Myofascial Release

The Symptoms Trap

By Curt Redd, LMT, JFB Myofascial Release Specialist

MFR Man Image – John F. Barnes, PT,

Generally, efforts to relieve pain focus on the obvious, the places where we feel pain most acutely. More often than not, this is erroneous, and not effective.  Such efforts bring temporary pain relief, that typically lasts about as long as it takes to walk from the therapist’s office out to the parking lot.

The reason being that a sore neck, or shoulder (even TMJ) is often only a symptom of a far more serious distortion in the basic skeletal system.  As illustrated in the figure, an unevenness in the pelvic region can lead to fascial restrictions in the upper body.  Starting with an uneven base, the body does what is necessary to keep us standing up straight.

The most easily recognized sign of this condition is shoulders that are not perfectly level.  (Easy enough to spot just by a critical look in the mirror.)  Chances are good that if you experience occasional soreness in the neck, shoulders, upper back, lower back, or hips, you have an uneven pelvis.  If you have ever been told that one leg is longer than the other (this is actually true only in about 3% of us), you may just have a distortion in your hips.

There is hope

The good news is that this condition is relatively simple to correct by someone who understands what is actually happening with the body. The cause, and subsequent remedy, for this condition lies with the fascial system, the connective tissues.

The fascia is a complete network that covers every cell of the body.  It holds everything in place. It can’t be forced, but it can be reset, and the problem corrected through Myofascial Release.

What is Myofascial Release (MFR)?

Myofascial Release (MFR), as taught by John F. Barnes, is a highly effective, full body, hands-on approach. It involves stretches and compressions, applied with gentle pressure, that are held until the restriction releases. The pressure used during treatment is gentle, and never done beyond a client’s tolerance. This manual therapy can provide amazing results for decreasing pain and increasing range of motion.

What is Fascia?

Fascia

To simply describe a complex system, fascia is a web-like system in our body that runs head to toe without interruption. It is a tough connective tissue that supports our entire being from the largest structures in our body down to the cellular level.

Physical trauma, inflammation or postural misalignment can cause fascial restrictions leading to pressure on pain sensitive structures. This excessive pressure acts as a “straight jacket” in our body, producing symptoms such as pain, headaches or limited range of motion. The modality of MFR uses sustained pressure and gentle stretching or compression into the fascial system, allowing it to regain fluidity and relieve the tension of this connective tissue.

Although MFR addresses the symptoms at hand, it is designed to discover and rectify the restrictions that are often the root of the problem! Treatments are generally slow paced and gentle to allow facilitation of these releases naturally.

What Myofascial Release (MFR) can do for you…

The John F. Barnes’ Myofascial Release Approach® is considered to be the ultimate mind/body therapy that is safe, gentle and consistently effective in producing results in reducing pain, headaches, fibromyalgia symptoms, and increases range of motion and function.

Since Myofascial Release looks to the entire body for its answers, many physical and emotional ailments can be addressed through this modality. It is our goal to help you reduce pain, restore motion and/or increase performance.

Through the gentle, non-invasive touch of MFR, many people have already experienced the benefits of reducing or eliminating back pain, sciatica, scoliosis, neck pain, shoulder pain, headaches, migraines, and more.

The Release Connection

Curt Redd

480-540-2835

www.TheReleaseConnection.com