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Myofascial Release Therapy is a gentle hands-on therapy that works with the connective tissue (fascia) of the body. Connective tissue (fascia) is one piece from the top of your head to the bottom of your big toe. Healthy connective tissue (fascia) is made up of fibers and a gel. This connective tissue (fascia) comes in contact with every cell in your body. It is in the connective tissue (fascia) that injury-related fibers (scar tissue) are laid down. These injury-related fibers (scar tissue/restrictions) wrap themselves around tender tissues such as nerves and muscles and can cause pain. The goal of Myofascial Release Therapy is to lengthen and soften the connective tissue (fascia) and the scar tissue or restrictions in these areas of discomfort. That lengthening and softening of the connective tissue (fascia) and scar tissue/restrictions will help reduce the pressure on the tender tissue and help reduce pain.
Myofascial Release Therapy encourages the lengthening and softening of the connective tissue by applying slight prolonged pressure to the connective tissue (fascia). The slight prolonged pressure may last two, three or five minutes. During that time fibrotic tissue is removed and the gel becomes more liquid and can be lengthened. The lengthening of the gel with slight prolonged pressure occurs because electricity is produced. The process of producing electricity with slight prolonged pressure is called piezoelectricity or pressure electricity. Science has known of the process of pressure electricity occurring in the body since the mid 1800’s but it took John F. Barnes PT beginning in the sixties to develop a therapy utilizing the process. If you wish to learn more about John Barnes and Myofascial Release Therapy, visit myofascialrelease.com.
Pain Release of MN is a private practice specializing in Myofascial Release Therapy. It is situated south of Tower, MN. The practice is on Hwy 26 (Wahlsten Rd.) off Hwy 169 — 15 miles north of Virginia. In addition the practice provides Myofascial Release Therapy one day a week in Virginia, MN and one day a week in Duluth, MN. Times and days are flexible. Normal hours are Monday through Friday Call for more information.
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Sarah Schmidt,
RN, BSN, CLT-LANA, NCTMB
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Myofascial Release Therapy and connective Tissue in more detail
Connective tissue (fascia) has many forms in our bodies. In some places it is very cord-like such as tendons and ligaments. In other places it is sheet-like such as the coverings over organs. Yet in other places it is very gel-like without a great deal of form. In each place it is made up of fibers and a gel. As we use our bodies in daily living there are times when we overuse it, or an area will become swollen or injured, or may have an infection. Part of the healing process of each of these injured areas is to lay down fibers. Over time enough fibers are laid down to cause scar tissue/restrictions. Scar tissue/restrictions entrap and pull on tender tissue as we move through our daily activities and can cause pain. Scar tissue/restriction also prevent the gel portion of the connective tissue from performing its functions. Some of the gel’s functions include absorption of shock, the movement of nutrients, minerals and vitamins, the movement of oxygen, and the provision of flexibility in the body.
When someone is considering Myofascial Release Therapy as an option for treatment it may be because the usual routes of treatment have not been able to relieve the discomfort or there is a desire to try a less invasive alternative.
Pain Release of MN has treated people with Fibromyalgia, Myofascial Pain Syndrome, TMJ, sciatica, neck and shoulder pain, lack of range of motion in hips, neck, shoulders, and wrists, plantar fasciitis, reduced bladder control, vertigo, surgical scars, tendonitis, arthritic pain in joints, lower back pain, rolled shoulders, poor posture, nerve entrapments, knots in muscles. The list can be never-ending because connective tissue (fascia) is in contact with every cell of the body. Therefore any part of the body could develop scar tissue/restrictions which then could develop into discomfort of some type.
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