What is Myofascial Release?

hands on back during a myofascial release session

Myofascial Release Therapy (MFR) is a type of manual therapy that focuses on relieving tension and pain in the fascia, the connective tissue that surrounds muscles, bones, and organs throughout the body.

In this gentle but effective practice, people generally experience the ability to move more easily and have a greater awareness of their bodies, improving the connection between body, mind, emotion, and spirit. Let's explore how MFR works to determine if it's right for you.

What is fascia?

To understand MFR, we must first understand what is fascia. Fascia is the connective tissue of the body. It surrounds other tissues –muscles, bones, organs, and nerves and provides support to your organs, helping to keep them in place. Tendons, ligaments, and scar tissue are examples of specialized fascia.

Fascia contains MANY sensory nerves that allow you to feel what’s happening on the inside of your body. When working properly, it provides support, allows smooth movement, helps stabilize the body, and maintains balance. It also contributes to proprioception—the body's sense of position.

Fascia is made up of ground substance, collagen (strength) and elastin (flexibility) fibers. It exists in three layers: superficial (under the skin), deep (around muscles and bones), and visceral (around organs). Injury or tension in one area of the fascia can lead to pain and tenderness, and because the fascia is interconnected throughout the body, issues in one region can cause discomfort or dysfunction in other areas.

Understanding Myofascial Release (MFR)

Myofascial release techniques involve the application of gentle pressure to release restrictions in the fascia, which can help restore normal movement, alleviate myofascial pain, and improve overall function.

Myofascial tissue is the connective tissue that surrounds and connects muscle fibers, allowing for a functional link between muscles and fascia. It plays key roles in transmitting force, maintaining posture, absorbing shock, and facilitating smooth muscle movement.

During a myofascial release session, the therapist carefully evaluates your myofascial tissue to pinpoint areas of stiffness, then applies sustained pressure and gentle stretching to release restrictions. This allows the layers of the fascial system to rehydrate and become more flexible and more fluid, effectively restoring the body's natural range of motion. You can think of it like slowly stretching taffy, or letting an ice cube melt in your hand on a hot day. The taffy, or H2O is still there but it’s a lot more flexible/fluid than before.

What does myofascial release therapy help?

MFR is especially effective working with musculoskeletal conditions, as the fascia can become tight or restricted due to injury, poor posture, stress, or overuse, leading to pain and discomfort.

Here are some conditions and symptoms that myofascial release therapy can help:

Chronic Pain
Tension and Stiffness
Fibromyalgia
Sports Injuries
Postural Issues
TMJ Disorders (Temporomandibular Joint)
Headaches and Migraines
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Sciatica
Limited Mobility
Plantar Fasciitis

Generally, people who are pre and post-op report easier procedures and faster recoveries with MFR therapy, though surgery still requires time to heal, and the work is always cautious.

What happens during Myofascial Release Therapy?

Myofascial release (MFR) involves shortening or lengthening contracted muscle fibers and fascia, helping normalize the muscle's tone and alignment. Here’s what typically happens during a myofascial release therapy session:

Initial Assessment: The therapist reviews your symptoms, pain, medical history, and areas of discomfort. Posture and movement are observed to identify muscle or fascia imbalances.
Application of Pressure: You may be positioned to allow access to tight muscles. The therapist applies gentle, sustained pressure to muscles and fascia to stretch and elongate them, focusing on areas with tension.
Trigger Points and Restricted Areas: The therapist targets tight spots (trigger points) or myofascial adhesions to reduce discomfort and improve mobility. Mild discomfort may occur, but it should not be painful.
Engaging Nervous and Respiratory Systems: Pressure stimulates the nervous system to promote relaxation and pain relief. As breathing is closely linked with muscle and fascial tone, it can help promote fuller lung expansion, reduce diaphragm tension, and support relaxation.
Post-Session Guidance: The therapist may recommend stretches, posture tips, and hydration to aid recovery. Temporary muscle soreness may occur.

Myofascial release is a gradual process, and multiple sessions are often needed to fully address restrictions, especially if you have chronic pain or long-standing muscle tension. The therapist will discuss your progress and may adjust the session plan/frequency as needed.

Who Would Benefit from Myofascial Release Therapy?

People with chronic pain, people who always carry tension on their shoulders, and athletes who put a lot of strain on their bodies and want to perform their best often benefit from myofascial release. Studies have shown a decrease in pain and an increase in range of motion for those affected by myofascial pain. It can also help reduce the pain and improve flexibility and mobility in those with fibromyalgia.

It may also benefit individuals with stress-related muscle tension, anxiety, and sleep problems, or those recovering from injury or surgery. Additionally, it can help with migraine headaches, arthritis, jaw pain, and dysfunction. Research is ongoing, and more studies continue to explore its effectiveness for these conditions.

Is myofascial release the same as trigger point therapy?

Myofascial release therapy and trigger point therapy are similar in their approach to addressing myofascial pain but they're not the same. The primary goal of trigger point manual therapy is to eliminate trigger points. The therapist applies focused pressure while the client practices deep breathing, which helps the therapist to release the tension in these points, reducing or eliminating pain.

