Myofascial Release
What is Fascia?
Fascia is our connective tissue. This tissue spreads throughout the body in a three dimensional web from head to foot without interruption. The fascia surrounds every muscle, bone, nerve, blood vessel and organ in the body (all the way down to our cells).
Trauma (including surgery), posture, repetitive stress or motion and inflammation will cause the fascial tissue to become restricted, in turn putting pressure on pain sensitive structures (such as nerves, vessels muscles, bones and organs). Fascial restrictions can exert pressure of up to 2000lbs per square inch on these structures causing pain and decreasing range of motion.
Standard testing (such as x-ray, ultrasound, MRI, CAT scan, etc...) cannot detect myofascial restrictions. So if your Doctor has ruled out any major ailments and you are still left with unexplained pain and reduced movement, it may be time to explore your fascial system.
How Can We Free-Up The Fascia?
Using the John Barnes approach to Myofascial Release, we use gentle sustained pressure (or traction) on the restricted areas of the body. This gentle pressure is held for at least 5 minutes and is never forced. The tissues will begin to soften and more movement will be felt throughout the release.
In this picture, it looks like there is space within the fascial web. This part of the fascial system is the ground substance (or extracellular matrix).
"The fascial system and it's ground substance are the main transport medium of our body. Therefore, no matter what food you may ingest, it does not become nutrition until it enters the cells. Hydration does not occur when water goes down our throat, but only when it is capable of entering the cell. If the fascial ground substance has solidified, then all of the nutrition, oxygen, fluid, biochemistry, hormones, information and energy that are needed by our cells cannot be absorbed." (Quote from Healing Ancient Wounds by John F Barnes)
This is why Fascia matters!
I was a guest on this podcast (Nov 2021).
Here we talk about Myofascial Release.
https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/doors-of-perception/id1587641303
Visceral Manipulation
"Visceral Manipulation (VM) was developed by renowned French Osteopath and Physical Therapist, Jean-Pierre Barral. Through organ-specific fascial mobilization, VM assists functional and structural imbalances throughout the body including musculoskeletal, vascular, nervous, urogenital, respiratory, digestive and lymphatic dysfunction. It evaluates and treats the dynamics of motion and suspension in relation to organs, membranes, fascia, and ligaments. VM increases proprioceptive communication within the body, thereby revitalizing a person and relieving symptoms of pain, dysfunction, and poor posture." (Taken from www.barralinstitute.com)
Image courtesy of Rob Crampton