What is Myofascial Release? -Benefits and Contraindications

The entire body is covered with a tissue known as a fascia. Myofascial release is a therapy that helps to maintain it in an optimal state, to prevent pain and mobility problems.

What is Myofascial Release?

Tension, pain, lack of mobility, seizure … many negative symptoms that our body suffers, day by day, because of the chaotic pace of life in which we are immersed. Trying to take things in stride and healthy lifestyle habits are fundamental, but in many cases we need professional help to make our body feel better and, therefore, work properly. A perfect technique to re-tune the body is myofascial release.

Myofascial Release

Myofascial release is “a technique of manual therapy that is based on the application of sustained movements and pressures, directed to the entire fascial system.” Through it, physiotherapists specializing in these techniques seek to “release the mobility restrictions of this system, returning the slips between all the tissues of the body, and causing our body to regain its functional balance.”

Investigation

Although the investigation of the fascial system and its treatment began in the first half of the 20th century, it was not until the 1980s that his studies multiplied and he began to have key importance in the world of physiotherapy. Since then a series of techniques have been developed which are used not only in the more classic physiotherapy but also in sports and traumatology.

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In its normal state the fascia is relaxed and stretched but, however, because of an injury, illness, trauma, incorrect body posture, or simply stress or anxiety, it is tense and can cause pain and lack of mobility. For this reason, the hands of the physiotherapists work on it to correct these restrictions and make the body is better.

What is Fascia?

The fascial system is a great unknown for most people, but dysfunction in this area can be the cause – or aggravating – of different physical problems. Fascias are “a tissue, formed by collagen, that cover all the muscles and structures of our body and whose function is to give union and integrity to the different systems of the same, that is, to make the Body functions as a single unit “.

Myofascial Release_Muscle

The fascial system is a kind of three-dimensional framework that is distributed throughout the body, either in its superficial slope (that wraps the whole body under the deep face of the skin), or in the deepest (wrapping, And protects muscles, joints, bones, or viscera).

The fact that the whole organism is covered by the fascia makes its good condition is essential so that the whole body can function properly. And is that the fascial system is not only related to the typical muscular or joint pains that we usually go to the physiotherapy consultation but also with other small physiological movements but just as important, as it may be the expansion of the lungs Every time we breathe.

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syndrome (SDM)

One of the most common problems affecting this system is myofascial pain syndrome (SDM), in which there is an alteration of the correct length of the muscle and its muscular tone (also in that of its antagonistic muscles), Which produces tension and pain, so it must be treated by expert physiotherapists.

Myofascial pain syndrome has its origin mainly in so-called myofascial trigger points, especially tight and stiff areas due to incorrect or poor muscle contraction. It is in these nodules that this type of pain is born, but it is a punctual and deep pain that also usually refers to other structures nearby.

The fascia can also get sick, so we must pay attention to gain in health. Because, if left untreated, trigger points can even alter body posture and cause problems in other parts of the body. To improve the quality of the fascia, it is important, as the physiotherapist of the Premium Madrid Center says, “to have a balanced diet and good hydration” since collagen or infrared supplements have no impact on it or its treatment.

Benefits and contraindications of myofascial release

The main benefit of myofascial release is that, by keeping the fascial system in good condition and unrestricted by myofascial trigger points, the mobility of our body will be optimal and it will, therefore, work better. By eliminating the fascial restrictions, we increase the mobility of all tissues of the body, achieving greater joint mobility and better circulation of all body fluids.

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All this eliminates the toxins that remain accumulated between the different fascial layers of our body. Therefore, myofascial release achieves other additional benefits related to fluid retention, poor blood circulation or cellulite. It seeks to harmonize the movement of all the tissues that make up our body.

Likewise, the elimination of myofascial trigger points reduces localized pain and gains in quality of life.

We cannot forget that it helps to preserve and improve the correct body posture, so it is presented as a good weapon for the prevention of injuries and physical problems that are attributed to a constant, incorrect and harmful posture both at rest and in movement. Myofascial release therapy also appears to be appropriate in people with different diseases, such as fibromyalgia, lupus, scleroderma, or rheumatoid arthritis.

Contraindications of myofascial release

As with many other therapies, not everyone can benefit from myofascial release, and there are certain contraindications. You should always contact medical professionals or physiotherapists, who are the most appropriate to assess the pathologies of each patient but, in principle, people suffering from aneurysms, fractures, fever, tumors, infectious diseases, advanced phlebitis, or women who are in the first trimester of pregnancy should refrain from following this therapy.