Northside Myofascial-Release

01/11/2022

01/11/2022

This is Windsor Reach, Ron's daughter. I regret to inform all of Ron's clients and professional contacts that my father passed peacefully in his sleep from sudden cardiac arrest October 10, 2022.

He was a pillar of the Myofascial Release community here in Atlanta, and will be greatly missed. My father took his work very seriously, and if he were still with us today I know he would want to thank you all for entrusting him with your care. He lived to spark joy in others, and to help people find their own path to healing.

Several of you have reached out to me personally to let me know how much he helped you, and how much he cared, and I truly appreciate hearing from you all. 💓🙏💓

Obituary linked below:

https://www.georgiafuneralcare.com/obituaries-for-georgia-funeral-care-and-cremation-services/blogauthor2/ronald-reach-acworth-ga-funeral-homes

Ronald Edward Reach passed peacefully from this life at his home in Marietta, Georgia on October 10, 2022. He was 55 years old. He is survived by his beloved daughter Kathryn Windsor Reach, his mother...

09/01/2022

The profoundly important psoas muscle! Myofascial-Release is the *best* therapy to treat this area... Gently and effectively.

Tucked deep in your hips and lower back, the psoas muscle won't get you any compliments at the beach—but keeping it strong and flexible is crucial to keeping your body feeling good.

06/12/2021

Northside Myofascial has been included on this list of "30 Best Atlanta Massage Therapists" by Expertise.com!!! So grateful to do this work over the past 15 years, and to have the opportunity to help my fellow "Atlantans" remain pain-free! Onward.... Much Gratitude! 🙏

Find and connect with Atlanta's best Massage Therapists. Hand picked by an independent editorial team and updated for 2021.

14/04/2021

The following link provides a list of some very excellent teachers on YouTube that offer free full classes of Yin Yoga.

For beginners, you want to pick a class that says beginners or “restorative.” Find a teacher that resonates with you, and then DO IT!

Also, you may want to read up on Yin Yoga or use books instead of videos.

(It helps to do both.)

Click this link for access to some excellent Yin Yoga on YouTube: https://blog.feedspot.com/yin_yoga_youtube_channels/

Click this link to read the entire blog post about Myofascial Self-Treatment with Stretching: https://myofascialreleaseatlanta.com/blog/f/how-to-perform-myofascial-release-at-home-using-stretching

12/04/2021

Myofascial Stretching

This is simply a term that I’ve chosen to use for sustained, passive stretching.

Whereas resistance stretching is an active stretch, myofascial stretching is the opposite, and the entire goal is to fully release and LET GO.

Without a doubt, the best and most accessible system to achieve this is Yin Yoga.

Unlike active forms of yoga-like Vinyasa, yin is very slow, meditative, and done from primarily a seated position.

This is an ideal form of yoga to unwind, fully relax, and begin to rehabilitate.

The teacher will often ask you to hold a stretch for four minutes or longer.

Sustained stretching is what identifies this type of stretch as myofascial stretching because as with myofascial release, sustained states of tension create a deep and profound change in the nervous system and allow the body to gently adapt itself to a positive change.

Also, sustained stretching of this nature will stretch the ligaments and joints, which is so very important to the rehabilitation of injured muscles.

Yin Yoga classes are abundant on YouTube, and in my blog linked below, I provide a few links.

One link provides a list of some very excellent teachers on YouTube that offer free full classes of Yin Yoga. Click below to access.
https://myofascialreleaseatlanta.com/blog/f/how-to-perform-myofascial-release-at-home-using-stretching

09/04/2021

For Resistance Stretching you will need a special resistance strap to do this type of stretching.

(I do NOT recommend trying these stretches with rehab bands. Resistance stretching does not use resistance bands.)

These specialized static straps are an excellent addition to your fascial tools arsenal.

They are made with multiple loops to provide many options for your hands to hold onto the strap.

Several are available in the market, but the “original” is called the “OPTP Stretch Strap”.

My preference, however, is the first version listed, which is made of nylon seatbelt material.

It’s virtually indestructible, comes in a variety of colors, and will last you forever!

I have sold both from my office and believe they are both excellent, and on my blog, I provide a link to both.

In addition, you will find a couple of excellent books on resistance stretching on my blog.

For instruction, there are many qualified exercise professionals on YouTube that can teach you to do this type of stretching. Most are physical therapists or personal trainers, and on my blog (the link is below), I provide a few to get you started.
https://myofascialreleaseatlanta.com/blog/f/how-to-perform-myofascial-release-at-home-using-stretching

08/04/2021

Resistance Stretching

This form of stretching has been around for many years but has been predominately practiced by the patients of physical therapists.

In other words, they have existed in the past as assistant stretches, but it is quite easy to attend this type of stretching on your own.

Also known as proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF), or Isometric stretching, this type of stretching brings a muscle or limb to its range of motion and then resists in the opposite direction.

This motion causes the muscle fibers to stretch internally and also strengthens at the same time.

