What is Myofascial Release Therapy?
Myofascial release therapy (MRT) is a holistic, therapeutic approach to manual massage therapy popularized by John F. Barnes, PT to specifically address the fascia, the connective tissue that runs like a three-dimensional web throughout the body. MRT involves applying gentle, constant pressure into myofascial connective tissue restrictions to eliminate pain and restore motion. Your fascia will react by lengthening, rehydrating, and restructuring.
How is Myofascial Release Different?
Fascia is a very strong, very connected spider web that runs through the body sustaining every bodily system. Fascia can form long lines of tension. When one spot on it gets tugged or injured, the effects ripple throughout the body.
Referred soreness or irritation can be caused by restrictions in the fascial web. For example, dysfunction in your lower spine may easily cause migraine-like headaches. A common one we treat runs from the front of your right shoulder to the back of your left hip.
When the natural, fluid state of the fascia has been traumatized, it can harden and tighten. As a result, the source of pain is not always the area that needs work. Muscle and joint movements can be restricted thus causing extensive muscle pain.
Under light manual pressure, your licensed massage specialist will use myofascial release therapy on the areas that feel rigid and stuck as opposed to flexible and movable.
In MRT massage, gentle, sustained pressure is applied to these restricted points, allowing the connective tissue to release.
Does MRT work?
Absolutely! By focusing on pain deemed to occur from myofascial tissues — the strong membranes that wrap, join and sustain your muscles- with manual pressure and stretching.
Theoretically, myofascial pain is not the same as other types of pain because it begins in "trigger points," which are linked to rigid, affixed areas within the myofascial tissue. The pain that a trigger point causes are often challenging to pinpoint.
By loosening up restricted movement through myofascial release therapy you will ultimately have less pain.
Who Might Benefit from Myofascial release therapy?
MRT can be used to treat pain and increase mobility in patients with a wide range of conditions, including back pain, neck pain, and fibromyalgia.
Athletes can also benefit. Several sports injuries can be treated with MRT, including:
Recurring stress injuries, often seen in long-distance runners
Muscular imbalances, which can cause a whole other set of issues
Realigning your proper pelvic base, giving you peak physical performance
Your therapist may also show you how to practice some MRT techniques yourself at home, using foam rollers, a tennis ball, or massage sticks.
MRT Therapy in Tampa
At Tampa Bay Sports & Medical Massage we can help you reduce pain and tension in your muscles. Myofascial release therapy can provide your muscles optimum joint range of motion. Feel the difference of MRT; schedule an appointment at our South Tampa studio on Kennedy Blvd. here.