Myofascial release may be helpful to many patients. If you have had a musculoskeletal or soft tissue injury or surgery or are experiencing pain, movement dysfunction or difficulty performing daily activities, you may have restrictions or impairments in your fascia. If this is the case, then you may be a good candidate for myofascial release techniques to improve the health and functioning of the fascia.

HOW LONG WILL I NEED THIS MODALITY?

Myofascial release is intended to improve your symptoms and shorten the amount of time needed for recovery. That being said, it is often only one piece of the larger physical therapy plan of care and there are many factors that will determine how long your therapist decides to use this treatment technique. It is common for a therapist to use this type of manual therapy more frequently early on in the plan of care and slowly transition to more activities performed independently by the patient as they approach discharge.

WHAT IS THE FASCIA?

Fascia is a very important structure in the body. Think of it like a strong web of connective tissue that courses through the body encapsulating every organ, muscle, nerve, blood vessel and fiber. When first discovered, fascia was thought to simply be a support structure for the body. Over time, however, scientists have realized that fascia plays a much more important role in the structure and function of the body including the ways in which the body moves and heals. Fascia is made up of quite a few important structures including:

• Water
• Hyaluronic acid which helps things move smoothly and stay hydrated
• Collagen and elastin fibers that make the fascia strong but flexible
• White blood cells which are immune cells that help fight against bacteria, viruses and other diseases
• Mast cells which are also immune cells that mount a response against allergens, bacteria and other toxins
• Fibroblasts which help build connective tissue
• Nerves–nerves that transmit many different types of information are found especially in the deep layers of fascia. These nerves transmit information about pain, chemical changes, temperature, mechanical changes and joint position.

There are 4 main types of fascia:

• Superficial fascia: found directly under the skin and superficial layers of fat
• Deep fascia: surrounds bones, muscles, blood vessels and nerves. It is more fibrous than superficial fascia and contains a higher degree of hyaluronic acid-producing cells. This layer of fascia attaches, stabilizes, imparts strength, maintains vessel patency, and separates muscles.
• Visceral fascia: surrounds organs within a cavity like the lungs, the heart and the abdomen
• Parietal fascia: this is a general term for the lining of some body cavities like the pelvis

If you decide to work with a physical therapist to help correct your MSK issues, your entire treatment plan could consist of around 8-20+ different myofascial physical therapy sessions that will each last 60-90 minutes. Once you complete your customized myofascial physical therapy treatment plan, you will be able to continue to do the prescribed stretches and exercises utilized during your myofascial PT sessions yet in the comfort of your own home.

WHAT CONDITIONS MIGHT BENEFIT FROM MYOFASCIAL RELEASE?

As mentioned above, the fascia is found all throughout the body. This means that the fascia may be playing a role in pain or dysfunction in the case of many different injuries and pain syndromes. Myofascial release is intended to lengthen the restricted fascia resulting in improved blood flow and range of motion and decreased pain. Here are some examples of injuries or conditions that might benefit from myofascial release:

• Postural dysfunction
• Scar tissue after injury or surgery
• Back pain
• Neck pain
• Migraines
• Pelvic floor dysfunction
• Fibromyalgia
• Sports injuries
• Scoliosis

HOW DO I KNOW MYOFASCIAL RELEASE IS RIGHT FOR ME?