This is an excellent way to rehabilitate a weak muscle, as it requires a very limited range of motion, and it is impossible to push the muscle past its ability.

Often, people go into the gym to rehabilitate their muscles with weights and push themselves past their current limitations, causing the injury or weak muscle to get even worse.

Resistance stretching eliminates this risk.

For a link to my favorite resistance band, click the link below.
https://myofascialreleaseatlanta.com/blog/f/how-to-perform-myofascial-release-at-home-using-stretching

02/04/2021

Myofascial Self-Treatment Part 2: Stretching

In addition to the use of tools for self-treatment, you must also incorporate unique and varied forms of stretching.

Most people have no idea about how to stretch and are still doing the same type of stretching they learned in middle school gym class.

Doing the hurdlers stretch and a couple of side bends as a warmup is fine – but it’s frightful to an aggressive, bouncy style stretch!

Trust me when I say this type of stretching doesn’t work, and it can cause you more damage than good.

There are far better ways to stretch!

Finish reading about stretching on the blog today using the link below.
https://myofascialreleaseatlanta.com/blog

31/03/2021

There are so many tools in the market nowadays, it’s overwhelming.

I have purchased and tried many of these tools over the years, and some of them are very valuable and effective.

But there is one tool that I love, and I’d like to share that with you now.

It’s called a THUMBBY. (Stupid name, phenomenal tool.)

It’s a little pricier than most treatment balls, but then again, it does things the other tools can’t do!

Worth every penny.

The Thumbby is a cone made of silicone. This provides a very nice surface and a gentle point for very specific pressure. In addition, the bottom of the cone is concave, helping it sticks to the wall. This can be extremely convenient if you’re trying to get to a particular spot in your shoulder, or on your hip flexors, glutes, etc.

It does many other tricks and can be used for multiple self-treatment applications.

There are too many questions to go into here but ask me how the THUMBBY can be used to treat your particular issue and I will oblige.

I occasionally keep them in stock in the office but click here to purchase online at your convenience.

Don’t forget to come back for part two in a few days to learn all about myofascial stretching.

Talk soon,
Ron Reach, LMT
To read this article in full, click this link: https://myofascialreleaseatlanta.com/blog/f/how-to-perform-myofascial-release-at-home-using-the-right-tools

30/03/2021

Last week, I introduced massage balls as a form of myofascial self-treatment.

Today, I want to teach you how to use them.

As I mentioned, there is no shortage in variety of massage balls on the market.

I know you’re thinking, “What am I supposed to do with these balls? Just roll around on ‘em?”

This is the concern from 9 out of 10 people who come to my office asking the very same question.

So let me guide you through properly using a massage ball in myofascial self-treatment.

Lay on the floor & briefly roll around on the ball until you find a “spot”, a tender or painful place where pressure might benefit the facilitation of the tissue and nerves in that area.

(After I’ve worked on you, you’ll be very familiar with where some of the spots maybe!)

Once you find "the spot"… MELT INTO THE BALL.

That’s right, just take a deep breath, sink into it, and allow gravity to do its work. Now, LET GO.

You don’t want the intensity to be through the roof; you want to feel it, but only to a tolerable degree.

And I’m not talking about “No pain, no gain.”

In fact, being aggressive with these tools can increase the pain.

You just want to calmly relax into it, take a deep breath, and melt.

If the intensity of the ball is too much, you won’t be able to relax into it.

This may be remedied by trying an “easier” ball or moving to a softer surface.

Should a massage ball not satisfy your needs, there are other tools to consider.

Click through to continue reading about them now...
https://myofascialreleaseatlanta.com/blog/f/how-to-perform-myofascial-release-at-home-using-the-right-tools
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Myofascial Self-Treatment, Part 1: Tools

26/03/2021

This week, I introduced the three main types of fascial self-treatment:
1. The use of tools.
2. The use of resistance (proprioceptive) stretching.
3. The use of myofascial stretching.

We started diving into the use of tools, and I covered some facts about foam rollers.

Today, we're going to start the conversation about Massage Balls.

Maybe you've used the old tennis ball?

For ages, people have been using this for pain relief. But there are so many better tools on the market now, it’s probably best to save your tennis balls for tennis, or to play fetch with Fido.

I don’t like tennis balls for myofascial self-treatment because, first, it’s covered with felt. Felt is slippery! Therefore, it doesn’t have a good grip.

And for this reason, I far prefer rubber as an ideal material for a myofascial treatment tool. Secondly, tennis balls are hollow, and therefore don’t have much density.

There is a great selection of treatment balls on the market. Some of them are quite expensive, but I’m here to reassure you, you don’t need to spend a lot of money on these tools.

If you know what to look for effective treatment balls can be purchased very inexpensively and come in many different sizes and densities.

As a general rule, the smaller the ball, the more intense it is.

For gentler pressure, you can use a larger ball.

And of course, the harder the ball, the more intense the pressure it provides.

There are three balls that I have promoted throughout the years, and I make them available for purchase in my office. They are:

- A lacrosse ball
- A rubber baseball
- A 4-inch inflatable ball

Lacrosse Massage Balls - I find these three balls, provided in a variety of textures and sizes, can facilitate just about any kind of pressure needed.

