Myofascial Release in Nashville

At Art of Health Chiropractic we use a combination of myofascial techniques in conjunction with cold laser therapy, chiropractic care, and kinesiotaping in order to return your body to proper function as quickly as possible.

Myofascial release is a soft tissue therapy for the treatment of skeletal muscle immobility and pain. This therapy aims to relax contracted muscles, improve blood and lymphatic circulation, and stimulate the stretch reflex in muscles.

Fascia is a thin, tough, elastic type of connective tissue that wraps most structures within the human body, including muscle. Fascia supports and protects these structures. Osteopathic theory proposes that this soft tissue can become restricted due to psychogenic disease, overuse, trauma, infectious agents, or inactivity, often resulting in pain, muscle tension, and corresponding diminished blood flow. Although fascia and its corresponding muscle are the main targets of myofascial release, other tissue may be addressed as well, including other connective tissue.

Some practitioners use the term "myofascial therapy" or "myofascial trigger point therapy" referring to the treatment of trigger points. The phrase has also been loosely used for different manual therapy techniques, including soft tissue manipulation work such as connective tissue massage, soft tissue mobilization, foam rolling, and strain-counterstrain techniques.

Myofascial techniques can be described as passive (patient stays completely relaxed) or active (patient provides resistance as necessary), with direct and indirect techniques used in each.

Myofascial Release

Myofascial Release is known by many names - ART, active release, etc. - but the common denominator is that it is a manual therapy technique for the soft tissues of the body such as fascia, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and nerves.

This treatment uses active and passive movements of the patient to help eliminate muscle adhesions, scar tissue adhesions, and nerve entrapments.

Trigger Point Therapy 

A trigger point is a tight area within muscle tissue that causes pain in other parts of the body. A trigger point in the back, for example, may produce referral pain in the neck. The neck, now acting as a satellite trigger point, may then cause pain in the head. The pain may be sharp and intense or a dull ache.

Trigger point therapy is specifically designed to alleviate the source of the pain through cycles of isolated pressure and release. In this type of therapy, the recipient actively participates through deep breathing as well as identifying the exact location and intensity of the discomfort.

The results and benefits of trigger point therapy are releasing constricted areas in the muscles thus alleviating pain. You can experience a significant decrease in pain after just one treatment. Receiving trigger point therapy with chiropractic care or laser therapy can help naturally manage pain and stress from chronic injuries.

Gua Sha 

Gua Sha is a technique popular with those practicing Chinese medicine.  Over the years it has evolved into techniques using specific tools such as Graston, IASTM, and others.  Performing Gua Sha involves taking a specific Gua Sha tool and scraping the tool on the skin over treatment area. 

Blood flow is decreased anytime we have a spasm or injury. Both lactic and uric acid can get trapped underneath the skin or within a bound up muscle due to the lack of drainage caused by the decreased blood flow. One theory is that this metabolic waste turns crystalline and breaking these crystals with the Gua Sha tool can lead to microscopic trauma to blood vessels. 

The goal of the treatment is to increase local blood flow to the injured area which allows for proper healing.

Questions?

Feel free to call the office at 615-953-7544 or fill out the form below.