There are many reasons why we treat children with myofascial release.  Birth trauma, falls, surgery with multiple scars, muscle imbalances,poor posture, muscle weakness, poor movement ability…all of these things can create imbalances in the body which make movement and overall function less efficient.   Research by Dr. Viola Fryman has shown that over 90% of newborns have some sort of distortion to their head or pelvis due to the birthing process. It was previously thought that these distortions would self-correct but more recent research proves this not to be true.   These distortions can create imbalances in the skeletal and fascial systems creating restrictions that can block physical and neurological development,setting the child up for problems later in life.

Myofascial release uses gentle techniques to produce changes in tissue and joint mobility,muscle length, bony alignment, muscle tone and sensory changes as well. It has also been shown to enhance social and language skills.  Myofascial release has been very effective in the treatment of children with:

• head injuries
• birth trauma
• cerebral palsy
• scoliosis
• movement dysfunction
• headaches
• trauma
• pain
• autistic spectrum disorders

Could myofascial release therapy be the missing link in your child’s treatment?

For questions about myofascial release for children or to learn more about myofascial release please visit our website www.jerseyshoremfr.com or contact us at Jersey Shore Myofascial Release Center  248R Washington Street  Toms River , NJ 08753    732 223-9335

John F.Barnes,P.T goes on to explain why there can often be a mind-body complex that makes it difficult to lose the weight.

What often happens is there was an event that occurred early on in our lives where there was an emotional or physical trauma which was overwhelming.   We tend to bury the feelings/emotions in the subconscious level.  This creates a trigger which can interfere with our ability to cope with the situation.  The mind/body then creates a mechanism by which it copes and it often can lead to problems with weight, alcohol, drugs, and any type of excessive behavior. Often times a compulsion develops because the body/mind complex is trying to anesthetize itself, so it doesn’t feel this inner fear or pain that came from a past event.

It seems that the subconscious can cause a person to carry excess weight, almost as a protective mechanism.  Once the subconscious has lost the fear from the past event, then the body can start to function normally again.  You don’t feel that urge to overeat and you go back to a more instinctual pattern of eating.  It can be likened to a pregnant women who instinctively eats something because their body is requesting (“craving”) it.  As the mind/body complex heals itself, you are able to go back to a more instinctive way of living where you are now eating the right food for yourself in the appropriate amounts.

There are many programs that are designed to promote weight loss and/or designed to help with compulsive behaviors. Though these programs are well intentioned, many of them are only providing coping strategies, and are not getting to the root of the problem.  So it’s not that you shouldn’t go through some of these programs, because they may benefit some people.  However, often times, Myofascial Release turns out to be the missing link, not only with pain and the restoration of motion, but also getting to the root cause of these compulsions that too many of us are saddled with in our lives.

Myofascial Release allows the person to safely reconnect with this information that is buried in the subconscious.  The mind/body then processes this hidden information and resolves the problem so it no longer has to cope.  Then a healthy, balanced diet, exercise, and all of the other complementary things that are important to us to be healthy, begin to work effectively for that individual.  In fact, through the Myofascial Unwinding ₁, we see many people after they have gone through their healing process, end up losing a lot of weight, without making any other major changes.  And at that point, adding exercise and a proper diet becomes more effective than it was previously. You are then able to return to a more balanced and joyful way of living again and eliminate compulsions and/or coping behaviors.

At Jersey Shore Myofascial Release Center we offer a comprehensive program of myofascial release and  nutrition with the Kingsley Institute. What you can expect is to meet with a Registered Dietitian and nationally certified massage therapist to establish a customized plan. You’ll discuss your current situation, goals, times and specific actions needed for you to be successful. We will work with you to ensure you know what to eat, how much to eat,how to stretch and how to take care of yourself. Our programs are highly successful at weight loss and emotional release, boosting energy levels, decreasing medication,eliminating pain, looking better and improving your self-esteem.  We will be your personal advocate to ensure your successful journey to reach and maintain your goals.

₁ For more information about the process of Myofascial Unwinding please refer to the book, Healing Ancient Wounds: A Renegade’s Wisdom, on page 73.

(http://www.myofascialrelease.com/store/books.asp).

During each menstrual cycle as inflammation occurs, combined with fascial restrictions and increasing internal pressure, cramping and muscles tightening; we can see how a woman would become more prone to trauma. If you were to envision the fascia like a powerful three dimensional net around the pelvis, tightening down and exerting 2000 pounds of pressure per square inch on the nerves, blood vessels, organs and internal structures, the potential for pain and/or malfunction is high.
This powerful three dimensional fascial web encases the entire body. During a trauma , and a thwarted inflammatory response, the fluidity of the fascial system becomes dehydrated and alters the shape, size and mobility of all of our cells.
Myofascial release can gently free the structures that are producing pain and also address the emotional pain associated with past unpleasant events or trauma that have been stored on the subconscious level. As Myofascial release opens the adhered tissue, the trapped emotions fade away and the person is returned to a sense of peace and a pain free active lifestyle.

