Myofascial Release
What is Myofascial Release?
John F. Barnes, PT, developed a method of Myofascial Release (MFR) designed to address long-term pain patterns that may extend into surrounding and distant areas of the body.
MFR techniques often begin with light compression followed by decompression. The therapist applies sustained pressure and follows movement three-dimensionally as the surrounding myofascial tissues release. The goal is to reduce bracing and holding patterns within the tissues while restoring movement and function.
MFR techniques are intended to address the entire myofascial complex rather than focusing only on the area where symptoms are felt.¹
What is Fascia?
To better understand Myofascial Release, it is helpful to first understand fascia.
The fascial system is an interconnected network of connective tissue that extends throughout the entire body. John F. Barnes, PT, has described how fascia was historically treated as tissue to be moved aside during anatomical study rather than recognized as an important system of the body.
After experiencing a serious injury and struggling with persistent pain and dysfunction, Barnes began exploring the role of the fascial system in his own recovery. His work ultimately contributed to the development of the approach now known as Myofascial Release.
Fascia surrounds and connects the cells, tissues, muscles, bones, organs, and other structures of the body. In this sense, the body functions as an interconnected system rather than as a collection of completely separate parts.²
Barnes goes further by describing bones, muscles, and organs as highly specialized forms of fascia.³
In simpler terms, fascia is a complex connective tissue system that extends throughout the body from head to toe, front to back, and side to side. Because the system is interconnected, restrictions in one area may influence structures elsewhere in the body.
Fascial adhesions may place significant tension on surrounding structures. Muscles then attempt to compensate for those restrictions, which can contribute to fatigue, structural imbalance, altered movement, and pain.
Over time, compensations can develop into their own dysfunctions. This is one reason an injury or restriction may eventually produce symptoms somewhere other than the original site.
A common therapeutic concept is:
“Find the pain and look elsewhere for the dysfunction.”
The area of pain may require treatment, but it may not always be the original source of the problem.
Understanding Connective Tissue
Connective tissues contain three important components:
- Elastin
- Collagen
- Ground substance
Elastin allows tissues to stretch and rebound. Elastin fibers may respond relatively quickly to bodywork and stretching, although those changes may be temporary.
Collagen provides tensile strength to the tissues and requires more sustained pressure and time before changes occur. Longer-lasting changes in tissue mobility depend heavily on changes within collagen fibers.
Ground substance is the fluid component of connective tissue that surrounds and lubricates fibers, allowing them to move more freely.
When ground substance is colder and more gel-like, movement is more restricted. As it warms and becomes more fluid, movement within the tissues becomes easier. This change from a more gel-like state to a more fluid state is known as thixotropy.
During sustained myofascial work, the goal is to allow the ground substance to become more fluid, encourage elastin fibers to elongate, and then provide enough time for collagen fibers to begin releasing and lengthening.
This gradual process is an important component of reducing fascial restrictions both locally and throughout interconnected areas of the body.
What Should I Expect From a Treatment?
Myofascial Release is typically a slow-paced treatment because sustained pressure and tissue release require time.
It is important to remember that long-standing restrictions did not develop in a single hour, and correcting those patterns may also take time.
Many clients notice that they feel different after the first session, even if they cannot immediately identify exactly what has changed. Additional sessions may produce more noticeable improvements as the body continues to respond.
However, neither the therapist nor the client should place rigid expectations on exactly how the body will respond.
The symptoms you consciously feel may not necessarily represent the original source of the dysfunction. As a result, you may notice improvements in areas that were not directly treated during a session.
Pay attention to how your body moves and feels between appointments. Changes may occur in unexpected areas.
What Happens During an MFR Session?
During a Myofascial Release session, the therapist observes and follows movement within the body as tissues begin to release.
There is no single routine that applies to every client. Each person’s restrictions and movement patterns are different.
Because fascia forms an interconnected system, only a portion of the body may be directly touched during a particular session while the effects of treatment may extend throughout the body.
For example, a sustained pull applied at the head may create tension and movement patterns extending through the body toward the feet.
The goal is to allow restrictions to release gradually rather than forcing the body into a predetermined pattern.
Emotional and Physical Responses
Some practitioners of Myofascial Release believe that physical holding patterns may also be associated with memories or emotional responses connected to previous injuries or experiences.
