Myofascial Release – Delray Beach, FL
Non-Invasive Relief from Chronic Muscle Pain
Millions of individuals throughout the U.S. struggle with muscle pain, back pain, and other musculoskeletal symptoms. Here at the Institute for Non-Surgical Orthopedics in Delray Beach, our goal is to help such people find lasting relief. One of the ways in which we do that is through a treatment known as myofascial release. Read on below to learn how this form of osteopathic manipulative treatment has the potential to provide non-invasive relief from chronic muscle pain.
Why Choose the Institute for Non-Surgical Orthopedics for Myofascial Release?
- Treatment Performed by Highly Trained Experts
- Pain Relief Plans Tailored to Each Unique Patient
- Suitable for Many Conditions and Types of Patients
What Is Myofascial Release?
Myofascial release is a type of osteopathic manipulative treatment. Because it is sometimes performed by care providers other than osteopathic physicians, it may also be referred to as a form of therapeutic massage.
Myofascial release focuses on treating the myofascial tissues, which support and surround the muscles throughout the body. The tissues have trigger points, which are hyperirritable areas that can cause significant pain and discomfort when they are too taut. During a myofascial release session, these points are massaged with the goal of releasing tension and promoting pain-free muscle movements.
What Can Myofascial Release Treat?
Myofascial release is suitable for addressing a wide range of conditions that affect how the muscles function. It is particularly useful for relieving the discomfort caused by myofascial pain syndrome, which occurs when a stimulus (muscle injuries, for example) induces tightness in the muscles.
We often recommend myofascial release to individuals who are suffering from overuse injuries, sports injuries, and other conditions that can cause the development of painful trigger points.
If you are wondering whether myofascial release is right for you, schedule a consultation with our team. We often include this therapy as part of a comprehensive treatment plan that is designed to help you move your body without pain.
What to Expect During Myofascial Release
Although the word “massage” might conjure up images of intense relaxation, it is important to keep in mind that therapeutic massages often cause a degree of temporary discomfort. After all, it involves applying strong and continuous pressure to tissues that must be encouraged to relax. However, the overall experience should feel rather good.
Also, please note that trigger points can sometimes cause referred pain, meaning that it may take a bit of time to locate the exact trigger points that are responsible for your symptoms. We may have to massage various parts of your body, including those that are not close to the areas that hurt most, in order to help you find relief.
A myofascial release session usually takes 30 – 60 minutes. Afterward, you may feel a bit of soreness. Some patients even feel nausea and lightheadedness. Try to arrange your schedule so you can get plenty of rest following your appointment.
Most patients require multiple myofascial release sessions before they experience optimum pain relief.
Myofascial Release FAQs
Since myofascial release therapy is somewhat uncommon, many patients have questions about it. Are you eager to learn more about it? Of course, you are welcome to call us with any questions that you may have. We also invite you to glance through the following list of myofascial release FAQs. You might learn something that could help you decide whether you want to book a consultation with our team!
What Is Fascia?
The word “myofascial” consists of two parts. “Myo” refers to your muscles, while “fascial” refers to the connective tissues around the muscles. During myofascial release, your care provider focuses on treating the fascia with the goal of benefiting your muscles.
You can think of the fascia sort of like a spiderweb. It is a network of tissues that goes from the top of your head all the way to the tips of your toes. When it is healthy, it is very flexible and allows your muscles to move without restriction. When trauma causes it to lose some of its flexibility, you end up with painful trigger points and may need to pursue myofascial release therapy.
Will Myofascial Release Cause My Symptoms to Worsen?
Some patients notice a temporary increase in pain as a result of myofascial therapy. This can rightly be referred to as a “healing crisis.” Essentially, this means that before the treatment, you learned to ignore your pain so you could get through your daily activities. Myofascial release can make you more aware of existing problems within your body.
Your symptoms might also increase as the therapy reaches deep layers of restrictions within your body.
Remember, myofascial therapy is very low-risk; it will not actually worsen your injuries! In fact, it is known to have far-reaching benefits.
How Is Myofascial Release Performed?
Myofascial release starts with an evaluation. Your therapist will learn about your symptoms and try to pinpoint where the pain is coming from. This can involve a visual exam that looks for imbalances and asymmetries, as well as tissue mobilization and fluidity. Then, they will start to apply sustained pressure to trigger points. Your verbal feedback, as well as non-verbal cues, will guide your therapist and help them determine how much force to use, the direction in which they should stretch your tissues, and how long they should perform the stretches.
Does Medical Insurance Cover Myofascial Release?
Myofascial release is widely accepted as a treatment that can help with stiff muscles and other aches and pains. Therefore, many insurance companies classify it as a form of physical therapy and are willing to help pay for it.
Our team accepts most medical insurance policies, so we invite you to contact us to learn more about how you can use your benefits in our practice.
Does Myofascial Release Therapy Hurt?
For the most part, myofascial release is gentle. Some patients even fall asleep during their treatment! However, there may be times when this therapy causes soreness. Increased blood flow to the treatment area may make you more aware of how it feels, which can shine a spotlight on pre-existing discomfort.
Be sure to tell our team about any particularly sore areas. This can alert us to places that may need extra attention during your sessions.
One thing you can do to minimize post-treatment soreness is simply drink a lot of water. This helps to flush out toxins and encourages head-to-toe wellness.
How Does Myofascial Release Help to Improve Flexibility and Muscle Function?
After we release your fascia, you can expect your tissues to experience improved elasticity and less restriction. You may notice that you are able to move more easily and fluidly! An improved range of motion may also result.
Additionally, myofascial release may play an important role in reducing inflammation and encouraging the healing of damaged tissues, which may help to reduce scarring and enhance joint mobility.
Who Can Benefit from Myofascial Release?
Myofascial release may be beneficial for almost anyone who is looking to enjoy improved muscle health, better circulation, and even better posture. It may be used as part of a treatment plan for scoliosis, neurological dysfunction, tension headaches, head injuries, constipation, joint pain, limited joint mobility, back pain, dizziness, whiplash, and more.
To find out if it might help you to feel better, visit our team for a personalized consultation.
Who Is Qualified to Perform Myofascial Release Therapy?
Essentially, any healthcare practitioner with the appropriate training is qualified to perform myofascial release therapy. For example, osteopathic physicians often provide it as a form of osteopathic manipulative therapy (OMT). Many chiropractors also incorporate it into their practice. Physical therapists, sports medicine therapists, and occupational therapists may offer it as well.
If you have questions about whom you should trust to perform your treatment, look at their reviews and experience. Our team offers myofascial release and many other treatments, so we can help you to take advantage of an integrated treatment plan that aims for maximum results.
What Should I Wear During Myofascial Release?
For our team to work effectively, it is best if we can see and touch the parts of your body where we are working. Men are encouraged to wear loose-fitting shorts, while women should wear loose-fitting shorts along with a bra or sports bra.
