Workshop

Myofascial Release (MFR) is fast gaining recognition as the missing link in traditional healthcare. View our workshops...

View Cart: 5 item(s)

What MFR can help

What MFR can help?
 
Myofascial release therapy is a specialised physical therapy that affects and releases the restrictions within the fascial network. The therapy is an art form. The MFR therapist not only takes in to consideration what they see in the patient's postural assessment but works directly with what they feel and sense from palpating and treating the body.
     
Even though the patient may not feel much happening the experienced therapist can actually feel the fascial restrictions, where they go to and subsequently feels the release of those restrictions during the session.
 
Myofascial release can help:
 
  • chronic pain
  • back ache and pelvic imbalance
  • scoliosis
  • lordosis and lumbago
  • kyphosis and dowagers hump
  • neck and shoulder pain and tension
  • headaches
  • jaw discomfort, teeth grinding and clentching, temporomadibular joint dysfunction (TMJ) 
  • sciatica
  • carpal tunnel syndrome
  • tennis and golfer's elbow
  • general discomfort and muscular spasms
  • chronic myofascial pain syndrome (CMPS) trigger point formation and pain
  • dizziness and vertigo
  • Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
  • menstrual discomfort and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
  • urinary incontinence and overactive bladder issues
  • fibromyalgia (FMS)
  • chronic fatigue syndrome (ME), myalgic encephalitis (CFS)
  • plantar fasciitis and heel spurs
  • sporting and athletic injuries
  • frozen shoulder and adhesive capsulitis
  • costochndritis and Tietze's syndrome
  • whiplash
  • post surgical and injury scarring and adhesions
  • chronic pelvic pain syndrome
  • repetitive strain injury (RSI)
  • tinnitus
  • acid reflux
  • sinusitis and eye strain
  • and many others.
 
Myofascial release can also:
 
  • increase energy
  • increase breathing capacity
  • restore muscular function and postural alignment
  • relieve physical and emotional strain
  • increase awareness of holding and bracing patterns
  • promote relaxation
  • balance the body, mind and soul
  • promote self-healing
    
For the sports person, athlete and performer
 
MFR is highly effective for the myriad of injuries, stresses and strains that the professional and amateur sports persons or athlete may have.
 
Soft tissue and fascial work is vitally important not solely for rehabilitation of an injury but to also maintain flexibility, power and strength as a prophylactic against injury. 
 
MFR can be used along with remedial treatments to provide a strengthening, stretch and stability program that can be incorporated into a regular warm up, cool down and training session.
 
In addition to the above injuries and conditions MFR can also help:
 
  • ankle instability and Achilles tendonitis
  • hammer toe, Morton's foot and neuroma
  • shin splints and calf strain
  • cruciate and collateral ligament trauma
  • patellofemoral syndrome, runners knee and iliotibial band syndrome
  • meniscus injury
  • ostitis pubis
  • groin and hamstring trauma and Gilmore's groin
  • gluteal and piriformis strain
  • rotator cuff injuries
  • bursitis
  • ankylosing spondylitis
  • patella tendon inflammation or rupture
  • osgood schlatters disease
  • myositis ossificans
  • frozen shoulder, adhesive capsulitis
  • tendonitis, tendonopathy and tendon strain
  • tennis and golfers elbow
  • carpal tunnel
  • impingement syndromes
  • de Quervains syndrome
  • thoracic outlet syndrome
  • repetitive strain injuries (RSI)
  • and many others
 
  
MFR is very effective for musicians, dancers, speakers, performers, artists and others who have to maintain either, or both, a high degree of movement or strain pattern to perform a task. These people demand equally as much from their body's as any sports person or athlete. The repetitive movements and or holding positions involved for these people create tension, strain and bracing patterns that without effective treatment will cause injury and ultimately affect their ability to perform. Like the sports person and athlete, MFR can help resolve these injuries and allow longevity in their hobby or career.
 
 
Chronic myofascial pain syndrome and trigger point pain
 
Myofascial Pain Syndrome (MPS) is a painful musculoskeletal condition that is characterised by the development of myofascial trigger points.
Fibromyalgia and MPS are common diagnoses of unresolved pain and discomfort. Research and treatment of these painful conditions heighten the need for appropriate training and treatment of the myofascial system.
 
Many chronic pain conditions are caused by myofascial trigger points.
     
A trigger point is a hyper irritable spot located in a taught band of skeletal muscle. When the muscle is in a state of traumatic dysfunction (poor posture, injury or inflammation) the hyper irritable trigger point will produce a local pain and also pain in a referred pattern. These patterns have been extensively researched and mapped by Dr Janet Travell and Dr David Simons, authors of Myofascial Pain and Discomfort, The Trigger Point Manual. Patients may have regional, persistent pain resulting in a decreased range of motion in the affected muscles. Palpation of the trigger point will elicit pain directly over the affected area and/or cause radiation of pain toward a zone of reference sometimes creating a local muscular twitch response. Trigger points are also common causes of headaches, jaw pain, sciatica, sinusitis and low back pain.
 
 
Trigger points and MFR
 
Trigger point therapy is an approach used to find the hyper irritable spots that are creating the referred pain pattern and deactivate them by use of dry needling, vapo-coolant (stretch and spray) and the more common approach of ischaemic compression applied by the therapist’s fingers. Whilst trigger point therapy is an effective treatment approach for the musculoskeletal pain caused by the trigger point it only treats the symptomatic trigger point and its referred pain pattern, hence treating only the symptom but not the cause. Trigger point therapy can be very painful to receive and may only produce limited results as the reason for the trigger point formation is not being addressed. For those therapists using digit ischaemic compression, application of this treatment can also be debilitating.
A trigger point is a symptom of a fascial restriction and functional and structural imbalance that occurs when a muscle becomes dysfunctional. Trigger points can be irritated by inappropriate compression thus, for some patients, making trigger point therapy an ineffective and unnecessarily painful treatment. Unless the reason for the trigger point formation is addressed then the trigger point will manifest once again causing further distress, pain and discomfort. Myofascial release is a safe, and effective treatment that not only deactivates the trigger point but also releases the fascial restrictions throughout the body that harbour them.