8 benefits of myofascial release you may experience at our physical therapy locations
- KC Rehab Team
- 17 hours ago
- 3 min read
Myofascial release is a physical therapy treatment that targets knots of tension between layers of tissue called trigger points. If you’ve ever given someone a back massage, you might have felt these trigger points and helped release them. This is how myofascial release works in the most basic sense. Physical therapists use more advanced techniques to locate points of tension and release them.
When you perform repetitive movements or carry tension in your body, layers of muscle and soft tissue can develop points of tension. Sometimes trigger points are a result of an injury or immobilization as well. They can be painful, but you may not always notice them. Trigger points can make you stiff and restrict your movement, contributing to poor posture and other types of dysfunction. When left untreated, trigger points can turn into myofascial pain syndrome.
In this blog post, we’ll talk about the top eight benefits of myofascial release therapy and how it can help you.
8 key benefits of myofascial release
Myofascial release is used to help relieve stiffness and promote healthy movement in a number of different contexts. It helps people manage chronic pain conditions, and it can be an important part of rehabilitation after an injury or surgery. It can help improve your posture. PTs also use it in sports medicine to help athletes recover and achieve their best performances.
During treatments, your PT will use their hands to feel for trigger points and apply firm pressure. You might feel a twinge of pain for a moment, but myofascial release works quickly to provide relief from stiff and sore muscles.
The following are eight benefits you can expect from myofascial release treatments:
Reduced pain and discomfort — Walking around with tension in your body can hurt. It can drain your energy, too. Myofascial release helps reduce pain and stiffness fast, and the results are long- lasting. You may feel like a weight’s been lifted or like you can finally relax.
Improved range of motion and flexibility — Tension and stiffness can restrict your movement, making everyday activities a struggle. After myofascial release, you may feel more agile. This can help you feel stronger and get more out of your workouts.
Better posture and movement patterns — Poor posture can cause pain and stiffness, and the opposite is also true. After myofascial release, you may find yourself standing taller and maintaining better posture throughout the day.
Relief from muscle tension and stress — Feeling tension in your body can add to your overall stress level and make you feel less confident. After myofascial release, you may feel more grounded and relaxed. You might notice yourself resting easier and thinking more clearly.
Enhanced circulation and tissue healing — If your blood isn’t circulating properly, your immune system can’t function at its best. Tension and stiffness in one part of the body can slow down your healing process.
Reduced scar tissue and adhesions — Scar tissue serves an important purpose in strengthening and supporting injured tissue. As you heal, your body needs to break up scar tissue and replace it with new, healthy tissue. Myofascial release helps move this process along.
Improved athletic performance — Whether you play softball on the weekends or run for fitness, tension and stiffness in your body will slow you down. Myofascial release can help you run, throw, jump and maneuver with more energy and control.
Prevention of future injuries — Untreated myofascial tension can make you more susceptible to injuries from trauma and overuse. Keeping your tissue healthy will help you stay resilient and recover faster from wear and tear.
Experience myofascial release at KC Rehab
Whether you’re an athlete or a person dealing with stiff and sore muscles, myofascial release can provide a lot of relief. Many of our patients look forward to this part of their session and walk away feeling refreshed and relaxed. In your first session, your PT will do a thorough assessment and talk through your treatment options with you. They may get you started with some manual therapy and other services. Your first appointment may last up to an hour, and appointments after that usually take about 30 minutes.
At KC Rehab, we form a personal relationship with each of our patients. We get to know you and we listen to your concerns so we can provide you with high-quality, personalized treatment.
Are you ready to try myofascial release for yourself? You don’t need a referral to make an appointment. We’re in network with all major insurance carriers and we also offer flexible payment options.
Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment today.
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