Please let us know if either yourself or a woman in your life is suffering with any of the above conditions and the unnecessary pain associated with it.

Myofascial Release Therapy is for you if:
• You are tired of feeling sick and tired.

• You have tried traditional therapy and did not find relief.

• You are ready to heal you body and feel energized again.

• You are looking to restore your health, inner peace and ability to focus in your daily life.

• You have a nagging feeling that something is holding you back from reaching your full potential.

• You want to feel empowered and balanced in your life.

Myofascial Release Therapy -
An Integrated Therapeutic Approach
Myofascial Release is a bodywork technique that focuses on the fascial system, creating deep and more durable releases and therapeutic benefits.

Before an adequate description of the technique can be undertaken, a deeper understanding of the body’s anatomy and physiology has to be established. In traditional massage techniques, the focus is on the relief of symptoms of muscular stress and tension, through the inducement of muscular relaxation.

In myofascial release, the objective is to structurally restore the optimal function of the muscle. This is accomplished through the release of the fascia.

The fascia system, in traditional medicine and massage therapy, for too long has not been recognized and subsequently ignored in traditional medicine. It is the largest system of the body. Fascia, or connective tissue, permeates throughout the entire body. It is first present between the skin and the underlying tissue, simply attaching the skin to the underlying tissue, which is often muscle. The muscles themselves a surrounded by a fascial sheath, which differentiates the muscle tissue into the anatomical muscles (i.e. biceps, triceps, quadriceps, etc). The muscles are composed of bundles of fibers, with each bundle and subsequently each fiber being surrounded by fascia. This fascial organization continues down to the cellular level. The interconnectiveness of the fascia gives the muscle the ability to contract and relax. In its optimal organization, the fascia supports the smooth contraction and relaxation of the muscles. However, through trauma, disease, lack of use, improper posture, poor circulation, etc., the fascial layers become disorganized. The layers start adhering to each other limiting the ability of the muscle to contract and relax. Eventually, these adhesions become more solidified, much like a scar, even calcified, like a heel spur. This disorganization and the subsequent adhesions are created three dimensionally and interconnect with fascia throughout the body, creating pain, dysfunction and ultimately disease. While the focus in this description on the relationship between fascia and muscles, the same relationships hold true for the fascia and the joints, bones, blood vessels and internal organs. It is easy to see how fascial dysfunction has the ability to very significantly impact one’s health.

In myofascial release, the intention is to encourage the reorganization of the fascia and to reduce the adhesions between fascial layers. The fascia system is first accessed at the skin fascial layer and as release occur, progresses to deeper layers. The three dimensionality of the fascia is an advantage here.
Deep fascia layers can be impacted by working at the superficial level. Myofascial release can be very gentle but deep work. Initially, the technique is a gentle stretch of the fascia. As releases occur and the body reveals itself, the work can become very deep and vigorous (i.e. Deep Tissue Massage or Neuro-muscular Therapy) or the work becomes more energetic, (i.e. Reiki or Healing Touch).

The distinguishing feature of the myofascial work however is the longer applications of the techniques, which affects the fascial structure rather than the state of contraction of the muscle. Through this structural reorganization, a greater therapeutic effect is experienced (i.e. greater flexibility and strength). By inducing this structural relaxation in the muscle, rather than neurological relaxation, optimal anatomical position and alignment can occur. Circulation to the muscle is also restored. Similar effects can be demonstrated in the physiology of internal organs.

The beauty and uniqueness of myofascial release is that it truly recognizes the need for structural work, emotional work and energetic work. A session can be composed of traditional manual therapy techniques, range of motion stretching, localized holding of pressure/stretch, or energy work. During the session a client, depending on their needs, experience physical, emotional or energetic releases. Unlike with traditional massage techniques where repeating symptoms are addressed, the sessions build upon themselves with the work often becoming deeper, more subtle and powerful, with the body creating the therapeutic treatment plan. Myofascial release provides the safety and support for the body to activate its own healing potential.

