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Myofascial Release Therapy (MFR) for treating compression and pain

Posted by Jennifer, Volunteer Mentor @jenniferhunter, Feb 15, 2019

What is Myofascial Release (MFR therapy)? How can it relieve pain? Let's discuss how MFR has improved our health and reduced pain and share articles about how MFR works. MFR helps so many different conditions that have compressed tissues, and entrapped blood vessels and nerves. The time to avoid MFR treatment would be if a person has cancer, because in releasing tight tissues, cancer cells could be released and able to migrate through the body.

Myofascial release is a way to stretch the fascial layers that holds our body together. The fascia is connective tissue that forms a web matrix that interconnects everything in the body. It has recently been described as the "Interstitium" or a new organ in the body.

Fascia can be too tight from injuries or surgical scar tissue, and hold the body in poor ergonomics which can lead to nerve compression. Fascia can be stretched or "released" and it will remodel itself by changing from a semi solid to liquid form which brings circulation to an area of compressed tissue which then expands the tissue and circulation, and it enables removal of metabolic waste products. Using their hands, the trained therapist will find the path of fascial restriction in the patient's body and push against it gently in a shearing motion, and wait for the tissue to start to slide. The patient can feel the movement and become body aware. This path of fascial movement can reach the full length of the body and cross over between sides. This path changes as it unravels, and often there is a vasomotor response that can be seen on the skin temporarily as a reddish area where circulation has been restored which is shown on the photo below near the therapist's hands. Treatment must be slow and gentle to prevent the body from guarding in a protective response. This is why aggressive methods to stretch fascia often fail and can cause injuries by tearing the fascia and forming scar tissue that just adds to the problem of fascial tightness.

Fascia also holds tissue memory, and in releasing it, sometimes there is a release of emotions tied to an injury that was a cause of the problem. Stress and injury can cause guarding behavior and tissue tightness that become permanent over time, and MFR and working on emotional health helps a person recover from the physical and emotional effects of stress and trauma on the body.

MFR is helpful to so many conditions that have an underlying physical cause. The physical therapist who developed this treatment method forty years ago is John Barnes. He has developed courses and MFR certifications for physical therapists. There is a lot of information about MFR at myofascialrelease.com as well as directory of therapists treating with MFR. A person may also contact Therapy on the Rocks in Sedona, AZ, and ask for recommendations of therapists who have been trained in the John Barnes Methods. MFR therapy is becoming better known and accepted healing therapy, although there are some doctors who are unaware of the benefits.

I wanted to create this discussion to help organize this information and I thought the Neuropathy group would be a good place to start because someone in pain might look here, but we could have this discussion in many discussion groups. Animals such as dogs, cats and horses have also benefited from this therapy. Hopefully as we collect information here, this discussion can be referenced and shared in the many other discussions on Mayo Clinic Connect.

Here is an incomplete list of conditions that can be helped with MFR treatment.

You may find this list and further information at https://www.myofascialrelease.com/about/problems-mfr-helps.aspx

Back pain
Bladder Problems (Urgency, Frequency, Incontinence, Overactive Bladder, leakage
Birth Injuries
Bulging Disc
Bursitis
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Cerebral Palsy
Cervical and Lumbar spine injuries
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Chronic Pain
Degenerative Disc Disease
Endometriosis
Emotional Trauma
Fibromyalgia
Frozen Shoulder (Adhesive Capsulitis)
Herniated Disc
Headaches or Migraines
Infertility
Interstitial Cystitis
Menstrual Problems
Myofascial Pain Syndrome
Neck Pain
Osteoarthritis
Pelvic Pain
Plantar Fascitis
Pudental Nerve Entrapment
Scars (hypertrophic, hypersensitive, painful, burn scars, mastectomy scars)
Sciatica
Scoliosis
Shin Splints
Tennis Elbow
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
TMJ syndrome
Trigeminal Neuralgia
Vulvodynia
Whiplash

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Neuropathy Support Group.