As you progress, you may want to explore other types of balls.

As I mentioned, there is no shortage of a variety of massage balls on the market. And in my latest blog, I provided links to a few and give you directions for using a massage ball safely and effectively.

Read the rest of this article by following the link in the comments below.

24/03/2021

Introducing three main types of fascial self-treatment.

1. The use of tools.
2. The use of resistance (proprioceptive) stretching.
3. The use of myofascial stretching.

There are many resources available to explore these subjects, and I've included links throughout the attached blog to help you explore these topics further.

Be aware of what is available for an idea of what can be accomplished if you take some time out of your day to make these activities part of your daily routine.

Today, let's talk about foam rollers as the first tool to support myofascial-release self-treatment.

This is the old standby, which can be found in any gym or physical therapy office. It’s generally overused and can cause harm when used on the IT band in an aggressive way.

(In the blog link below, you can visit a linked video to learn what to do about IT Band pain and discomfort.)

That being said, the foam roller can be quite effective for pain relief when used properly, utilizing sustained myofascial pressure.

I have tried dozens of different foam rollers over the years, and the one that I keep returning to and that I encourage my clients to purchase is called the Rollga (linked in the blog below).

I like this roller because you can roll the spine without putting direct pressure on the vertebrae.

The curves of this roller help to “hook on” if using it to treat the rotator cuff or areas around the rib cage.

It is available in three basic densities.

The white is the softest and I recommend it’s for people that are in constant pain or tend to be very delicate as far as pressure.

On the other end of the spectrum, I recommend the black one only for those who are very muscular and require intense pressure.

The middle density is the most common, and the one I use most often. These are the colored rollers and they come in several different varieties.

What questions do you have about foam rollers? Leave them in the comments for my professional opinion.

Click the link provided in the comments to read the full blog.

19/03/2021

Are you seeking to lead a pain-free lifestyle?

Most people who come see me for treatment are looking for something more in terms of pain relief.

They’ve looked everywhere else… tried multiple types of therapy, chiropractic, acupuncture, physical therapy, etc. And still, they are in pain.

Quite often, I’m able to help them!

But receiving Myofascial treatments is only part of the solution.

The other part… is up to you.

There are many ways we can maintain our fasciae at home, quickly and easily, empowering us to reduce our own pain, increase our mobility, and maintain a pain-free lifestyle.

“Doing your homework” is a very important element to your myofascial treatments and recovery and will keep you advancing and healing from session to session.

There are many effective ways to accomplish this.

Today, we will talk about the use of tools.

Click here for more...

https://myofascialreleaseatlanta.com/blog

17/03/2021

The following is a shortlist of several sports/physical activities, and a few common associated injuries for each. All of these injuries can be effectively treated with myofascial-release therapy:

- Running/jogging: Chronic inflammation of the gluteus medius, lower back pain, shin splint, calf, and foot pain.
- Tennis: IT-band pain, hip flexor pain, knee problems, tennis elbow, and shoulder joint issues.
- Golf: Wrist and elbow pain and external oblique/psoas pain.
- Basketball: Knee and calf issues, and back pain.
- Baseball: Rotator cuff sprains, elbow and wrist pain, quadricep pain, and hip pain.
- Swimming: Latissimus inflammation, shoulder joint issues, Trapezius pain, glutes/piriformis issues, and ankle pain.
- Soccer: Psoas and hip flexor issues, knee injuries, and tender or sprained ankles.

Of course, a complete list would be much longer; but this will give insight into how sports affect specific areas, generally speaking.

Since these issues tend to be chronic and will return without an active maintenance plan, myofascial- release can also be used as a preventive measure to keep you in top performance shape.

Click here to learn about specific treatment techniques: https://myofascialreleaseatlanta.com/blog/f/sports-injuries-and-myofascial-release

15/03/2021

Myofascial-release can be the solution to healing these issues, as it pinpoints these restrictions in the nerve pathways, and restores their functionality using gentle, deep sustained pressure.

Through a series of hands-on sessions, the inflammation and pain are reduced, allowing the muscles to function again - pain-free, freeing the nerve pathways from restriction, and restoring the range of motion. And most important… getting you back “in the game”!

I’ve had many athletes contact me over the years asking the same question: “I’ve tried EVERYTHING to treat this issue (chiropractic, physical therapy, acupuncture, dry needling, massage, etc.) and nothing seems to have helped it to any significant degree! How is what you do any different?”

This is an excellent question, and the answer is quite simple: None of these techniques are designed to move the connective tissue and open up the nerve pathways that allow true freedom from pain and restore the range of motion.

The other techniques are effective to some degree and for certain issues, but none of them specifically address the connective tissue like Myofascial-Release Therapy.

Read more for a shortlist of several sports/physical activities, and a few common associated injuries for each >> https://myofascialreleaseatlanta.com/blog/f/sports-injuries-and-myofascial-release