Health & Body Work: Myofascial Release
Myofascial Release
Has anyone ever told you the importance of incorporating bodywork as a part of your health journey? Bodywork can include dancing, yoga, stretching, massage, breathwork, reiki, cupping, acupuncture and many others that function to increase connection to yourself and create an environment of healing from the inside out. As amazing as all of these practices are, I want to focus on the beauty of Myofascial Release.
Anytime we experience trauma, whether physical or emotional, the memory of that trauma is stored in our body on a cellular level. Has anyone ever found themselves having a heightened emotional response to the same type of stimulus that caused their trauma? For example, when I was six years old, I was in a sudden car accident that resulted in me being hit in the face with an airbag (yes, this was just before the regulations that inhibited children from sitting in the front seat). I just remember the sound of the car horn being stuck on for what felt like hours. The first moment I felt a sense of safety and relief was when the medics handed me a stuffed animal and placed it on my cheek as they told me I could finally rest. Ever since I continue to have a heightened emotional response when I hear loud horns, I flinch at anything coming near my face, and I am instantly soothed at a soft pillow or blanket on my face. On a physical level, my body continued to store pain in a particular part of my neck and caused ongoing pain until my 30's. I finally began experiencing physical healing once I was introduced to Myofascial Release
What is Myofascial Release?
Myofascial release is a non-invasive hands-on approach that applies gentle pressure on the body, loosening the fascia and connective tissue to eliminate pain and restore motion (Myofascial Release Treatment Centers & Seminars, 2015). Some of us may have been given myofascial treatment during a massage or physical therapy appointment. Some approaches are also done via a “fascia blaster” or Theragun. I am about to insert my opinion here – but the real money is found with a provider who operates from the John Barnes Method. John Barnes PT, LMT, NCTMB is the creator of this approach and has trained hundreds of providers (including the provider I see myself!) all over the country. The slow, gentle pressure approach yields more long-term healing compared to some of the harder, heavy-pressure methods.
Who would benefit from Myofascial Release?
Maybe I should be asking who would not benefit from Myofascial Release? Regardless of the trauma type, I have experienced and heard from people who have felt a type of release that they have not experienced other than through the work of this method. Myofascial release can be helpful with whiplash, pelvic or neck pain, sports injuries, migraines, fibromyalgia, carpal tunnel, jaw pain, painful scars, scoliosis, interstitial cystitis, menstrual problems, endometriosis, fertility problems, and several more (Myofascial Release Treatment Centers & Seminars, 2015 ).
My trauma wasn't physical, it was emotional.
Research is continuing to support the idea that trauma impacts different brain circuits that involve focusing, flexibility, and emotion regulation (Ven Der Kolk, 2021). If you're interested in learning more about how trauma impacts the body, then a book I would highly recommend is The Body Keeps The Score: Brain, Mind, and Body In The Healing of Trauma by Bessel Van Der Kolk, MD. This book does not talk about Myofascial Release, although it does highlight the role that trauma has in keeping a person stuck in a hyperactive state and a faulty flight/fight system. If you're someone who may be experiencing body pain that comes from an unknown reason (i.e., not from a previous injury), your body's pain may be a result of unresolved emotional trauma. If you're someone who isn't in pain but finds yourself having a difficult time emotionally releasing portions of your past trauma, this approach can also be helpful. Bodywork like this is a great add-on to anyone who is getting support from mental health therapy. While the therapist can help you process through your emotions, the Myofascial release will help you physically let go of the emotions stored in your body.
Resource:
Check out more information on the John Barnes Myofascial Release Method: https://www.myofascialrelease.com/about/
Find a John Barnes Myofascial Release Provider near You: http://mfrtherapists.com/
Learn about Bessel Van Der Kolk M.D: https://www.besselvanderkolk.com/resources/the-body-keeps-the-score
The Body Keeps The Score: Found on Audible, Amazon, Ebay. Half Price Books and your local book store
Sources:
Van Der Kolk, B. (2021). The Body Keeps The Score: Brain, Mind, and Body In The Healing of Trauma. Bessel Van Der Kolk, M.D. https://www.besselvanderkolk.com/
About Myofasical Release. (2015). John F. Barnes Myofascial Release Approach. Retrieved on August 9, 2021 from https://www.myofascialrelease.com/.
Katie K. LMHC, SUDP