December 3, 2021

Benefits of Myofascial Release: Is it Muscle Pain or Your Fascia? What’s the buzz around fascia and the benefits of myofascial release? And what’s the difference between myofascial release vs deep tissue massages you’re used to booking? To answer that, we must start with what fascia really is and why it plays such a significant role in how we feel. Fast Facts: What is MRT (Myofascial Release Therapy)? Fascia contains about ⅓ of the body’s fluid, and it protects, lubricates and assists in remodeling of our injured tissues. Ever feel like your aches and pains just don’t go away? You have persistent, targeted pain that feels like knots. The area is consistently tender, tight, and maybe even limits your range of motion. If that’s the case, you might need MRT. Myofascial Release Therapy (MRT) is a massage specialty that relieves pain, sensitivity, and tension in the connective tissue surrounding muscles, bones, organs, and nerves. This tissue is called “fascia.” MRT uses continuous, gentle pressure to break up or “release” fascia. As a result, the benefits of myofascial release ease stiffness and improve mobility. BOOK MRT IN BOCA RATON Why More & More People Are Talking About Fascia Therapy Years ago, the medical establishment generally agreed that fascia is just a thin, unimportant connective tissue that covers all muscles and organs. However, over the last few years, groundbreaking research has revealed much new information about it. Now, we know what fascia really is and how it moves and functions. All this buzz has brought more attention to fascia and the benefits of myofascial release. A healthy fascia can significantly ease our aches and pains. When fascia is in good shape, it: What is Fascia? Fascia is a continuous, 3D mechano-metabolic structure. Basically, that means it’s an active, body-wide support system that shapes, wraps, penetrates, connects, divides, absorbs force, and communicates across your entire body. Facts About Fascia Fascia Layers: Superficial, Deep, and Visceral Fascia is made up of a few layers: Superficial, deep, and visceral. Each layer serves a different function in the body. These layers work together to support movement, protect internal structures, and connect tissues from head to toe. 1. Superficial Fascia: The Surface Connector Located directly underneath adipose tissue (fat) under the skin, this superficial fascia layer is what separates our skin from our muscles. It acts as a passageway and contains blood vessels, lymph vessels, and nerve endings. With its viscoelastic properties, superficial fascia also plays a key role in defining the shape of our bodies. 2. Deep Fascia: The Protective Wrapper This layer surrounds joints, muscles, bones, blood vessels, nerves, and more. It’s full of sensory receptors that regulate muscle tension and length. These receptors also detect and report the presence of pain. Common examples of deep fascia include the plantar fascia and lumbosacral fascia. 3. Visceral (Parietal) Fascia: The Organ Support System The visceral layer covers, supports, and suspends the organs within their cavities. It holds your organs in place, like the lungs (pleura), heart (pericardium), abdomen (peritoneum), and brain and spinal cord (meninges). What is Fascia Made Of? Fascia consists of three key components that give it strength, flexibility, and the ability to protect and support the body’s tissues. The benefits of myofascial release differ from those of deep tissue massage because it uniquely works through these layers. 1. Collagen Collagen fibers are made of long molecules built from three polypeptide chains. These tough, white fibers are stronger than steel! Collagen gives our tissues structure, resilience, and strength. It is produced by the fibroblasts contained within the fascia. 2. Elastin Elastin fibers give fascia its stretch and ability to absorb shock. These rubber-like fibers are found in muscles, ligaments, and tendons. They allow tissues to return to their shape after movement. 3. Ground Substance Think of this like the WD-40 for our body. This viscous, gel-like, transparent fluid fills the spaces between cells and fibers in fascia. It’s a mucopolysaccharide consisting mostly of Hyaluronic Acid (HA) and proteoglycans. HA is what’s used in dermal fillers to restore facial volume. Ground substance lubricates everything by attracting water. As a result, our tissues can slide and glide over each other, allowing us to move our joints and skin freely. The Link Between Fascia, Aging, and Everyday Aches Overall, fascia adhesions and problems often lead to: Is the pain you’re experiencing tied back to your fascia? Let’s look at the science. Fascia Stiffens with Age, Injury, & Sedentary Lifestyles As we age, become sedentary, or recover from injuries and surgeries, our tissues tend to stiffen. They become stickier, gooey, and more adhesive, losing the ability to slide and glide freely. This is because collagen fibers begin to cross-link and bond to themselves. As the adjacent fascia sticks, it can pull neighboring tissues along with them. The stiffer these tissues get, the more we lose range of motion — and the more discomfort we feel. Movements also become less energy-efficient, which can leave us feeling fatigued. Fascia Can Harden and Dry Up with Time The ground substance in fascia — the smooth, lubricating gel that helps tissues glide — can change over time. With age, injury, or surgery, it may harden and dry out, contributing to even more tightness and restriction. Benefits of Myofascial Release: How to Release Fascia with MRT Myofascial Release Therapy works by softening the tissues. The continuous pressure and motion gently break up the cross-linkage of the collagen fibers and remove fascia adhesions. Gentle Stretching Reaches the Elastic Barrier Your therapist uses gentle compression and targeted stretching to reach the elastic barrier. This skilled touch initiates the process of releasing tension within the fascia. Body Heat Softens Ground Substance As the stretch continues, it reaches the collagenous barrier. Finally, with time and body heat, your body triggers a bio-electric (piezoelectric) response within the fascia. This softens the ground substance and restores its viscosity, allowing tissues to stretch and move more freely. It also helps improve nutrient exchange and remove cellular waste. Sustained Pressure