Disclaimer: Robert Ward and John F. Barnes are considered to be the founders of myofascial release and started using the phrase in the 1960s. Since that time, there have yet to be adequate clinical studies of stastically significant size and with scientifically significant results to prove or disprove the effectiveness of myofascial release as a method of treatment. If you are considering myofascial release therapy to help with chronic pain or other illness, please consult your doctor for more information. All information provided in this article is to be for educational purposes only and is not meant to diagnosis or treat any illness.
Fascia: What is it?
Many of us are familiar with the various systems of our body - the cardiovascular system, skeletal system, digestive system, etc. In a healthy individual, these systems work together to allow us function (basically, live). But what holds them all together?
The answer is connective tissue. Our connective tissue is a system put in place to bind our organs together and provide compartmentalization between them. Connective tissue includes our bones, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, fat, blood, and lymph. Fascia, on the other hand, is the continuous sheath of connective tissue that provides structural support for the skeleton and soft tissues (think tendons and ligaments rather than blood and lymph). That means that fascia is a very specific type of connective tissue and isn’t a general term covering all connective tissue.
What is Myofascial Release?
According to the Myofascial Release Treatment Center and Seminars (MFR) website, myofascial release is a hands-on treatment where gentle pressure is applied to specific trigger points in the myofascial connective tissue to reduce pain and increase motion. Basically, the idea is to manipulate the fascia tissue until it relaxes (releases, softens, there are many different terms for it none of which have a definite meaning) and eases the pain. This is based on the idea that (1) the fascia was responsible for the pain in the first place and (2) that the fascia can be changed by gentle pressure exerted over specific amounts of time.
Does it Work?
Some patients swear by it and are living, walking proof that the treatments administered improved their quality of life. Other patients have undergone treatments only to find their quality of life decrease due to an increase in nerve aggravation and pain.
On the medical side of it, the battle rages even hotter. Some massage therapists, chiropractors, and even physical therapists claim that myofascial release techniques can cure almost any pain and should be administered to everyone. Others focus on the serious lack of quantifiable, repeatable, scientifically significant results through clinical trials and tests and claim that, at best, it offers temporary comfort much in the same way a massage or hot bath may offer comfort.
Mysofascial release targets pain that often is difficult to describe, locate the source of, or measure. That’s a lot of unknowns (variables). When a medical practitioner doesn’t know the location or cause of the pain, it is difficult to treat. Myofascial release may help provide temporary or long-term relief, but with so many variables at work, it’s difficult to know for sure if its the treatment alone helping the pain or something else is assisting it. This doesn’t mean that myofascial release doesn’t produce results. It means that we don’t fully understand the hows and whys involved and may not see the other factors that assisted it.
What Does This Mean For You?
We aren’t suggesting that everyone make an appointment for myofascial release. We also aren’t suggesting that the practitioners of this method are making claims that can’t possibly be true. For now, we are hoping that more research will be done and a closer look will be taken at the importance of fascia, it’s impact on our bodies (specifically movement), and the potential for therapies utilizing this system to alleviate pain.
If you have tried massage therapy, seen a chiropractor, or even visited a physical therapist, but have yet to find relief from your chronic pain, you may wish to consider myofascial release. Before doing so, take some time to look through the following two websites (one pro and one con) to learn more about what it is, what we know about it, and how it can affect your body. Then make sure to have a discussion with your primary care provider about whether or not this therapy may help you. Be open and honest about any concerns you have. Then, if you decide that myofascial release treatment is right for you, make an appointment with an experienced practitioner. Don’t be afraid to ask for more information and ask any questions or voice any concerns before your first session.
“About Myofascial Release.” Myofascial Release Treatment Centers and Seminars. https://www.myofascialrelease.com/about/. Visited on 31 January 2019.
Ingraham, Paul. “Does Fascia Matter: A Detailed Critical Analysis of the Clinical Relevance of Fascia Science and Fascia Properties.” Pain Science. Updated 27 November 2018. https://www.painscience.com/articles/does-fascia-matter.php. Visited on 31 January 2019