What is Myofascial Release?
Myofascial Release is a highly specialized stretching technique for the fascia (connective tissue). Fascia is a thin web of connective tissue that covers all of the organs of the body, every muscle, and every fiber within each muscle. The fascial system is one structure that exists from head to toe without interruption. Each part of the entire body is connected to every other part by the fascia, like the yarn in a sweater.
In a normal, healthy state, the fascia is relaxed and wavy in configuration. It can stretch and moves without restriction. Physical trauma, scarring, or inflammation, causes the fascia to lose its pliability. It becomes tight and restricted and is a source of tension to the rest of the body. When muscle fibers are injured, the fibers and the fascia surrounding it become short and tight. This uneven stress can be transmitted through the fascia to other parts of the body.
