Myofascial Release Techniques Specialist
Simon Forster, DC and Brian N. Forrest, DC use this safe and effective hands-on technique to help eliminate restrictions in muscles, fascia, and connective tissues that can cause pain. In the Austin, Texas area, Myofascial Release techniques are available at Austin Chiropractic Associates. Call us to schedule an appointment.
What is Myofascial Release?
Myofascial Release is a safe and very effective hands-on technique that involves applying gentle sustained pressure into the muscles, fascia and connective tissues that often have restrictions that build up and cause pain. The therapy eliminates these restrictions and restore motion and healthy muscle-fascia function.
Injury, inflammation response, repetitive strain activities and surgical procedures can all create myofascial restrictions This can create abnormal pulling pressure on pain sensitive body parts that do not show up in many of the standard diagnostic tests such as x-ray / CT scans, and even MRI.
Who does it help?
Myofascial release treatment is offered to our patients to provide pain relief for all who suffer with losing flexibility and movement function after an injury, as well as with chronic problems with neck or back pain. It is also exceptionally useful with extremity conditions: we treat all types of shoulder, elbow and wrist problems along with hip, knee and ankle issues. It is an effective treatment for pain in any area containing “soft tissue.”
Other conditions treated by myofascial release therapy include Temporo-Mandibular Joint (TMJ) disorders, carpal tunnel syndrome, headaches, chronic pain syndromes as well as fibromyalgia.
Myofascial release therapy can also improve mechanical and muscular alignment before a surgery, as well as assist athletes with achieving better alignment or more aggressive forms of strengthening prior to competition.
Symptoms of myofascial dysfunction:
- A feeling of tightness or pressure on muscles and/or joints causing pain
- Muscle / tissue tightness causing movement problems. This can ‘pull the body out of alignment’, with the result of the body favoring one side or another. This can, for example, result in the overuse of one hip, knee or shoulder / arm.
- ‘Referred pain’ such as headaches from the neck or buttock pain from the back.
Our office was one of the first clinics in Austin to utilize massage / myofascial therapies and we have coordinated care with registered massage therapists onsite for nearly 30 years. Our therapists perform one-on- one hands-on therapy treatments using a variety of massage and Myofascial Release techniques, which when combined with stretching, exercise and movement therapy provides for the most effective treatment resources available for many of the mechanical and injury related complaints we treat. Patients are actively encouraged to ‘self treat’ by being shown stretching and movement exercises to perform with their therapy. Myofascial therapy augments and enhances other treatments to increase their effectiveness. It assists the effectiveness of manipulation and physiotherapeutic therapies.
What’s it Involve?
Following a thorough clinical diagnostic work-up, which identifies and measures loss of motion and symmetry in the body, a treatment plan for treatment is provided. Myofascial Therapy sessions will then address the restricted areas of the fascia, with a variety of specialized release techniques. These techniques vary and are specific to different parts of the body, but generally include gentle application of pressure combined with sustained low force stretching to the involved areas.
- Treatment is administered by a trained therapist who provides hands-on treatment in a relaxing, private therapy room
- Lasts at least 20 to 30 minutes, occasionally more per session
- Conducted according to your treatment plan (initially every few days)
- Take place over a few weeks before a re-evaluation (for confirmation of treatment effectiveness and making sure we meet our therapy goals). Rarely certain conditions may require treatment over the course of a few months, depending on the nature and intensity of disability. Progress is measured how much increased motion and function is experienced, as well as by pain reduction.