During treatment, clients may occasionally experience spontaneous emotional or physical responses such as:
- Tears
- Vocalizations
- Changes in breathing
- Unexpected movements
- Emotional sensations
- Memories or feelings associated with previous experiences
You may not always understand why a particular sensation or movement occurs.
The goal is to remain present, communicate with your therapist, and allow the body to respond naturally within a safe and comfortable environment.
How is Myofascial Release Performed?
Myofascial Release is generally performed without lubricant.
The therapist uses gentle, sustained compression, tension, or traction against the tissues. Avoiding lotion or oil allows the therapist to maintain contact with the skin and engage the fascial tissues more effectively.
Blocks, bolsters, or other supports may also be placed beneath the body to allow positioning and gravity to assist with the release.
Although MFR is considered a form of soft-tissue manipulation, it is different from traditional Swedish massage.
What is Tensegrity?
Tensegrity is a concept used to describe structures that maintain stability through a balance of tension and compression.
When one portion of a tensegrity structure shifts, other areas must compensate in order for the structure to remain balanced.
Examples include:
- The rigging and halyards of a sailboat
- Geodesic domes
- Chinese finger traps
- The human body
A simple example is a sweater with a pull in one thread.
A single pulled thread can create visible changes far away from the original point of tension. The human fascial system can behave in a similar way.
A restriction in one area may influence posture, movement, or tension elsewhere in the body.
Will Myofascial Release Hurt?
Myofascial Release should generally not be painful.
Most techniques involve gentle contact and long, sustained holds or pulls.
Occasionally, more direct soft-tissue techniques may be necessary when tissues are particularly restricted and do not respond to gentler methods.
MFR is often selected when a client is already experiencing pain because the techniques are intended to avoid unnecessarily aggravating sensitive tissues.
If more aggressive soft-tissue manipulation becomes necessary, the therapist and client should communicate throughout the treatment to avoid excessive discomfort.
Communication is always important.
What Do I Wear?
Because Myofascial Release involves visual assessment, movement, and access to the body’s surface, clients are generally treated while wearing minimal but comfortable clothing.
Women may choose to wear:
- A two-piece bathing suit
- Sports bra
- Comfortable shorts or similar clothing
Men may wear:
- Shorts
- Swimwear
- Similar comfortable clothing
The goal is to maintain your modesty while allowing the therapist to visually assess posture and access the body’s structures through both observation and palpation.
Why Do I Need a Consultation Before Treatment?
Many clients arrive with one primary goal:
“Just fix it.”
When pain has persisted despite previous treatments, it is understandable to want immediate relief. However, proper assessment is an important part of developing an effective treatment plan.
Just as a physician performs an examination before making a diagnosis or ordering a medical procedure, a bodywork therapist should assess the client’s condition before beginning treatment.
The therapist may evaluate:
- Postural changes
- Body symmetry
- Skin and fascial pulls
- Torsions
- Compression patterns
- Structural imbalances
- Other physical signs
You may be asked to stand in front of a postural grid so your alignment and symmetry can be evaluated.
Photographs may also be taken from the:
- Front
- Back
- Left side
- Right side
These images may be used to establish a baseline, assist with detailed assessment, and compare changes over time.
Clients are typically dressed in a bathing suit, sports bra, shorts, or similar clothing during this assessment to maintain modesty while allowing the body’s structure to remain visible.
Any photographs or assessment information should be handled according to applicable privacy requirements and should not be published or shared without consent.
When Should I Start MFR Sessions?
Ideally, pain and dysfunction should be addressed before they become long-standing patterns.
Injuries and physical stresses accumulate throughout life. Falls, accidents, surgeries, lacerations, repetitive movement, and other physical events may create restrictions or scar tissue that are not always immediately noticeable.
Some restrictions occur beneath the surface and may not become noticeable until compensation patterns begin producing symptoms elsewhere in the body.
For that reason, seeking treatment sooner rather than later may help address restrictions before they become more established.
Multiple sessions may be necessary to achieve measurable and lasting progress. When beginning a treatment plan, sessions may initially be scheduled relatively close together to reduce the likelihood of returning to previous movement or tension patterns.
As improvement occurs and the body begins maintaining those changes longer, the amount of time between sessions may be increased.
Ask your therapist about the treatment frequency that is most appropriate for your individual needs.
Sources
¹ Fascial-Pelvis Myofascial Release, John Barnes Seminar
² Sean Riehl, Myofascial Release, Real Bodywork
³ MFR 1, John F. Barnes, PT Seminar