The fascial system is made up of a web-like connective tissue that envelops all of our organs, bones, muscles, and nerve fibres (Duncan, 2022). It’s essentially the glue that holds all our tissues together while simultaneously acting as a lubricant so tissues can glide and move across each other without friction (Schwartz, 2021).
Fascia can harden or become restricted by prolonged inactivity, physical injury, disease, poor posture, emotional stress, inflammation, or historical trauma and can result in decreased flexibility, postural imbalance, and pain (Lv & Yin, 2024; Schwartz, 2021). Due to its interconnectivity with the nervous system, research suggests that fascia can store memories (Tozzi, 2014), which has prompted psychological researchers to explore how emotional trauma can be held in the body and present as physiological manifestations such as idiopathic pain, autoimmune disorders, etc.
Myofascial release is a manual therapy technique that uses sustained pressure to the myofascial system to release tension, increase flexibility, reduce pain, and improve overall health (Lv & Yin, 2024). It is a highly effective manual therapy method for treating various conditions, alleviating symptoms, and improving overall wellbeing. Research (e.g. Lv & Yin, 2024; McKenney et al., 2013; Warren et al., 2020) shows it can effectively treat several different conditions such as:
- Fibromyalgia
- Chronic lower back pain
- Scoliosis
- Sports injury
- Limited range of mobility
- Chronic pelvic pain
- Plantar fasciitis
- Post-surgical recovery
- Headaches/Migraines
- Sciatica
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJD)
- Scar tissue
- Poor posture
Oftentimes, the area that someone experiences pain is not actually the source of the problem. When fascia in one area is stretched or adhered to nearby tissue, it can cause tightness, restriction, and pain in another part of the body. Elizabeth has been trained to identify fascial imbalances through orthopaedic assessments such as postural/gait analysis and muscle testing to ensure she is addressing the tissue that is actually responsible for the pain you are experiencing. Using various myofascial techniques, including myofascial decompression, she unwinds fascial constrictions and treats the source of the pain to improve postural alignment and decrease discomfort.
References
Duncan, R. (2022). Myofascial Release Hands-on Guides for Therapists (2nd ed.). Human Kinetics.
Lv, Y., & Yin, Y. (2024). A Review of the Application of Myofascial Release Therapy in the Treatment of Diseases. Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare, Vol. 17, 4507–4517. https://doi.org/10.2147/jmdh.s481706
McKenney, K., Elder, A. S., Elder, C., & Hutchins, A. (2013). Myofascial Release as a Treatment for Orthopaedic Conditions: A Systematic Review. Journal of Athletic Training, 48(4), 522–527. https://doi.org/10.4085/1062-6050-48.3.17
Schwartz, A. (2021). Fascia and the Vagus Nerve. Dr. Arielle Schwartz, PhD. https://drarielleschwartz.com/fascia-and-the-vagus-nerve-dr-arielle-schwartz/
Tozzi, P. (2014). Does fascia hold memories? Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 18(2), 259–265. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbmt.2013.11.010
Warren, A. J., LaCross, Z., Volberding, J. L., & O’Brien, M. S. (2020). ACUTE OUTCOMES OF MYOFASCIAL DECOMPRESSION (CUPPING THERAPY) COMPARED TO SELF-MYOFASCIAL RELEASE ON HAMSTRING PATHOLOGY AFTER A SINGLE TREATMENT. International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, 15(4), 579–592. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7735689/