Myofascial Therapy

[cs_content][cs_element_section _id=”1″ ][cs_element_layout_row _id=”2″ ][cs_element_layout_column _id=”3″ ][x_custom_headline level=”h2″ looks_like=”h2″ accent=”false”]Myofascial Therapy[/x_custom_headline][x_image type=”none” src=”https://www.inter-x-connected.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/dot-right-line.png” alt=”” link=”false” href=”#” title=”” target=”” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=””][cs_element_text _id=”6″ ][/cs_element_layout_column][/cs_element_layout_row][/cs_element_section][/cs_content][cs_content_seo]Myofascial Therapy

What is MyoFascia?
The term myofascia refers to the inseparable bundle of muscle tissue “myo” and its accompanying web of fascia (formerly known as connective tissue). Fascia is a complex structure composed of collagen and elastin fibers, several different cell types, and a number of specialized and free nerve endings. The strong, elastic fascia wraps around every organ, muscle, bone and nerve, and forms a coherent web that connects all parts of the body, from the skin to the viscera, and from foot to head. This fascial connection means that a tightening in one end of the fascial web will create a pull somewhere else. Thus, where the symptom presents itself might not be where the problem lies, meaning you might have pain in your shoulder, but it is rooted in your hip.

Fascia can change in response to load, pull or stretch, and as a result, your myofascial web will almost serve as a blueprint of your lifestyle and activities. If, for instance, you perform the same movement every day, your fascia, along the lines of loading, will get palpably firm. On the other hand, if you sit all day, your fascia can get flattened, dehydrated and brittle. In the long run, both scenarios can be a source of myofascial and skeletal injuries, imbalances and pain. 

An imbalanced fascia can impair your spatial orientation, as well as your balance, flexibility, coordination, springiness, speed and agility.

Myofascial Release & Myofascial Therapy
Myofascial release is commonly referred to as working on the muscles and their associated fascia, by using deep and slow manual pressure and strokes. Recent research on fascia and its properties suggests that there is much more to fascia than what we once thought. For instance, there are many more nerve fibers in the fascia than previously thought, many of which are part of the sympathetic nervous system (in charge of fight and flight response). This suggests that when we work on the fascia we are impacting the sympathetic nervous system as well. Due to all the new information about fascia, we have had to shift our approach on how to perform manual work on the fascia to also include a lighter touch, or for instance, to work specifically on areas of dense fascia. In order to avoid confusion with conventional myofascial release, I, therefore, prefer to use the term “Myofascial Therapy.”

Effects of Myofascial Therapy
Myofascial therapy aims to hydrate (facilitate absorption of water) a myofascia that is dehydrated, stiff and brittle, and to break up fascial adhesions. The latter can prevent the fascial layers from gliding on each other, which can in turn result in pain and movement restrictions. 
In addition, myofascial therapy can stimulate production and reorganization of fascial fibers, and with that promote the development of a healthy and elastic myofascial web.
Manual work on the fascia can be efficient in molding scar tissue, which, if left untouched, can create imbalanced tension, pain, and disturbance of movement patterns.
Myofascial therapy stimulates fascial proprioceptors (specialized nerve-endings sensitive to touch, tension, pressure and vibration), and thus improves awareness of your body in space as well as your body parts in relation to each other.
The result of myofascial therapy is a fascia that is pliable, has better gliding between the fascial layers, and has fewer adhesions and densifications. In other words, a fascia that is balanced throughout the body is more injury resistant and less prone to inflict pain.
 
 
 
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