Hank | @jesfactsmon | Sep 10, 2020
In reply to @rwinney "Does anyone have soreness and pain after MFR treatments? I have been going to a physical..." + (show)
@rwinney

Does anyone have soreness and pain after MFR treatments? I have been going to a physical therapist for MFR for 14 months now to try and help, or shall I say maintain, use of my body from Small Fiber Polyneuropathy. I rotate weekly from upper body to lower body. My legs have weakness. My quads flare with tightness and cease up sometimes. They have a mind of their own regardless of stretching and it still takes a day or two after MFR for them to be less painful. Also. my legs may wake up aching terribly or after a treatment. Same goes for my upper body, shoulders, arms and hands. I just wonder if others continuously have these problems. I have let my therapist know if he is applying too much pressure but, still, I feel like I should be over the hump by now. Any input would be valued. Thanks a bunch.
Rachel

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@rwinney
Just curious about you Ms. R. When do you actually sleep? It seems like I see posts coming from you all times of the days and nights. Are you able to maintain a regular schedule of some kind? Just asking, because if you are not sleeping well this might be contributing to a variety of issues. There probably ought to be a sleep discussion as I don't hear a whole lot discussed about this as a factor. And really it affects EVERYTHING. Best, Hank

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1 reply
Mentor
Rachel, Volunteer Mentor | @rwinney | Sep 10, 2020

@jesfactsmon Good morning Hank. I sleep for the most part but have my nights where my body cant settle or my mind cant turn off. I have a love/hate relationship with my bed and float between it and my recliner. This has been for the past several years now. Does NOT do a body good, as you mention. Thanks for your concern.

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1 reply
bustrbrwn22 | @bustrbrwn22 | Sep 10, 2020
In reply to @jesfactsmon "@rwinney Just curious about you Ms. R. When do you actually sleep? It seems like I..." + (show)
@jesfactsmon

@rwinney
Just curious about you Ms. R. When do you actually sleep? It seems like I see posts coming from you all times of the days and nights. Are you able to maintain a regular schedule of some kind? Just asking, because if you are not sleeping well this might be contributing to a variety of issues. There probably ought to be a sleep discussion as I don't hear a whole lot discussed about this as a factor. And really it affects EVERYTHING. Best, Hank

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@jesfactsmon Sleep is so elusive with anxiety. I can’t wait for the magnesium supplement I ordered to come. Hopefully I can then stop megadosing on melatonin. I haven’t been able to find what the negative effects of too much melatonin are. @rwinney

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3 replies
bustrbrwn22 | @bustrbrwn22 | Sep 10, 2020

@rwinney @jesfactsmon Not anything to do with anything but I finished watching the whole series Within A Trace for free on Roku. I am disappointed and cried that Jack and Sam didn’t end up together. I actually cried. However my husband has reaped the rewards of their onscreen chemistry. Sorry if I’ve shared too much info but because I’m in too much pain to work out I’m too embarrassed for my husband to see my body. I have a neurologist appt this afternoon regarding my sciatica. My neighbor is kindly taking me since I’ve developed agoraphobia over the past 2 years. Thanks as always for listening.

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bustrbrwn22 | @bustrbrwn22 | Sep 10, 2020
In reply to @dawn_giacabazi "https://dahlc.mayoclinic.org/2016/04/04/meet-the-massage-therapists/ I have my treatments 3 x a week and it has helped me tremendously!! Prayers..." + (show)
@dawn_giacabazi

https://dahlc.mayoclinic.org/2016/04/04/meet-the-massage-therapists/
I have my treatments 3 x a week and it has helped me tremendously!!

Prayers for relief!!
Dawn

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@johnbishop For how long did you do MFR? Or do you have maintenance visits like monthly? Thanks!

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bustrbrwn22 | @bustrbrwn22 | Sep 10, 2020
In reply to @jenniferhunter "@hotfooted Thank you so much! If you need to find a good MFR therapist, there is..." + (show)
@jenniferhunter

@hotfooted Thank you so much! If you need to find a good MFR therapist, there is a provider finder on the MFR website, and you can also call "Therapy on the Rocks" in Sedona, AZ. That is the teaching practice of John Barnes who developed this therapy. They can give you names of therapists who have trained there. Not all of them pay for the web listing.

