Many people suffer with muscle pain and stiffness, and this often limits them from living a full life. Luckily there may be hope, Myofsacial Release may finally offer relief and a return to a life of normalcy.
What is Myofascial Release?
The treatment has been popularized by John F. Barnes, PT, LMT, NCTMB. John’s website describes himself as “an internationally recognized physical therapist, lecturer, author, and the leading authority on Myofascial Release.”
When you think of Myofascial Release, you think of John F. Barnes. Over his 50 years in the field, John has taught over 100,000 therapists how to perform myofascial release therapy.
Today, myofascial release treatments have become more and more popular. Today, therapists around the world now offer the treatment program.
By visiting one of these therapists and undergoing myofascial release, you can “return to a pain-free, active lifestyle” according to John.
How Does Myofascial Release Work?
Myofascial release claims to work more effectively than conventional muscle pain and stiffness treatments – like foam rollers or pain medication. It’s also superior to traditional massage therapy and occupational therapy techniques that treat the symptoms caused by the pressure of the myofascial system, but do nothing to actually treat the root causes of that pressure.
That’s where myofascial release can help. Myofascial release therapy promises to be an effective way to treat all different types of conditions. Dozens of conditions are listed on the official website, including all of the following:
— Mobility Problems: Back pain, headaches, whiplash, pelvic pain, neck pain, sports injuries, chronic pain, disc problems, migraines, pelvic floor dysfunction, neurological dysfunction, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, adhesions, carpal tunnel syndrome, jaw pain (TMJ), painful scars, scoliosis, sciatica, and myofascial pain syndrome
— Women’s Health Problems: Vulvodynia, interstitial cystitis, mastectomy pain, menstrual problems, painful intercourse, urinary frequency, problematic breast implant/reduction scars, coccydynia, endometriosis, infertility problems, urinary incontinence, lymphedema, urinary urgency, episiotomy scars, pelvic floor pain, and pudendal nerve entrapment
Regular treatments with myofascial release therapy can relieve symptoms of all of these conditions.
What’s Involved with Myofascial Release Therapy?
During myofascial release therapy, a trained therapist will apply gentle, sustained pressure into the myofascial connective tissue restrictions, thus allowing your body to eliminate pain and restore motion.
What causes myofascial restrictions in the first place? They’re purportedly caused by trauma, inflammatory responses, and/or surgical procedures. These problems can put enormous tensile pressure on your myofascial system.
These pressures do not show up in x-ray, myelogram, CAT scans, or other conventional medical tests.
When undergoing myofascial release therapy, patients are in a one-on-one session and undergo a hands-on treatment. Therapists will use a variety of myofascial release techniques along with movement therapy.
One of the unique things about myofascial release is that it’s performed directly on the skin without the use of oils, creams, or machines of any type. It’s just you and the therapist applying targeted pressure in the right areas of the body.
How to Undergo Myofascial Release Therapy
John F. Barnes currently operates two clinics in America where you can undergo myofascial release therapy, including one center in Malvern, Pennsylvania and the other in Sedona, Arizona.
The treatment is recommended to anyone who has failed to respond to “conventional medications, surgery, and therapeutic treatments.”
Alternatively, you can find a list of certified MFR therapists using the website http://mfrtherapists.com/.
At that site, you’ll find a list of therapists who have studied under John F. Barnes. Therapists are available in all 50 states as well as in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, Switzerland, the UK, and the Netherlands.
Does Myofascial Release Actually Work?
John F. Barnes has posted very little scientific evidence supporting myofascial release at his official website. It’s mostly anecdotal reports of people who were cured of their various ailments after undergoing the therapy.
We have to turn to outside sources to verify the effectiveness of myofascial release – and those outside sources aren’t very kind to the therapy.
The American Cancer Society, for example, states that “There is little scientific evidence available to support proponents’ claims that myofascial release relieves pain or restores flexibility.” They recommend a cautious approach when using myofascial release as a substitute for conventional treatment.
Meanwhile, when myofascial release was trying to expand into the UK in 2011, the UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) took issue with the fact that the group made big claims in their advertisements – but refused to back up those claims with a “body of robust scientific evidence.” The ASA also argued that the myofascial release advertisements broke advertising rules because they put readers’ health at risk by encouraging them to seek alternative therapies instead of conventional treatments.
Ultimately, like many alternative therapies, the effectiveness of myofascial release has not been demonstrated in modern medicine – but that doesn’t necessarily mean that it doesn’t work. If you have experienced muscle pain and stiffness that hasn’t been treated by conventional medication or therapies, then myofascial release is one alternative treatment available today.
Many people also swear by Diatomaceous Earth to help relieve them of muscle pain and stiffness.
