There is an aspect of physical therapy that may surprise you. It is called myofascial therapy. Not every practice offers this, but it is a Core PT specialty. We have seen firsthand the improvement in healing and pain from patients who have chosen myofascial release therapy (MFR). Here are some proven ways that MFR can help treat common pains.
What is Myofascial Release Therapy?
It is a gentle, sustained pressure onto the myofascial connective tissue. The fascia is the connective tissue that surrounds bones, muscles, nerves, organs and blood vessels. The goal of this therapy is to eliminate pain and restore movement to tense and tight muscles.
Back Pain
Pain in the lower back is very common among patients. Your therapist will feel your back in different areas to determine which areas are tight. Without oils or creams, they will focus sustained pressure on the back. Surprisingly, it may not be in the area where you think the pain is originating. Often times, the therapist can spot out the problem area that you didn’t know about. Your therapist will apply gentle pressure as the muscle releases, so this should not cause pain as a typical massage would. It can also aid your posture by encouraging proper postural alignment.
Fibromyalgia
If you or someone you love has fibromyalgia, MFR can relieve pain with your commitment to sessions. Pain from fibromyalgia is being found to be directly related to the fascia. It can help lower overall pain levels, fatigue and improve range of motion.
Neck Pain
Whether it’s a degenerative disc disease or injury from an accident, MFR is gentle enough to confront your pain without hurting you. It will speed up recovery due to the increased blood flow to the affected area. It can help to prevent further injury as well as reduce or completely eliminate headaches. It does this by removing the tension in the cervical region of the spine that is a common trigger point for headaches and migraines.
Common Athletic Aches
If you’re an athlete, you may find yourself being in pain from time to time. A great way to recover your muscles is with MFR. With all of the time that you put into training, what you don’t need is lengthened recovery time. If you are a basketball player, your treatment may focus on the neck and shoulders where inflammation is likely to be.
Contact us to schedule an appointment for your myofascial therapy. In the state of Iowa, most insurance companies don’t require that you have a doctor’s note to see a physical therapist, so feel free to reach out to us today!