Our massage therapists at Balance Orlando have different specializations in working with the fascia, which is the tissue surrounding and separating different layers of muscle, tendons, ligaments and organs.
But what’s the difference between Myofascial Release and other massage techniques?
Most massage as you receive in a spa setting is working directly on the muscles or even just the skin layers. In a clinical setting, with trigger point treatments, spots within the muscle are treated directly. Myofascial work goes BETWEEN the muscles in order to open space and mobility. This way not only the fascia layers can glide effortlessly, also small nerve branches can be freed from impingement. Trigger points don’t release directly because of myofascial work, but more as a side effect, as a result of the newfound freedom of movement.
Results regarding range of motion are often permanent, which is the biggest advantage of myofascial work.
Why try Myofascial Release?
If you haven’t gotten results, or you’ve even gotten worse from deep tissue massage treatments and neuromuscular therapy, try working with myofascial techniques.
Our therapists have studied with Lu and are also experts on more active mobilization techniques.
If you’re not sure what is right for you, schedule our “Consultation & Tryout“.
Here are a few symptoms to look out for:
If your fascia is inflamed, tight, or uneven, you’ll know it. You’ll feel it. Ask yourself if you are experiencing these symptoms:
S – sensitivity: Tender areas are the most easily recognizable symptom.
T – tissue texture change: Tissue texture changes may include edema, fibrosis, atrophy, rigidity, or hypertonicity of musculature.
A – asymmetry: There may be asymmetry in the bones, muscles, or joints.
R – restriction: There may be a “restrictive barrier” related to the musculoskeletal structure in question. The “anatomic barrier” describes how far the arm can be pushed or pulled by an outside force before the arm becomes physically injured.
The mnemonic device “STAR” will help you check in with your body from time to time. For example, an unexplained tender area in your back accompanied by restricted range of motion when you rotate your torso could be a sign of somatic dysfunction. Discuss your symptoms with your therapist before treatment to get the best possible outcome.
Like other massage modalities, Myofascial Release is a form of soft tissue therapy used to treat somatic dysfunction – the impaired or altered function of the musculoskeletal system. This system is made up of the body’s bones, muscles, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, joints, and the fascial web.
Myofascial techniques particularly treat inflammation, fibrosis, and thickening of the connective tissue by releasing the uneven tightness in injured fascia. This is accomplished by relaxing contracted muscles, increasing circulation, increasing venous and lymphatic drainage, and stimulating the stretch reflex of muscles and overlying fascia.
You can expect reliable improvement of range of motion even with just one treatment. That’s why we like offering the “Consultation & Tryout,” so you can feel the difference between our specialized therapists, and find who and what works best for you.
What Do Myofascial Mobilizations feel like?
One of the first things clients notice is that they don’t leave a myofascial treatment greasy and tired. They’re often energized, and eager to move. Because the therapists use slow strokes or even holds while the layers of fascia are being pulled, no oil or lotion is used.
You can imagine slow-motion deep tissue massage. There should NEVER be a sense of burning on the skin or pulling of hair (let your therapist know – in that case, a tiny bit of lotion is helpful), and the treatment feels very deep and comfortable at the same time.
In classic Myofascial Release, after John F. Barnes, we will utilize holds, using a stretching motion and then staying motionless until the tissues release. Clients often get a sense that even their bones move.
Sondra, studied with Lu Mueller-Kaul in using Myofascial Mobilization techniques, which are ideal for quick fixes.
At Balance Orlando, we learned that prioritizing goal-oriented myofascial work helps our clients get out of pain and tension the most quickly and reliably.
Since resolving pain is our mission, we’re proud to have so many highly-skilled therapists.
Sondra Warner (our owner) herself is an expert on chronic pain and happy to give phone consultations for these difficult conditions, and she continues to mentor and train the therapists at Balance Orlando.
Her recommendation is to try different approaches, and not triggering the pain during the first treatments. Go with what works, and find a schedule that will not let you fall back to where you started—ideal is getting treatments once a week or even more often for the first 3-4 sessions, and then spacing them further out. Results often last a few days in the beginning, but as your body and mind hold the changes more reliably, you’ll see that you do well with two or three weeks between sessions.
We like to help our clients become independent of ongoing treatments.
That might sound as if it’s not good for business—but our clients who haven’t visited for several years still refer new clients to us, so we have the amazing opportunity to help more and more people to get out of pain instead of always working with the same clientele.
Myofascial massage techniques are aimed at resolving problems, not just managing them constantly. What delights us the most is receiving referrals from clients who said “I only had to get one treatment and I felt wonderful!”
Call (407) 704-8867 to schedule with one of our many therapists who utilize myofascial massage.
You can also use www.balanceorlandoschedule.info as a direct link to our scheduling system, or the MindBody app (look for Balance Orlando and our logo with the red spine).