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Myofascial release is relatively new. Osteopathic physician
Dr. Robert Ward of Michigan State University taught the
first course entitled "myofascial release" at
that school in the 1970s, and references to it first began
to appear in the medical literature in the 1980s. However,
as a holistic treatment that looks at the body as an integrated
whole, its roots go back a long way, to the soft-tissue
manipulations and stretches of osteopathy, which was first
done in the nineteenth century. Myofascial release is a
therapeutic treatment utilizing a gentle form of stretching,
producing a healing effect upon the body tissues, eliminating
pain and restoring motion. Fascia is a connective tissue
that surrounds every muscle, bone, nerve, blood vessel,
and organ of the body, down to the cellular level.
Malfunction of
the fascial system due to trauma, posture, or inflammation
can create a binding down of the fascia, resulting in abnormal
pressure on nerves, muscles, bones, or organs. By freeing
up fascia that may be impeding blood vessels or nerves,
myofascial release is also said to enhance the body's innate
restorative powers by improving circulation and nervous
system transmission. People with longstanding back pain,
fibromyalgia, recurring headaches, sports injuries, and
a host of additional complaints are all said to benefit
from the technique.
Like many alternative
therapies, myofascial release is part of a larger philosophy
of healing that emphasizes the importance of mind-body interactions
and preventive care. It may also be part of a pain management
program that would include behavioral health techniques,
acupuncture, drug therapy, nutritional counseling, and relaxation
techniques.
The therapy's easy stretches break up, or "release,"
constrictions or snags in the fascia. The stretch is guided
by feedback the therapist feels from the patient's body.
This feedback tells the therapist how much force to use,
the direction of the stretch and how long to stretch. Small
areas of muscle are stretched at a time. Sometimes the therapist
uses only two fingers to stretch a small part of a muscle.
The feedback the therapist feels determines which muscles
are stretched and in what order.
Benefits/Contraindications
See professional
therapist.
Training/Certification
Certification
through advanced courses for massage, occupational and physical
therapists, as well as athletic trainers, is available through
bodywork schools. Initial courses may run 16-24 hours over
several days. Part-time coursework that incorporates all
levels of training and may take up to a year is also available.
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