Lauradonna Manno, DPT
Myofascial release is a safe and effective hands-on technique that
involves applying gentle sustained pressure into the Myofascial connective
tissue restrictions to eliminate pain and restore motion. This essential “time
element” allows a viscous flow and the piezoelectric phenomenon: gentle
pressure applied slowly will allow a viscoelastic fascia to elongate.
Fascia is very densely woven, covering and interpenetrating
every muscle, bone, nerve, artery and vein, as well as, all of our internal
organs including the heart, lungs, brain and spinal cord.
Swedish Massage can be a variety of techniques specifically designed to relax muscles by applying pressure to them against deeper muscles and bones,
and rubbing in the same direction as the flow of blood returning to the heart.
A study of 12 participants, 8
receiving myofascial release treatment by a licensed physical therapist and 4
participants receiving a Swedish massage by a licensed therapist. Each treatment was 90 minutes long, 1 time per week for 4 weeks to the neck, back, legs, and arms.
After treatment each group
completing the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire Revised (FIQ-R) and the
modified Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire.
They each showed improvement however the myofascial release group had
higher scores on the questionnaires.
Reference:
1. A pilot study of
myofascial release therapy compared to Swedish massage in
Fibromyalgia Liptan G,
Mist S, Wright C, Arzt A, Jones KD
2. John F. Barnes’
Myofascial Release Approach
