MFR or myofascial release is a specialized manual therapy technique that treats the fascial system in order to repair the body. Our bodies are built with this connective tissue and no two cells touch each other without first going through the fascial web. Fascia is made up of collagen, elastin, and the ground substance. The collagen is made up of three polypeptide bonds that wrap around each other. The elastin is rubberlike and wraps around the collagen. The elastin gives the connective tissue its flexibility. The ground substance is a gel-like substance that surrounds every cell. When we experience trauma, surgery, or inflammation, the fibers become restricted, preventing fluid from travelling through the fascial system. This causes restrictions that affect not just the injured area but also the entire body. It can put up to 2,000 pounds per square inch of pressure on the body. As you can see from fascia man, when one part of his body is injuried, other body parts become restricted as well. This is why, oftentimes, pain in one area is caused by a restriction in a completely different area. This creates a "straight jacket" on the body. No amount of exercise, heat, or traditional stretching will change the straight jacket. The only way is to get rid of the straight jacket is through the fascial system. Until then, the pain will continue to reappear. By taking a whole body approach to the body, myofascial release allows for true healing. At Matrix Therapy, we use the John F Barnes approach to myofascial release. This involves placing pressure on the fascial system for a long period of time, allowing the fascia to release. The term myofascial release is a buzzword and often gets misused. It is often used to refer to foam rolling. Also, many techniques that are called MFR only release the elastin or do not stay with the tissue for a long enough time to release the collagen. To make a permanent change, the collagen must also be released, allowing the ground substance to return to its proper state. By addressing one part of the body, the entire system changes. For more information on JFB myofascial release, you can visit myofascialrelease.com
For images and videos of the fascia, visit http://www.guimberteau-jc-md.com/en/
