What is the difference between myofascial release and massage?

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Written By Juliet D'cruz

Many different methods are highlighted during a massage for the purposes of treatment, relaxation, and tension release. Each form of massage—from deep tissue to prenatal to hot stone—is designed to address specific needs.

Simply said, the goals of massage therapy are to calm the nervous system and relieve tension in muscles that have been overused. Myofascial release is a specialized kind of massage that helps restore circulation and oxygen levels by breaking up scar tissue that has accumulated there.

Massage

Massage therapy encompasses a wide range of practices, from light to firm pressure and from slow to quick motions. Massages use several methods, most often slow, deliberate kneading and stroking.

Unlike myofascial treatments, which focus on a single location, they work from the top of the body down.

Massage and myofascial therapies serve different purposes. On average, massages take between 30 to 90 minutes and serve to alleviate mental and physical strain.

Rather than focusing on a specific issue, the advantages spread across the whole body. In addition to calming the neurological system, a full-body massage helps reduce muscular tension all throughout the body.

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Myofascial Release

Myofascial release therapy in Media PA is a technique used to alleviate muscular tightness and pain by focusing specifically on the fascia or connective tissue. 

Between your muscles, organs, bones, joints, and tendons lie connective tissue. Due to stress, injury, or other factors, this connective tissue web may often become rigid or inflammatory.

In the myofascial release, the problem region is worked on with prolonged pressure, either by hand or using a massage gun. This is because when the fascia relaxes and stretches, the desired effects will follow.

Continuous motion that is maintained at a constant speed is essential. The duration of the concentrated pressure is normally about five minutes.

Myofascial release is the best option if you want to specifically address a trouble spot because of its pinpoint accuracy and focus on resolving localized problems. This gets down to the meat of the problem. Physical therapy in Media PA also helps you overcome any pain, rigidity, or inflammation.

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How Massage Varies From Myofascial Release.

Massage therapists glide their hands effortlessly over their clients’ skin as they apply lubricants and perform stroking and kneading movements. 

Those who suffer from muscular fatigue and tension as a result of exercise, an uncomfortable sleeping posture, or simply the demands of everyday life may benefit greatly from this.

Muscle tension may be eased with a massage, and “knots” in the muscles can be worked out, all within 30-60 minutes. Although the recipient often reports feeling calm and relaxed following a session, some discomfort from the release of muscular knots is common. 

With myofascial release, the connective tissue (fascia) that covers your muscles and bones is subjected to continuous pressure. The goal of this stress is to alleviate the tension in the connective tissue, allowing for more mobility and less discomfort.

For three to five minutes at a time, the myofascial release-trained physical therapist applies and maintains pressure on the affected area. The trick is to provide constant force. The fibers need to be given enough time to relax and lengthen.

The therapist can more easily pinpoint the limited sections of connective tissue without the use of any lubrication on the skin.

Massage feels good immediately.

The elastic component of your tissue is immediately released, and the blood flows faster when you receive a massage. It’s responsible for that fantastic high you experience as soon as you open your eyes in the morning.

The one catch is that you’re only constituted of 20% elastic tissue and 80% collagenous tissue, so elastic bounces back. The dry, sticky section is the collagenous tissue, which causes all sorts of issues.

Your Myofascial Release therapist will go deeper into the scar tissue and collagen to release the tension. And holds off. This waits until it begins to let out the further 80%.

Myofascial Release Targets The Cause.

When you consider that 80 percent of our tissue is collagenous, it’s easy to see why it takes so much longer to begin to see real, long-term results from your efforts to alter your body. A Myofascial Release Session might leave you feeling fantastic and relaxed, or it can upset you.

This is due to the fact that we are not only treating the symptoms but rather working to alter the underlying conditions that have led to your problems. The origin of the problem may often be found deep inside the body, and Myofascial Release can help you get there.

Consequently, myofascial therapists look for any change, whether it’s a reduction in discomfort, an expansion of mobility, or even an increase in irritation or pain. This indicates that we are progressing toward providing more substantial assistance.

Conclusion

Myofascial Release begins unwinding the constraints in your body that are causing the discomfort; massage may help alleviate tired muscles instantly but will have you coming again and over for the same problem.

Both are helpful, but whether you choose the long-term solution or the temporary cure is up to you. Or maybe you care about both! Making a strategy that incorporates Myofascial treatments with Massage is quite beneficial at Restoration Physical Therapy located in Media, PA.