The Benefits of Myofascial Release and Its Mechanisms

Somatic dysfunction is a well known cause of pain and motion restriction. On the long term, somatic dysfunction alters the proper functioning of the muscle and skeletal systems, impairing the life of the sufferers. Andrew Taylor Still is the founder of the osteopathy medicine and is the person credited for myofascial release, a massage therapy of the soft tissues used as treatment for somatic dysfunction. If you are considering massage in Orlando as medical therapy for situations such as these, you can try one of the many available medical therapists in massage Orlando centers. Here are the things you should be aware of before enjoying the benefits of myofascial release:

•     The term “myofascial release” means the release of muscles and fascia. ”Myo” refers to muscles while “fascial” refers to the fascia web. The fascia web is in fact the connective tissue binding together the muscle-skeletal system. All muscles are covered by fascia and therefore any action that affects the muscle, also affects the fascia covering it. You can ask your massage in Orlando therapist specialized in myofascial release to explain to you the details of fascia and muscles.

•     When muscles or fascia are irritated by external factors, the natural reaction is inflammation. This is a form of defense from the body, showing you where the problem is since inflammation causes pain. As massage Orlando myofascial release specialists will tell you, it takes chronic inflammation to cause fibrosis of the fascia and ultimately pain.

•     Fibrosis is in fact the thickening of the connective tissue or fascia covering muscles. The pain triggered by fibrosis will lead to tension which, in time, will bring on more inflammatory effects. In the end, blood will no longer be supplied to these areas and somatic dysfunction will occur. An Orlando massage therapist will tell you that somatic dysfunction can take effect even though the original factor that caused it is no longer present. Additionally, you should know that a restriction in blood supply is called ischemia.

The Mechanisms of Myofascial Release
Massage Orlando therapists qualified to perform myofascial release will explain the way this form of medical massage actually works. The purpose of this massage is to apply continual placatory feedback to the affected areas. In the end, these actions result in:

•     The affected muscles are relaxed through the massage movements used by the therapist. There are two types of myofascial release as massage in Orlando techniques: passive and active. Unlike the passive form which works on a relaxed body, the active form of massage Orlando works on a body that resists the movements of the therapists upon request.

•     Lymphatic drainage as well as venous drainage is improved through continuous action on the fascia and muscles.

•     There is something called stretch reflex which the muscle has. This reflex is not functioning properly in somatic dysfunction. Therapists are the ones who know exactly what muscles need to be relaxed and how much force is required to release stretch and in which direction.

Wherever you decide to try out myofascial release, remember to ask your Orlando massage therapist about the benefits of this effective medical therapy for somatic dysfunction. It is always best to understand how a massage technique works and what it can do for you before you actually try it out.