as taught by John Barnes, pictured here in Sedona, AZ,
where one of his treatment centers are located.
Key Benefits
Reduced pain
Improved mobility
Sense of wholeness
Understanding MFR
Myofascial Release (MFR) is a mild form of stretching and balancing that
has a profound effect on the body’s tissues at a deep level. MFR
is sometimes very gentle, and because of its gentleness many people wonder
how it could possibly work. However, MFR uses a complete range of pressures
from "off the body" energy work to gentle pressure, to deep
and very deep pressure when it is appropriate. You always have control
of this pressure and no one has ever been injured.
Fascia (also called “connective
tissue”)
is a body system to which little
attention has been paid to in the past.
It is the tough, white membrane which
we sometimes remove from meat before cooking.
It is very strong, being able to
withstand and exert a force of 2000 pounds
per square inch.The fascial system extends
from the toes to the top of the head,
throughout the body, in a continuous spider
web-like fashion. It surrounds
all the tissues and organs of the body
right down to a cellular level. Without
the fascia, our body would crumple up
into a pile on the floor.
The majority of the body’s fascia is oriented vertically. There
are however four major crosswise (or transverse) planes which are extremely
dense. These are the pelvic diaphragm, respiratory diaphragm, thoracic
inlet and the cranial base. Sometimes all four planes can become effected
over time as restrictions entwine themselves through the body, gradually
torquing and twisting outwards. The dura mater (the connective
tissue surrounding the brain and spinal cord) is also
fascia. All of these regions can be treated with MFR and CST techniques
to free restrictions and restore equilibrium.
"Fascia Man"
A problem in the back
can pull on all the connected fascia and
cause symptoms in distant areas.
When Fascia is Injured
Because our entire body is interconnected,
when the fascia becomes compromised
following any injury (such as surgery,
birth, trauma, disease, inflammation,
etc.) it can put tension on adjacent
pain-sensitive structures, as well
as creating a drag on distant areas. Long
after the original complaint, some
patients have bizarre symptoms that
we can now identify as being caused
by the fascial system—symptoms like burning, tingling,
pulling, cramping, poor posture,
difficulty breathing, and cranial
symptoms. A visual analogy may be
when you pull on your sweater at
the bottom you can feel it “dragging” and
tightening up around your neck and
shoulders.
The “Sweater
Effect”: any pulling in one place
can create drag in distant areas.
We slowly tighten, losing our flexibility
and spontaneity of motion, and setting
ourselves up for more trauma and pain
as we are pulled out of our three-dimensional
orientation with gravity.
Techniques and Treatment
Treatments involving more than one therapist
are more effective, but are
not necessary in all cases. An attuned
therapist knows that “centeredness” and
inner calm helps healing, and detects
and follows the unwinding that naturally
occurs as he or she works. Therefore,
during the calming and relaxing sessions
your body leads the therapist, who helps
it find positions where it can heal itself.
The therapist becomes a facilitator rather
than an enforcer, gently following the
fascial unwinding, barrier after
barrier, along the path of least resistance.
Restoring equilibrium allows your
self-correcting mechanisms to come
into play and alleviate symptoms.
MFR is used in combination with
additional manual techniques and exercises—combining
into a
healing catalyst that yields clinically
reproducible results.
References
John F Barnes, PT: Healing
Ancient Wounds: The Renegade's
Wisdom.
John F Barnes, PT: Myofascial
Release: The Search for Excellence.
also
fascia. All of these regions can be treated with MFR and CST techniques
to free restrictions and restore equilibrium.