Healing the body and the mind spirit connection is so important for our physical and emotional health. I started MFR because of thoracic outlet syndrome and I have made steady progress with my physical therapist. A couple years ago, I had to take a break from therapy and had spine surgery on my neck at Mayo. Then after recovery, I started back at MFR. I self treat at home too because my therapist has taught me a lot. As a patient, I'm a poster child for wellness and for advocating for myself and I read a lot of medical literature. I have to work on my muscle strength too because I had lost a lot of muscle mass from the spine problem (cervical stenosis) and working with my horse sure helps a lot with that. He was part of my recovery and I had clearance to ride at 7 months post op. I just returned from a camping trip with my horse and the girls and feel physically stronger than when we left. My horse has also had MFR treatments recently that have helped him, and I've learned some of that and have worked on him in-between his sessions. He had some weakness in his hips, and after one of the MFR sessions, his pelvis (probably the SI joint) reset itself with a loud crack and his gaits got smoother. We just rode about 50 miles over 6 days through some beautiful wooded trails. He's doing some rehab too, and now I'm helping him. Thanks for your kind words.

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@jenniferhunter How spectacular giving your horse MFR!

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Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Sep 10, 2020
In reply to @bustrbrwn22 "@johnbishop For how long did you do MFR? Or do you have maintenance visits like monthly?..." + (show)
@bustrbrwn22

@johnbishop For how long did you do MFR? Or do you have maintenance visits like monthly? Thanks!

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@bustrbrwn22, I have thought about seeking help through a Myofascial Release Therapy session but I have not gone to one yet as I'm not able to find one close enough to where I live that I feel is an accredited MFR Therapist. I've seen many around that list it as a service but that doesn't give me warm fuzzies. @artscaping and @jenniferhunter may have suggestions for you through their experience with MFR.

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1 reply
bustrbrwn22 | @bustrbrwn22 | Sep 10, 2020
In reply to @cocodab "Hi Jennifer, nice to meet you and find someone either close to what this is because..." + (show)
@cocodab

Hi Jennifer, nice to meet you and find someone either close to what this is because their are few. The actual erb’s palsy was a result of surgery. The surgeon cut the nerve at the end of the surgery at doing a corpectomy. Had a EMG showed the damage but I woke up from surgery with a completely dead right limb. It after 10 years has regained to about 50 percent but hangs on my neck and makes me feel like I am carrying my arm and by mid day can’t hold my head up.
I have and can move my right arm but I actually see it as a useless limb of pain. Believe me I have tried everything I know but if anything new what to radar out there. A bit more on my situation and thank you will read the link.

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@cocodab What an awful mistake for a surgeon to make. How do you not blow up with anger and resentment?

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1 reply
Mentor
Chris Trout, Volunteer Mentor | @artscaping | Sep 10, 2020
In reply to @johnbishop "@bustrbrwn22, I have thought about seeking help through a Myofascial Release Therapy session but I have..." + (show)
@johnbishop

@bustrbrwn22, I have thought about seeking help through a Myofascial Release Therapy session but I have not gone to one yet as I'm not able to find one close enough to where I live that I feel is an accredited MFR Therapist. I've seen many around that list it as a service but that doesn't give me warm fuzzies. @artscaping and @jenniferhunter may have suggestions for you through their experience with MFR.

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@bustrbrwn22, Good morning. I see that you have been gathering all kinds of information. Good for you. And I am proud of our members and fellow mentors who share their stories and treatment experiences so genuinely.

And now to MFR. I do have to move right along because today is MFR day and I need to get ready. I have a new Blue Thumbby that I want to learn to use on my hip at home. I have weekly sessions. In the last four years, I have had relief from most of the SFN disasters. At this point she starts at the left arm and then just moves around my body, arms, legs, neck, etc. That prevents any area from having a flare.

We all chase solutions that relieve our pain and discomfort. With this condition, we know and eventually accept that there is no cure. MFR is as close as I can come right now.

May you be free of suffering and the causes of suffering,
Chris

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Hank | @jesfactsmon | Sep 10, 2020
In reply to @bustrbrwn22 "@jesfactsmon Sleep is so elusive with anxiety. I can’t wait for the magnesium supplement I ordered..." + (show)
@bustrbrwn22

@jesfactsmon Sleep is so elusive with anxiety. I can’t wait for the magnesium supplement I ordered to come. Hopefully I can then stop megadosing on melatonin. I haven’t been able to find what the negative effects of too much melatonin are. @rwinney

Jump to this post

@bustrbrwn22
I just googled "taking too much melatonin" and came up with a pile of links. There are lists of side effects from too much. I hope the magnesium helps you sleep my dear. I have taken 200mg mag. glycinate both of last 2 nights and it definitely helped me sleep better. Hank

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