Myofascial Release Services
Myofascial Release Therapy
Description: Myofascial Release (MFR) is a whole-body treatment intended to remove fascial restrictions by applying gentle but firm pressure into the area of restriction for a sustained period of time. The release can have profound effects and enables the body to self-correct and heal. MFR treatments begin with a standing visual and hands-on assessment to check for alignment issues. Unlike the other massage services, MFR treatments require bringing or wearing comfortable clothes, typically loose fitting shorts and a sports bra or tank top for women.
Benefits: This treatment rehydrates fascia that has solidified due to injury or trauma; releases fascial restrictions that can affect organ function, muscle movement, digestion and breathing; moves lymph (i.e., lymphatic fluid) and toxins out of the body; and reduces histamine-induced and other inflammation. It can also tap into stored muscle memory from past emotional and/or physical injury or trauma and help release the physical dysfunctions caused by these tissue memories. What’s more, through manipulation of the fascial tissue, the hips and pelvis, which are the foundation of MFR, can be realigned and go back into balance/stability. | Pictured left: 4” Myofascial release therapy ball, available for in-office purchase
Cost: Initial Assessment $155 - 75 minutes | $120 - 60 minutes | $140 - 75 minutes | $160 - 90 minutes
Understanding Myofascial Release Therapy
The John F. Barnes’ Myofascial Release Approach®
In order to describe this type of manual therapy, it is necessary to first provide a definition of fascia. Fascia is the tough connective tissue that spreads throughout the body in a three-dimensional web without interruption. It envelops every muscle, bone, nerve, blood vessel, organ, and cell of the body. It is made up of collagen and elastin fibers and a gel-like ground substance that solidifies as a result of poor posture, inflammation, and bodily injury or trauma.
Fascia serves many important functions. First, fascia is responsible for permitting the body to retain its normal shape and maintain the vital organs in their correct positions. Second, fascia can absorb shock and healthily disperse it throughout the body. Third, it fills a nutritive function by serving as a transport medium for other tissues, blood and lymph.
And finally, there is a strong cellular memory component in our fascial tissues that takes place during times of bodily injury or trauma. These tissue memories (stored emotions) can remain in place for years and prevent a person from full recovery (physical, mental, emotional) if they are not released.
Photo imaging to the left and above are colorized still shots of fascia in the body, captured from a surgical operation video taken by the surgeon, Dr. Jean-Claude Guimberteau, MD.
Myofascial Release: The First Step Towards a Free and Fluid Body
Written by Jean Francois Brabant, MFR Practitioner
A rigid fascia acts like a straitjacket for the body. Imagine trying to move or benefit from manual therapy while your muscles and joints are locked in an oppressive constraint—this is exactly what happens when fascia loses its fluidity and remains tense.
When fascia stiffens, it generates significant tensile forces—sometimes equivalent to several thousand pounds—limiting not only the range of motion but also restricting the circulation of essential fluids, nutrients, and cellular signals.
In this state, ANY therapeutic intervention, whether physiotherapy or chiropractic care, faces a major obstacle. Therapists find themselves battling these enormous forces, reducing the effectiveness of their treatments and hindering the body’s natural ability to heal.
From a biomechanical perspective, it is clearly illogical to attempt to correct or adjust a system that is, from the outset, trapped in a "straitjacket."
For any manual therapy to work effectively and promote lasting recovery, it is essential to release the fascia from its restrictions. This is precisely where MFR comes in: by applying controlled and sustained pressure, this technique activates the fascia’s mechanoreceptors through mechanotransduction, allowing the tissue to transition from a solid to a more fluid state. This structural change makes the fascia more receptive and flexible, creating the optimal conditions for complementary interventions to be more effective.
In summary, before performing any form of therapy, it is crucial to first address fascial restrictions. Without this preparatory step, you are constantly fighting against a straitjacket, compromising the effectiveness of your interventions and your patients' recovery. Adopt Myofascial Release as an essential tool in your therapeutic arsenal to transform fascia, free the body, and unlock the full potential of healing.