Myofascial Release is a hands-on technique that involves applying gentle, sustained pressure into fascial connective tissue restrictions to eliminate pain and restore mobility. We are trained in John F. Barnes' Myofascial Release (MFR) Approach®, the leading comprehensive MFR technique, often considered to be the ultimate mind/body therapy that is safe, gentle and consistently effective in producing results that lasts. Trauma (emotional and physical), inflammatory and compensatory responses to injury, and surgical procedures all create myofascial restrictions that can produce tensile pressures of approximately 2,000 pounds per square inch on pain sensitive structures that do not show up in many of the standard tests (x-rays, myelograms, CAT scans, electromyography, etc.).
The fascia is a specialized system of one continuous structure in the body that has an appearance similar to a spider’s web or a sweater and which densely covers and penetrates every muscle, bone, nerve, artery, and vein, and all internal organs, the brain, and the spinal cord. This means the entire body is connected to every other part by the fascia, like the yarn in a sweater, so the fascia plays an important role in the support and function of our bodies, since it surrounds and attaches all these structures. Trauma, such as a fall when you were 2, a surgery when you were 15, and a car accident when you were 21, along with habitual non-optimal posture and repetitive stress injuries, has cumulative effects on the body. In the normal healthy state, the fascia is relaxed and wavy in configuration, and has the ability to stretch and move without restriction. When one experiences trauma of any sort, the fascia loses its pliability and becomes tight, restricted, and a source of tension to the rest of the body. The MFR treatment you will receive at Element is performed directly on skin without oils, creams, or machinery. This enables the therapist to accurately detect fascial restrictions and apply the appropriate amount of sustained pressure to facilitate release of the fascia. Our one-on-one, hour long sessions give us the freedom to assess your full body for restriction and provide appropriate, individualized treatment based on your specific needs.