Myofascial release therapies include many different modalities, as well as, tools that are used to release restricted fascia and encourage mobility. Our fascia wraps around almost all muscle tissue, around organs, and is throughout the entire body. It help facilitate movement and decrease mobility when we are injured. It helps give us strength, structure, and is an important part of healing. Science is still learning about how interconnected our fascia really is in the body and how it directly affects our mobility or lack of mobility.
There are many tools used to help release fascia. Fire cupping and gua sha are the most ancient ones dating back thousand years in Tradition Chinese Medicine. Those tools have been improved over time and adapted to work with current healthcare. Clients can receive traditional fire cupping, as well as, the more modern form of using silicone type suction cups. Cupping is an amazing way to release fascia and increase circulation. Clients can also recieve gua sha. There is now a large variety of tools available for use and are a far cry from the traditional bone or horn tools of before. Many tools can be of ceramic, stone, or metal materials.
Myofascial release work is the basis for almost all of the therapeutic work that I do with clients. It can been gentle at times when I am able to work with the body's reflexes. It can be strong at times when working with harden chronic tension in the tissues. Sometimes I use passive range of motion with myofascial release to encourage movement. I always try to find what works best for the client.