All about Myofascial Massage Therapy
MYOFASCIAL MASSAGE
What is Fascia?
This article is about Myofascial Massage Therapy, and even though it may release trigger points during a session, the trigger points are not worked specifically.
Let’s begin with the word myofascial. Myo means muscle or muscle fibers. Fascial refers to fascia which is a connective, covering and supportive soft, in relative degrees, tissue found throughout the whole body. This network has the ability to support and stabilize muscles, tendons, ligaments and bones. It plays a significant role in range of motion, body shape, and functional capabilities. Fascia helps with balance, postural and proper skeletal alignment. Fascia helps to regulate circulation, the level of pain experienced, the lymphatic system and measures our hydration. Inflammation and infection are two comom problems that may affect the fascia.
Everything in our bodies is covered by fascia. Right under our skin, we have a body stocking made of fascia that reflects our weight and body shape. Every organ, muscle, bone, fiber, fibril—all are covered by fascia and connected to each other and to bone by thicker fascia. Fascia is very important in the health of muscles.
(picture by Pearson Education, Inc - https://www.studyblue.com/notes/note/n/other-structural-components-of-skeletal-muscle/deck/1411879)
When should you have a Myofascial Massage?
Two of fascia’s more outstanding qualities are its contractibility and elasticity. And this is where a massage therapist can step in: to release held contractions no longer needed and to restore healthy elasticity to the body.
Here are some reasons to receive myofascial treatment:
muscular overuse and repetitive movement patterns,
scar tissue,
lack of muscular use or movement,
dehydration,
injury,
tightness due to stress, or
no other form of treatment has worked and a doctor or physical therapist says, ‘maybe you need some good myofascial work done’.
Good means trained. The work can be light or it can be very deep. It shouldn’t make you feel like crying out loud unless the top layers have not been released. Even very deep work, if properly done, can many times feel good to the client. You will love your therapist after a good session no matter if you feel discomfort or not.
How is the Treatment done?
Many massage therapists begin any form of ongoing treatment with light to moderate pressure myofascial spreading. This will reduce discomfort and inflammation almost immediately, as well as restoring some muscular functions. Even if the therapy proceeds onward to deeper, more serious treatment, the myofascial treatment is a good beginning to any healing or overall improvement.
A talk with your therapist will help determine whether this therapy is for you. A full body massage is not always indicated and another beauty of myofascial work is that treating one part of the body always helps the entire body because fascia is all one piece, as crazy and unlikely that sounds. So, when one area of your body is worked, the whole body benefits. Recently, researchers have noticed fascia behaving like muscles, slightly contracting and releasing all on its own and some say that perhaps in the future, fascia will be declared a complete system, such as muscular, respiratory etc.
Many clients receive the work in a bathing suit, sports bra, exercise clothing that can be moved or as in more traditional massage, most clothing is removed and sheets and towels are used. While receiving, you may notice that the treating hands are moving in a v-shaped formation after some long warming strokes and that the direction changes and may go in unexpected directions. But no worries, the therapist has been trained how to work the fascia even if it seems her/his hands are going the wrong way. The important thing is for you to remain verbally in touch with your therapist letting them know if you don’t care for the technique or you’re feeling an unusual amount of discomfort. Fascial treatments are generally more effective if the work is done along Langer Lines, the ones surgeons use to produce the least amount of pain and a speedier recovery.
How to find a Myofascial Massage Therapist? When I finish working with clients who have received a Myofascial Therapy treatment and are from out of town, I many times tell them to call the CORE Institute in Tallahassee and see if there is a trained CORE therapist in their area. If there isn’t, they should search for a clinic that uses words like myofascial, trigger point work, neuromuscular therapy in describing what kind of work they do. Any well-trained massage therapist, even if not trained in these types of massage, should at least be familiar with the terms. There is already an article posted on our website about Trigger Point work, so please read it if you are interested.
Myofascial or Neuromuscular Massage?
Keep in mind, that what some therapists in the U.S. call Neuromuscular or Neuromuscular Re-education is really Trigger Point Therapy and that it’s been at least 10 years since the American Medical Association legally redefined the meaning of neuromuscular treatment to mean a treatment given in a standing position by a physical therapist and has to do with spatial awareness. Habits die hard, though, and you will probably still hear trigger point work called neuromuscular. In other countries, there are forms of Neuromuscular Massage that don’t include working trigger points but the language and meanings are different here.
Myofacial Therapy is easily combined with Swedish, Trigger Point Work, Structural Integration and Reflexology. It allows the therapist freedom to move from one to the other, or sticking with straight myofascial technique, to ensure the most effective treatment for the client.
Sessions can last from 20 minutes to an hour and a half and should not be received within 48 hours of participating in a sporting event, as the work itself may affect the sporting technique and weaken the muscles momentarily.
Myofascial Massage Therapy is the foundational cornerstone in any treatment plan that will produce optimum beneficial results and continued health.
To know more about other types of massage ofered at Stress Management Center, please refer to our previous articles.
