What is fascia?

Fascia is a three dimensional fibrous tissue that extends from head to toe without interruption. The fascia surrounds every nerve, muscle, bone, blood vessel, organ and cell in the body. The fascia is one continuous membrane and affects every system in your body. It is, in essence, a web of fibers, much like a spider web, where a restriction in one part can cause a profound effect on any other part. Each part of the body is connected to the next like yarn in a sweater. In a normal and healthy state, fascia is mobile and flexible, free to move. When you experience pain and trauma, the fascia loses its ability to move, creating tension in the body. The tension in turn creates  more pain and restrictions.

What affects the fascia?

Trauma effects the fascia by creating restriction in the system and can come in many forms.

Physical injury such as surgery, muscle injuries, repetitive stress, postural effects, scars, inflammation, inflammatory processes are among the many things that can cause restrictions in the fascia.

Emotional trauma that has occurred throughout our lives also are a cause for restrictions. Our body literally keeps the score of our experiences and our cells have memories of all that has happened in our story. These traumas live in our bodies and are a contributing factor to ongoing pain and dysfunction. Releasing the restrictions releases the trauma and frees the body to move and function in an optimal balanced way.

How do restrictions effect the body?

Myofascial restrictions produce tensile pressure of about 2000 pounds per square inch, resulting in pain that does not show up on standard test like x-ray or MRI. This type of tensile stress is equivalent to two horses standing on your foot. This puts pressure on all the internal structures of the body, nerves, muscles, organs and limits the  ability of these structures to move freely  and function.

What is Myofascial Release?

Myofascial Release is a gentle, manual therapy technique that has a profound effect on the deep connective tissues (fascia) of the body. The release is initiated by sustained pressure on the fascial system through very specific hands-on techniques. Through this pressure the fascia releases, blood flow increases, and the restrictions in the body are freed. The treatment is highly effective because it treats the body as a whole. Through careful postural analysis as well as feeling for restrictions, the therapist is able to identify the problem areas and then treat them. The treatment involves re -balancing the body to allow it to return to optimal position, thereby allowing the body to heal itself.

Myofascial Release Approach to Cranial Sacral Therapy

Cranial sacral therapy is a gentle, non invasive method that involves a light therapeutic touch to the bones of the cranium and sacrum. This method of bodywork is highly effective in reducing stress and returning the body to a more balanced state. Everyone can benefit from this treatment and it is very helpful in the treatment of migraines, chronic pain, and fibromyalgia as well as attention deficit disorders.

Myofascial Release Approach to Concussion Care

Concussions often occur after a significant impact to the head or elsewhere in the body. They are common during impact sports, but can occur during any activity where there is rapid acceleration or deceleration of the head or body.  Concussions cause a disruption in the how the nerves within the brain function creating an imbalance within brain cells as well as decreased blood flow and temporary energy deficits within the brain. The cranial rhythm is altered. It has been my experience that even when people are cleared to return to full activity because an impact test is indicating they can, their symptoms persist. These symptoms may include “brain fog”, trouble concentrating, headaches and fatigue. School work in children and young adults becomes increasingly more difficult yet they are told that there is nothing wrong. Cranial sacral treatment combined with myofascial release is a very effective method in decreasing the severity of concussions and allowing the body to rebalance itself. The bones and soft tissue of the head and neck undergo significant trauma and mal-alignment with a concussion injury. This gentle method of manual hands on therapy allows re alignment to happen in a safe effective manner.