Myofascial release therapy is also indicated and appropriate for general relaxation of stress and release of non-traumatic tension and holding patterns. The gentleness and stillness of the technique encourages deep relaxation of the mind and body. It is equally beneficial for athletes of all levels for recovery from workouts, rehabilitation of injuries or increase strength and flexibility of the body for increased performance. The myofascial techniques are uniquely effective in the release and reintegration of traumatic muscle tension and holding patterns. The efficacy of myofascial release therapy with traumatic injuries, chronic pain and fibromyalgia has been well documented.

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• Muscle Weakness
• Fatigue
• Depression/Emotional Balance
• Muscle Spasticity
• Balance
• Pain
• Headaches
• Postural dysfunction
• Stress
• Muscular Tension

Myofascial Release is a bodywork technique that seeks to release tension and adhesions within the fascial tissue. The fascia is connective tissue that is continuous throughout the body; it is the web that holds and supports all the cells within the body. When the fascia is inflamed, as it becomes with an MS flare-up, it can exert tremendous pressure on surrounding tissue. Myofascial release, through its gentle, prolonged stretch of the tissue, releases the holding patterns and stored tension. Our focus in a myofascial release session is to individualize each treatment session to reduce the following effects of a MS flare-up:

• Spasticity

• Pain

• Muscle tension

• Restore emotional balance

The therapeutic process originating from Myofascial release sessions is a multidimensional and continuous process. It begins with making the appointment and continues after the session. Let’s review each stage of the healing process.

Your first session:

When you make the initial phone call and schedule an appointment, you are making a statement that you are ready to take more responsibility for your health and your life; and that you are creating an opportunity for healing to occur.

During the initial session, a brief health history will be taken and treatment objectives will be discussed. Upon entering the room, you will be asked to disrobe to your level of comfort (if modesty is a concern, two piece bathing suits or bra and panties may be worn), and appropriated draping for your modesty, safety and comfort will be discussed.

The first touch that you experience will be an assessment of the movement the skin and the underlying tissue for muscle tone and fascial adhesions. A fascial adhesion is likened to a snag in a sweater, where the layers of tissue begin to bunch up. Once some adhesions have been identified, the technique changes to a gentle (moderate discomfort to mild pain) stretch of the tissue, much like gently pulling on the strands of a sweater snag, to release the fascial adhesion. As the restriction is released, the tissue may pull the stretch into another area of tension. The therapist will follow this natural release process. Often as tissue releases, other areas of tension/discomfort will become expressed, which is the initial experience of therapeutic pain.
Please make note of these areas and communicate them to the therapist, no matter how illogical and silly it may seem.

The fascia is a three-dimensional, continuous and illogical system permeating the entire body, even down to the cellular level. Subsequently, the session will probably not follow the orderly progression through the body that is usually experienced in most massage sessions.

Even though the precipitating factors and progression of fibromyalgia are not completely understood, a consensus of determining symptoms has been formulated.  Fibromyalgia has been characterized by the following symptoms:

• Widespread muscle pain with localized tenderness in 11 of 18 discreet points
• Anxiety/depression
• Chronic headaches
• General Fatigue
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Morning stiffness
• Numbness, tingling
• Sleep disturbance
• Diminished blood flow to fingers and toes
• Sensitivity to weather/temperature, stress and physical activity
• Swelling in hand or feet without associated edema
• Extreme fatigue

The treatment of fibromyalgia with myofascial release takes the following perspective.  Regardless of the underlying cause, traumatic, pathogenic, or metabolic, the body’s response with fibromyalgia is both a hyperactivation of the immune system and hyperarousal of the body’s stress response.  Eventually over time, the body’s resources are depleted due to these heightened states of activity with the subsequent onset of exhaustion, lethargy and depression.  With decreased physical activity and postural changes or due to microtrauma to the muscles, the fascial system responds by shortening and tightening, further restricting the ease and ability to perform simple movements and tasks.  This chronic shortening and tightening results in localized areas of decreased circulation and metabolism.  Eventually, nerves and skeletal alignment will be affected, with the manifestation of pain.  And the cycle amplifies.  Myofascial release, through the application of deep and gentle stretches, works to release the constrictive shortening and tightening of the fascia system, breaking of adhesions and reorganizing the fascial layers.  With the relaxation of the fascial tissue, circulation is restored and cellular metabolism is normalized.  As the constrictive tightening and associated edema is released, localized pain disappears and range of motion begins to restore.  This enables the client to begin to resume exercise and other daily activities.  As the muscles regain normal tonus and flexibility, posture and skeletal alignment is restored.

The integration of myofascial release techniques with cranial sacral techniques supports the recovery of the mental and emotional wellbeing.  Cranial sacral techniques restore the circulation, metabolism and alignment of the central nervous system.  Often times the depression and sense of helplessness experienced with fibromyalgia will lift with the introduction of the cranial sacral therapy.