Thanks Lorie. Your explanation of MFR was much more elegant than my description of a helpful massage, although I think my masseuse was practicing MFR. At one point, he said he could "feel" when he had created some separation between my rhomboid muscles and my shoulder blade (scapula).

You also raise a good point about why MFR is needed in the first place. Over time, and without adequate stretching or massage, muscles accumulate lactic acid (the by-product of exercise or any exertion, really). Lactic acid has been explained to me as being like Elmer's Glue - sticky, nasty stuff that glues muscle fibers together, and glues muscles to bones.

Because this happens over time, we are scarcely aware of how it affects us. In my case, my rhomboid muscle got tight and painful when I laid down on one side. I just stumbled on a gifted masseuse who did provide some relief.

Thanks again for your explanation. And if anyone reading this does get either an MFR treatment, or even a good, hard deep-tissue massage, drink a lot of water after because a lot of lactic acid is freed up and has to be flushed from the body. And if you can afford it, get this treatment once or twice a month to literally keep things moving.

Joe