist attempts to change the tissues.
Too little pressure and there is simply no effect.
Too little time, and changes remain superficial.
Not enough repetition and at home treatment, and you feel the effects of restrictions begin to accumulate again.
Here at Women’s Myofascial Of Salt Lake, we train extensively and exclusively in the John Barnes Myofascial Release Approach®. Hands down, we have found it the most EFFECTIVE way to create an environment in the body in which stuck and glued tissues can heal and the body can begin to self correct.
With some consistent treatment to resolve existing myofascial restrictions in the body, and development of an effective at home myofascial treatment practice – the body can move well and feel good through EVERY stage of life!
