You’re probably familiar with a common trope that appears in comics and cartoons in which someone grabs a loose thread on a sweater and unravels the entire thing. While this may be visually comedic, it’s not that far off from how one system in your body is structured: the fascia.

Fascia is densely woven connective tisue, covering and penetrating every muscle, bone, nerve, artery, vein, internal organs including the heart, lungs, brain and spinal cord. The most interesting aspect of the fascial system is that it is not just a system of separate coverings. It is actually one continuous structure that exists from head to toe without interruption. In this way it has been likened to a spider web or yarn sweater, especially when illustrating the effects of a restriction; when one area is being pulled it will affect the entire neighboring area.

Myofascial Release is a safe and very effective hands-on technique involving applying gentle sustained pressure to myofascial connective tissue restrictions to eliminate pain, restore motion and improve function. This essential “time element” has to do with the viscous flow and the piezoelectric phenomenon: a low load (gentle pressure) applied slowly will allow a viscoelastic medium (fascia) to elongate and permanently change the tissue integrity. Trauma, inflammatory response, poor posture, repetitive motion and/or surgical procedures create myofascial restrictions. Fascia has been tested with tensile strength of up to 1200 lbs before breaking; imagine that tightening in your body and its effects on surrounding structures!

• MFR (for short) is extremely beneficial in treating many conditions including:

• fibromyalgia,

• TMJ

• migraines and cervicogenic headaches

• pelvic floor dysfunction

• scars and adhering scar tissue

• carpal tunnel

• back pain, neck pain

• postural issues

• chronic pain syndrome

• whiplash

• disc dysfunction

• chronic fatigue syndrome