Carlisle, PA | Shermans Dale, PA Massage Therapy

Spring Road Wellness & Chiropractic Center

Massage Therapy / Myofascial Release

Massage Therapy

Massage is an extremely effective technique for improving muscular function and healing. Muscular tension and spasm are often associated with soft tissue injuries. Muscular tension can result from a number of reasons, including but not limited to:

• Overuse - related to repetitive activities and / or sustained stress, especially related to posture including prolonged sitting and / or standing activity
• Reflexive - related to an attempt to help stabilize a local injured region; i.e. pain results in muscle spasm in an effort to guard or protect painful region ( pain - spasm - pain cycle )
• Traumatic - direct injury to muscle tissue
• Stress - increased emotional, physical stress can result in increased muscular tension
• Pathology - numerous pathological conditions can result in or be related to muscular tension ( i.e. stroke, cerebral palsy, fibromyalgia, tension headaches, etc. )

Once muscle tension/ spasm occurs it can result in a number of problems, which will result in symptoms ( pain, tension, discomfort ), including:

• Compression of nerves - muscle tension can compress nerves which run between and alongside muscles, which can sometimes result in increased pain
• Poor circulation - muscle tension can constrict blood vessels, slowing blood supply to an area, decreasing healing ability and increasing pain.
• Trigger points - focal points ( foci ) of tense muscles that can become very painful, especially with pressure applied over them, can also refer to distal regions
• Pain - spasm - pain cycle - phenomena created by either pain or spasm in a muscle, resulting in a vicious cycle ( continuous loop ). For example, pain results in muscle tension, which results in more pain from increased tension, which causes further muscle tension, this cycle continues to repeat itself until something breaks the cycle, often massage.

Massage has its effectiveness through numerous therapeutic benefits, including:

• Muscle relaxation
• Pain relief
• Improved circulation
• General relaxation
• Relieving stress / anxiety

Myofascial Release

Myofascial release is a specific form of manual therapy, which focuses on fascial tissue. Fascia is a connective tissue membrane on the outside of muscles that helps to keep muscles tightly contained. When muscles tense or spasm over an extended period of time, fascia will shorten in response to the tight muscle. As fascia shortens, it can also form adhesions between it and muscle tissue. Unfortunately, fascia is not as elastic or flexible as muscle tissue and it is more resistant to being stretched or loosened up once it becomes shortened. As a result of its resistance to being stretched, it can cause muscle tension to become more chronic, long term as a result of the muscle becoming bound by the fascia. Fascial restriction is commonly associated with:

• Muscular pain
• Decreased mobility
• Decresed flexibility

Myofascial release is a manual therapy that focuses on restoring proper length and releasing fascial tissue, once it becomes shortened in response to muscle tension or spasm. It is a therapy similar to massage, however as massage focuses primarily on muscle, myofascial release focuses primarily on fascia. Myofascial release utilizes gentle sustained pressure over regions of shortened fascia and fascial adhesions to help eliminate pain and restore proper motion.

Our therapists at Spring Road Wellness & Chiropractic Center are certified in Myofascial Release Therapy. For more information, please visit: www.myofascialrelease.com.

Contact Spring Road Wellness & Chiropractic Center today at 717-241-WELL (9355) to make an appointment for our massage therapy services.