In contrast, myofascial release therapy focuses on the myofascial areas of the body, targeting the broader fascial tissue to relieve tightness and discomfort. Myofascial release therapy gently works on trigger points but focuses more on the fascia to restore flexibility, relieve pain, and improve range of motion. Trigger point therapy achieves similar results but doesn’t involve the stretching or light pressure techniques used in myofascial release.

What is the difference between massage and myofascial?

Unlike traditional massage techniques, myofascial release focuses on deeper layers of connective tissue and fascia. The goal is to increase blood flow, improve flexibility, and restore balance to the musculoskeletal system. Massage is typically more relaxing and effective for short-term muscle relief.

Deep tissue massage in particular digs into the tissue, releasing endorphins – the body’s natural painkillers. Myofascial release therapy specifically addresses deeper restrictions in the fascia. Therefore, it offers longer-term relief for chronic pain, tension, and mobility issues related to fascial dysfunction.

Deep tissue massages are great for quick relief of tension, but although applying a lot of pressure may feel “good” at the moment, as soon as the endorphins wear off, you feel just as tight as you did before. MFR works with the tissues to support change instead of attempting to force them to relax.

Aspect

Massage Therapy

Myofascial Release

Primary Focus

Muscles and soft tissues

Fascia (connective tissue surrounding muscles)

Pressure Type

Varies from light to deep

Sustained, gentle pressure in specific areas

Movement Style

Rhythmic, dynamic movements (kneading, rubbing)

Slow, deliberate stretching/sinking into the fascial layers of the body

Immediate Sensation

Relaxing, soothing

Stretching, pulling, mild pressure, sometimes mild discomfort

Pain Relief

Immediate relief of muscle soreness

Gradual relief of pain due to fascia release

Ideal for

Stress relief, muscle tension, relaxation

Chronic pain, restricted movement, postural issues, proprioception issues

By addressing the root causes of chronic pain and mobility issues, MFR works with the body’s tissues to encourage lasting change, offering more sustainable relief compared to the temporary effects of standard massage.

Does science support myofascial release?

While some studies suggest that myofascial release (MFR) can help with pain, the overall scientific support for myofascial release (MFR) is still evolving and somewhat mixed. One study notes that the quality of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) varied, but recent studies show encouraging outcomes.

While the current scientific evidence supports the potential of myofascial release, more rigorous, large-scale studies are needed to firmly establish its effectiveness and the underlying mechanisms. Although myofascial therapy is not yet universally accepted as a proven therapeutic approach, it is emerging as a promising form of therapy with a developing evidence base and many are seeking to try it out as the risks are relatively low.

What are the risks or complications of myofascial release therapy?

The sessions are generally quite gentle AND "pack a punch" (not literally!). Myofascial release therapy is generally safe, but it’s important to be aware of a few potential, though rare, risks and complications:

Temporary soreness: After a session, you may experience mild soreness or muscle stiffness, similar to how you might feel after an intense workout. This is typically short-lived and should go away within a day or two.
Bruising: Light bruising can occur, particularly if deep pressure is used during the session. The only time someone has reported bruising, it's been a brief, more energetic, reappearance of an old bruise that appeared after a session and disappeared within a day or two without any pain at all, although sometimes a tiny bit tender.
Worsening of symptoms: In rare cases, if the therapy is applied too forcefully or incorrectly, it may worsen existing pain or symptoms—especially in individuals with conditions like herniated discs or severe arthritis.
Nerve irritation: Trigger points located near nerves can pose a small risk of nerve irritation during the session, potentially leading to tingling or numbness.
Internal bleeding: Although very rare, there is a potential risk of internal bleeding, especially in people with certain health conditions.
Difficulty moving muscles: Some individuals might experience temporary muscle weakness or difficulty moving certain muscles post-session.
Short-term paralysis: In extremely rare cases, myofascial release could cause temporary paralysis if nerves or sensitive areas are affected.
Nerve damage: If a nerve is accidentally compressed or overstimulated, there could be a risk of nerve damage, though this is uncommon.

Contraindications

Contraindications and risks are always a difficult area as many are very dependent on the client, therapist, and even sometimes specific techniques. One of John Barnes's seminar manuals states, "Specific contraindications may not void the use of certain techniques in another region of the body, and the absence of stated contraindications should not be taken as a signal to proceed without careful thought. In general, consider the immediacy of need and the benefits of treatment versus risks, when confronting regional contraindications."

With this in mind, you may want to pursue the use of MFR with caution, especially if you have the following health conditions:

Bone fractures
Osteoporosis
Burns
Open wounds
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
Conditions that require blood thinners
Metabolic disorders

Because of the relative lack of risk, many patients with chronic or even short-term myofascial pain may be interested in trying it to see if the therapy provides any relief. This is especially true if you’re trying to avoid surgery.

It’s important to work with a licensed and experienced therapist to minimize these risks and ensure that the plan is appropriate for your condition. Always communicate openly with your therapist about any discomfort or changes you feel during or after a session.

How do I find a myofascial release therapist near me?

To find a Barnes trained myofascial release (MFR) therapist near you, start with the MFR therapist directory at www.mfrtherapists.com, where you can search by zip code. If you don’t find someone listed, expand your search by asking potential therapists about their profession, licensing (if required in your area), and recent training, particularly in the John Barnes Method.

Consider their additional techniques, compatibility with your needs, and availability. A good fit includes not just their expertise but also their approach, personality, and a schedule that works for you.

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