Myofascial tissue release is a massage therapy technique focused on relieving pain from inflamed trigger points in the body caused by myofascial pain syndrome.
Myofascial pain disorder simply means longstanding muscle pain. The soft tissues in the body support muscles and bones. In myofascial pain syndrome, the soft tissue gets inflamed and develops a trigger point, which the ache generally starts from that trigger point.
Trigger points may also be spaces of tight muscle strands that result commonly from abuse, overuse or injury. Myofascial tissue release (MFTS) is a type of therapy frequently used to treat myofascial pain disorder. A myotherapist utilizes massage strategies using their hands, fingers, elbows or knuckles to ease pressure at the trigger points.
Myofascial release focuses on lessening the pain by easing the strain and stiffness in the trigger points. Often, it is difficult to understand which trigger point is responsible for which pain. Limiting the pain to a particular trigger point is truly challenging. Thus, myofascial tissue release opts for a broad range of muscles and tissues instead of single points.
Other conditions treated by myofascial release treatment include temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, carpal passage disorder or potentially fibromyalgia or migraine headaches. The symptoms typically include:
- Stiffness of the tissues that limit movement
- A feeling of extreme tension on muscles or joints that produces pain
- An ache in any part or portions of the body, including migraine or backache
What causes myofascial pain?
Myofascial pain can have two sources, pain produced from the skeletal muscle or connective tissues that are “bound somewhere around” the tight fascia. Pain may also arise from damaged myofascial tissue. This part of the tissue may contain compressed muscle strands and forms the so-called “trigger point,” which hinders the blood’s flow to the muscle strands, causing symptoms in that area, as well as areas at a distance (which share the same circulatory blood vessels).
How does myofascial tissue release work?
Most myofascial tissue release treatments function as massage therapy sessions.
The specialist will gently rub the myofascial tissue and feel for the firm or stiff regions. Typical myofascial tissue should feel pliable and flexible. The specialist will then start massaging and extending the regions that feel stiff with light manual pressure. Then, the specialist helps the tissue and supportive sheath at that point release pressure and stiffness. The cycle is repeated several times on a similar trigger point and other areas until the specialist feels the strain is completely gone.
These regions where the specialist is working may not be close to where the pain begins or is felt most precisely. Myofascial release works the more extensive framework of muscles that may be causing the pain. It attempts to lessen pressure all through the body by releasing trigger points across a wide section of the muscle framework.
What are the risks of myofascial tissue release?
Myofascial release by a professional is reasonably safe. Regardless of whether a person is attempting to relax or expecting to ease pain, massage treatment might be advantageous to reduce pain.
However, massage therapy is not ideal for the following individuals:
- With burns, wounds or difficult injuries
- With breaks or broken bones
- With delicate bones
- With deep vein thrombosis (clot) or deep vein swelling (thrombophlebitis)
- Taking blood-thinning medications
In extremely rare cases, massage treatment might cause: