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MYOFASCIAL RELEASE MASSAGE
by Christie Walker
When you hear the term "myofascial" used for the first time in conjunction with massage, you've got to wonder what it is and what it has to do with massage therapy.
Fascia is a connective tissue that surrounds the entire body from bones, joints and muscles. There are three different types of fascia in one's body.
• Superficial fascia connects most of nerves and blood vessels.
• Deep Fascia provides cushioning muscles.
• Subserous Fascia (which is the deepest layer) lines the cavities of the body like the viscera.
Fascia helps maintain good posture, range of motion and flexibility. It gives our bodies tremendous strength and helps us deal with injuries that the stress our bodies.
Fascia is like a body suit that allows us to move freely, if there is injury or pain the fascia is pulled from all angles because it spans the entire body.
The fascia can be damaged or traumatized from:
• falls or car accidents
• poor posture
• lack of stretching and prolonged standing or sitting
• repetitive motion- tennis, keyboarding and factory work
It gets tight and can cause problems like:
• Headaches
• Muscle pain /spasms
• chronic pain
• recurring injuries
• sciatica
• numbness and tingling
• poor posture
• reduced flexibility
All of the above problems can be resolved with MYOFASCIAL release. Which is a very deep manipulative massage. It is specifically designed to relax the fascia through the entire body. The massage therapist may be working on your
hips to relieve your headaches. Which makes MFR a whole body approach. This is what makes MFR an effective treatment.
At the time she wrote this explanation of Myofascial Release Massage, Christie Walker was a massage therapist with the Spa at the Fairmont Algonquin in St. Andrews by the Sea, New Brunswick, Canada
