Self Myofascial Release techniques and deep tissue massage are considered “alternative medicine” and you’ll find people online “debunking” it as quackery… so here’s some welcome new science for people like me who can’t live without it.
Recently, The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association (JAOA) published an article by Manal Zein-Hammoud, PhD and Paul R. Standley, PhD entitled “Modeled Osteopathic Manipulative Treatments: A Review of their in Vitro Effects on Fibroblast Tissue Preparations.” A lengthy title for a potentially groundbreaking bit of science to support the little understood myofascial release techniques.
Myofascial what?
To understand myofascial release, we must first understand fascia. In keeping this “science lite,” imagine a very strong dew-covered spider web encircling a shrub. And between the gaps in the threads is a clear gel, rather than air. If you can picture this, then you’re on your way to understanding fascia. This three-dimensional complex matrix threads itself throughout our body, surrounding our muscles, organs, nerves, bones, blood vessels and even our cells. Everything is held together and in place by fascia. It is impressively flexible and infinitely adaptable.
And because fascia is a very strong, very connected spider web, when one spot on it gets tugged or pulled or injured, the effects ripple throughout the body. This is why we may have pain in our knee that may have nothing to do with a knee injury, but everything to do with an injury to our lower back. The natural, fluid state of the fascia has been traumatized, causing it to harden and tighten.
Ever pull a thread on a sweater only to find the whole thing bunching up on one side? That bunching is exactly what happens to fascia when our bodies experience stress, whether it’s dehydration, injury, inflammation, repetitive activity—you name it.
Our body reacts to pain of any kind by creating a protection response, that while, initially is a good thing, over time can lead to increased pain, buildup of toxins and reduced blood flow and oxygen to the area. When we experience a slight amount of tissue damage—this can be due to a physical injury, or a psychological one like depression, or even something like an ulcer—pain signals are sent to the spinal cord which then triggers the muscles around the injury to contract in order to provide support and protection for the surrounding tissues.
This response, left unchecked, creates a vicious cycle of pain as more blood flow is restricted to the contracted area. More signals are sent, and more muscles tighten to protect the growing epicenter of pain. What may have started as something small has now grown—that sweater gets more gnarled and bunchy.
Myofascial release techniques (MFR) are designed to go in and smooth out those hard knots, returning the fascia to its normal fluid and adaptable self.
But how?
In MFR, a gentle, sustained pressure is applied to points of restriction (those bunched up spots), allowing the connective tissue to release. Picture a stick of cold butter. If you jab your finger into it sharply, you’re just going to hurt your finger, and not even make a dent in the butter. But if you place your finger on the butter, and apply gentle pressure, you’ll find you’re able to slowly sink into the stick of butter, melting your way into it. This is essentially what is happening when an MFR therapist works on the body, or when one performs Self Myofascial Release (SMFR) with myofascial release tools such as rollers and balls.
But the mechanics behind this technique have been under-studied and difficult to understand, or even explain. Some people brush it off as placebo or ineffective or even “out there,” or too “woo-woo” to be accepted in the academic medical world. Studies trying to illustrate the efficacy of MFR are often poorly designed and executed with little evidence backing their claims.
And this is why the Zein-Hammoud and Standley study is so momentous! Their experiments are not only well designed and controlled, but the results are derived from at least ten years of pertinent research and experimentation based on Standley’s studies of fibroblasts. Their research is the perfect example of how proper research should be performed—the scientific method at its best.
And the findings are not to be ignored. According to a derivative summary of the paper by Michael M. Patterson, PhD, the international associate editor of the JAOA, Standley’s work shows that “fibroblasts respond differently to various strain patterns, secreting various anti-inflammatory chemicals and growth factors, with implications for wound healing and muscle repair, among other physiologic processes.” Standley also experimented with the length of duration and the magnitude of MFR, and how they affect injuries, thus offering future suggestions for therapists on how to treat their patients.
Surprisingly, Standley’s research on non-injured tissue suggests the possibility of MFR aiding in the strengthening of the area.
“Finding the molecular mechanisms of how these therapies work would define the underpinnings of clinical efficacy and could propel OMT (osteopathic manipulative therapy) into evidence-based, first-line therapy,” said the lead author, Paul R. Standley, PhD.
Those of us who have utilized or experienced MFR tools and techniques know that they work. But now we have science finally backing us up—lending credibility to the claims. And now the next time someone brushes off MFR as ineffectual, we can point them toward Standley’s work and tell them, “See? MFR works—it’s science!”
Here’s what myofascial release technique looks like in action:
Hi Eric. I wanted to know what makes a person laugh or cry during a Myofascial Release session? I had this therapy and went in not knowing what to expect never heard of it, and during the session I felt the urge to laugh out loud to the point where I was tryin not to laugh and I was not even thinking of anything funny. Then the next session I told her and she said that was exactly what was suppose to happen. Then in the 2nd session I began to CRY as she progressed, and then it turned into laughter. She told me I was her first patient to have Crying and Laughter at the Same time, and every time after that it was the same crying and then laughter. I felt such a release after each session. I later told her about a Child hood Abuse trauma that I suffered at 9 years old until the day I was 18. She told she thought and felt there was past abuse trauma she could feel it and it was trying to release itself as she was working on me. Do you get any of that side of this therapy when you are doing this SELF TYPE THERAPY or is that side only when a trained Myofascial therapist does it that you will feel the emotions of crying or laughing?
hi Daniel, I have also experienced the tears thing during therapy. I cannot remember laughing however. It has never happened to me doing my own self myofascial release or massage…
Will myofacial release help with hiatal herinia and reflux, particularly is surgery has already been indicated?
