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Myofascial Release Therapy

Myofascial Release Therapy

Following an injury such as an automobile accident, fall, exercise induced injury, or injury following an improper lifting technique, the body or sections of the body can be thrusted into erratic motion, causing the muscles and other soft tissues to pull, tear or not be able to get enough oxygen (hypoxia). All of these factors can result in the body producing rough, thick scar tissue and fibrous adhesions in the affected area.

 

Scar tissue restricts the tissues from moving freely because the

y bind them and tie them down, and as scar tissue builds up, muscles shorten and become weaker, nerves become ensnared and tendinitis can develop due to tension on the tendons. This can lead to reduced range of motion, pain and loss of muscle strength. Should a nerve become trapped, the person may additionally experience numbness, tingling and weakness.

What Does Myofascial Release Therapy Aim to Do?

Myofascial Release Therapy (MRT) attempts to address problems in individual tissues, since one tissue or structure can affect another structure both directly and biomechanically. With this method, the chiropractor identifies problems with movement, pressure and stiffness between the nearby tissues, and then addresses them manually to help release the restricted tissues.

While scar tissue and muscle tension can be addressed with massage, electrical modalities and applying pressure to trigger points, MRT seeks to take a different approach. It is not just about treatment; it’s also about understanding the muscles and how they have been affected.

After the chiropractor has gotten a feel of the tissues and their texture, motion and tension, he is able to understand and assess the motion of each tissue relative to the one adjacent to it. Now equipped with this knowledge, he can determine whether to:

  • Apply a contact tension
  • Shorten the tissue
  • Make the tissue glide relative to the tissue nearby
  • Passively or actively lengthen the tissue

By doing one or more these, movement can be restored; scar tissue and fibrous adhesions can be broken down; trapped nerves or blood vessels can be released; pain can be reduced; oxygen and blood can be efficiently delivered to the muscles and tissues, and mobility can be improved.

How Is MRT Different From Other Techniques?

There are many specific moves associated with MRT, and each allows the chiropractor to recognize and rectify problems that affect each individual patient. For this, MRT do not take a cookie-cutter approach, nor do they only treat problems with muscles. In addition, these “soft tissue system/movement-based massage techniques” treat tendons, ligaments, fascia and nerves.

However, unlike massage, the patient does not lie motionless, and neither pressure nor movement is lateral to the muscles, nerves, ligaments and tendons. Instead, MRT uses longitudinal movements, and they require the patient to be both a participant and non-participant in their care. In some levels of treatment, movement of the patient’s tissue is done by the chiropractor. In other levels, the patient must actively move the affected tissue in a specific way while the chiropractor employs tension. So, in many ways MRT is not strictly a massage technique; instead, it is a form of manipulation.

What Conditions Does MRT Help With?

Because the muscles and other soft tissues can be manipulated, a variety of conditions — all of which are typically the result of injured, overused or overworked muscles — can be resolved with this technique:

  • Headaches
  • Carpal tunnel
  • Back and shoulder pain
  • Sciatica
  • Tennis elbow
  • Shin splints
  • Plantar fasciitis
  • Knee problems
  • Tendinitis
  • Neck and Upper Shoulder Stiffness 
  • Decreased Shoulder and Scapula mobility
  • Poor Posture 

Please contact our office if you have any questions about MRT.

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Port Orange Office

Monday:

9:00 am-12:00 pm

2:00 pm-6:00 pm

Tuesday:

9:00 am-12:00 pm

2:00 pm-6:00 pm

Wednesday:

9:00 am-12:00 pm

2:00 pm-6:00 pm

Thursday:

9:00 am-12:00 pm

2:00 pm-6:00 pm

Friday:

9:00 am-12:00 pm

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Testimonial

  • "I started to come to Dr. Phil because I have a lot of problems with my neck. When I come, he gives me tremendous relief. I don’t suffer from headaches anymore because he adjusts my neck, which is very, very hard to adjust. He has massage therapists that have also helped me a lot, so I am really, really grateful for Dr. Phill."
    -Mona E.