Myofascial pain syndrome is a chronic pain disorder that occurs because of increased tightness and sensitivity in your myofascial tissues. These tissues are located throughout your body and support your muscles. Myofascial release therapy is a form of physical therapy that effectively treats this syndrome.
The discomfort caused by myofascial pain syndrome originates from certain areas in your myofascial tissues. These are known as trigger points. Myofascial release therapy reduces pain by alleviating the tightness and tension in the trigger points.
It’s not always clear which trigger point is causing pain, and locating it in a single trigger point can be challenging. This is why myofascial release therapy often takes place over a broad area of tissue, instead of individual specific points.
How does it work?
During your session, your chiropractor will carefully massage the myofascial tissues, searching for tight and stiff areas. Regular myofascial tissues feel elastic and pliable. Tissues affected by myofascial pain syndrome feel rigid when light manual pressure is applied.
When your chiropractor has located the stiff tissues, they’ll massage and stretch them. This helps the muscles to release tightness and pressure, relieving pain and discomfort. Your chiropractor will repeat the massage process on the same trigger point until it has been fully released.
You shouldn’t be surprised if the areas that your chiropractor is focusing on aren’t near where your pain is coming from or where you can feel it most prominently. Myofascial release therapy takes into account a broader network of muscles that could be the cause of your pain. The massage therapy releases your trigger points and reduces tension throughout your whole body.
Parts of the body that are affected
Not every part of your body is susceptible to myofascial pain. The areas that are used the most or remain in a fixed position for long periods of time are most often affected. These include:
- Head
- Jaw
- Neck
- Shoulders
- Arms
- Lower back
- Hips
- Calves
- Quads
- Feet
What to expect
Myofascial release therapy isn’t like a regular massage. You need to attend multiple sessions to properly release the tension and tightness that’s built up in your problem areas.
Each appointment should last 30-50 minutes and should happen daily or every few days. Depending on the severity of your injury, myofascial release therapy should take place over a number of weeks or months.
There isn’t a single set of myofascial release treatments that all chiropractors follow. This type of care is very personal and the various massages and techniques you receive will depend on the location of your trigger points and the severity of your myofascial pain. Different chiropractors also have different preferred methods, so you could see two individual chiropractors and have very different experiences.
Benefits of myofascial release
Attending regular myofascial release therapy sessions can help:
- Reduce muscle soreness
- Increase range of motion
- Improve relaxation
- Enhance your body’s recovery process
- Relieve stress
- Boost circulation
Who is myofascial release therapy for?
People with myofascial pain syndrome get great results from this type of physical therapy. It can also be incredibly effective for people who suffer from chronic headaches. Massaging the tight muscles around the head and neck can often release the tension that causes frequent headaches.
Myofascial release therapy can also be helpful for people with venous insufficiency. This disorder is when blood pools in the deep leg veins and eventually damages them. Venous insufficiency results in aches and pains in the affected leg. When used in conjunction with other treatments, myofascial release therapy can reduce the pooling and pain caused by this disorder.
Additional treatments to consider
Myofascial release therapy can be used as a precursor and complement to other treatments. If you’re considering this kind of physical therapy, you may benefit from these other forms of non-invasive treatment to keep your muscles loose and control your pain:
- Using over-the-counter pain relief, such as ibuprofen
- Applying a heated pad to soothe tight muscles
- Applying an ice pack to calm swollen muscles
- Performing self-stretching exercises at home to increase your range of motion
Finding a myofascial release therapist near you
If you’re fed up with living with pain and think you could benefit from myofascial release therapy, contact your local Veeva chiropractic clinic today. The team of trained chiropractors will be able to advise if myofascial release therapy is the best solution for you or if there’s a better alternative that might give you the results you’re looking for.
We’ve got eight chiropractic locations throughout Oregon and Washington, so there may be one close by. Book your first appointment online or give us a call if you need more info. We’re here to help you every step of the way to returning to a pain-free life.
About the author
Matt has been helping providers within the healthcare setting for over a decade. He realizes how best to solve a patient’s problem by understanding the individualism of each patient. Therefore knowing what their true needs are. To focus on the patient and the “Why” they need their particular service that goes beyond the initial reason for them to seek treatment.
Matt has been with Veeva since 2018. He also has access to over 75 years of combined real-life hands-on experiences from the many doctors within the Veeva Chiropractic landscape.