Sorry Roy, I don’t have any experience in that department.
I have been having problems walking. Been thru every test imaginable. Finally told me I needed cervical stenosis surgery. Had it…still having leg problems. Not major pain but a couple lumps on my legs and I’m having difficulty walking. More like a tightness in my calves from the knee down Not neuropathy,or veins..I’m thinking now after diagnosing myself through research that I have fascia problems. Could it be that and what exactly if foam rollers and where can you get them. Or should I go to therapy.. who does mayofacial therapy ? Thank You
Consider joining a yoga class would probably be helpful. Physical therapists and massage therapists can do myofascial release but you can also learn it on your own watching YouTube videos. Learning to use a foam roller would be a good beginning…
Can this help sciatic nerve
Yes, it helps my wife’s Sciatica…
Hi Eric
Can this help on tremdendous back in connection with a collapsed vertebrae?
BR
Vanessa
I wish I could help Vanessa, but I just don’t know.
I was told yesterday after having a carpal tunnel release in November and still having numbness and tingling in my fingers 4 months post op that it was probably was not Carpal tunnel to begin with and what I may have instead is a compression of the fascia in my forearm. How painful is the MFR?
Very sorry to hear about the accidental surgery. He will be happy to know that myofascial release is not painful. Well, you may feel some mild pain but it is what I call good pain. I enjoy it myself.
Will this work on hand and wrist after plate and screws. Now 6weeks post op. Burning at incision site. Tight across back of hand. Pain down tendons.
Sorry, don’t have any experience there. I would look into microcurrent and maybe FSM since there is no physical pressure applied…
I have been doing some personal research into these techniques for myself. I am a full time waitress/floor manager and mom of 3 boys. If I’m not running around and lifting at work I am at home. I have been dealing with varying amounts of pain throughout my body for years. Given I’m 32 and have poor insurance it’s hard to get a physician to really listen so I took matters into my own hands and found this therapy. It’s been a big help with pinching I’ve been dealing with in my shoulder, hip issues, plantars fasciitis and even helps with the carpal tunnel like symtoms I experience. I have recently found a myofascial therapist in my area and can not wait to get in and see how much more this therapy can help.
Well done Teresa!
I think this will help me. Now to find someone to fix me😊
Could inflammatory markers be negative and still have Myofascial disorder?
Thanks
Yes, myofascial pain can have so many different causes, there is no end to the number of possibilities!
I am recovering from a car accident and broke my shoulder I am 12 weeks into recovery can I do this ??
Hi Suzanne, at a very minimum I’m thinking you will want to be releasing surrounding tissues which are probably tight from inactivity now. As for working directly at the site of the break, that’s for your doctor to say, not me…
I didn’t know mfr was “alternative.” I was referred by a Physiatrist after evidence-based Medix training failed to alleviate back and neck issues. I was sold when after 2 sessions I noted that a ganglion cyst way down on my foot that I’d had for 3.5 years had suddenly disappeared. Quite the argument for connectivity and integral approaches. Still working on back and neck with notable progress after 6 sessions. Stay tuned.
congratulations Maia and thanks for your testimonial!!
I have read a few anecdotal accounts of guys who improved their Peyronies symptoms with MFR. Any suggestions for finding a therapist? My urologists are clueless & havent helped at all.
I have always used Google and word-of-mouth together to find specialists but then I live in an area that is chock-full of healers of all types…
I used a John Barnes trained MF expert and went from painful difficult walking to being ‘cured’ in a few sessions. I had a bursitis on my hip. What’s nice is I was given homework to self heal. Fast forward a few years to now and I have knee pain – edema in bone barrow. I did the self exercises and found relief. If in the DC area, I used Tavo Health
Go to http://www.myofascialrelease.com
I believe there is a spot called Find a Therapist, or similar. Those are mostly in the US, some in Canada. Where are you located? I may be able to help you find someone. The best therapists are those trained by John Barnes. Also try Googling Myofascial Release and your city name
I have been seeing a MFR therapist for the last 4 years. I can not say enough about her. Before I started this I had terrible pains in my head not to be confused with headaches or migraines. I went to a pain specialist. I had injections, blocks, pain meds and the final blow was having my nerve endings burnt. None of this stopped the pain. I had isdues in my neck with arthritis, degenerative disc disease but no one could truly ecplain the pain I was having other than nerves being pressed on. When I say I was having pains in my head I would be down for 2 to 3 days at a time. Go to the er when it was at its worse and they eould just knock me out. With in a month of starting MFR I started getting relief. I now go about once a month just so my neck can be loosened up. I can not say enough about this treatment.
Good for you Sandra!! Thanks for sharing your story 🙂