Release & Restore Myofascial Release Therapy - Savannah A. Schlitzer, L.M.T.

The John Barnes' Myofascial Release (MFR) approach is a gentle, non-invasive modality that addresses pain and dysfunction at the source rather than simply masking the symptoms. By combining our God-given intuition with the best hands-on training in fascial bodywork, we offer every-body a truly holistic and unique potential to transform. MFR resets neuro-muscular pathways and releases stored tension (even decades) and compensation patterns that you have been carrying for years. This includes physical, mental, and emotional patterning. (It's all connected!) What is Fascia? Fascia is the connective tissue that wraps around, and penetrates through every single cell in the body. It is the immediate environment of any and every single cell. It is the ONLY tissue that is EVERYWHERE! There is no true beginning or end. It is responsible for keeping us upright & held together; it should be strong, but also fluid and mobile. It is 80% collagen, 20% elastin, with a liquid crystalline ground substance. Strong, yet fluid and mobile. This is called "biotensegrity." How Does it Become Restricted? When you sustain an injury, endure a trauma (physical, mental, emotional), or engage in repetitive movements, the fascia will lose fluidity, mobility, and strength along the lines of tension. The fascia tightens down and limits range of motion to protect important structures embedded within it. It's very similar to a scar. How Are These Restrictions Connected To My Pain? When you have a fascial restriction, (we all have many) the entire body needs to adapt. Since there is a loss of mobility, fluidity, and strength in a particular area, the forces imposed upon your whole body are being distributed quite differently, in ways that it is not engineered to sustain. Therefore, your body compensates. You end up developing postural imbalances that only get worse over time, because the fascial restriction creeps further and further. The restrictions put lots of pressure on the surrounding pain sensitive structures, including nerves, blood vessels, organs, and joints. Restricted fascia feels like a "straightjacket," that pulls you down day after day. How Does Myofascial Release Work? True myofascial release uses sustained pressure of 5 minutes or more at the collagenous barrier, which then begins to "melt," and release under my hands. I continue to engage the barrier as it "unwinds" and releases. The fascia is "piezoelectric," allowing for mechanotransduction and phase transition to occur, if you're the nerdy type who really wants to know how exactly it "melts!" I will gather your health history, noting any and all injuries/accidents/surgeries, assess your posture, and manually test for restrictions. How Is This Therapy Different Than Massage or the Chiropractor? During a massage, the therapist is doing things TO your body, instead of waiting at the barrier, and then following the bodies' own direction of release. A massage is gliding over your tissues, not sinking in and really listening and then adapting their pressure and direction to what the body needs. They may be able to feel your tension, and smooth out some muscular knots, but because they do not spend a proper amount of time over one area, they are not responding to the fascia, which is therefore not engaged, and not effected. Our chronic pain is deeper than the muscles, which is why releasing muscular tension only, is nowhere near the full picture. A chiropractor can also certainly help short-term, but can not produce lasting results, because the fascia is what continuously pulls your bones out of place. Chiropractor and massage therapy modalities are helpful and I recommend them for time sensitive, holistic pain management. But not for long term change. How Many Sessions Will It Require? There are many, many factors that are at play when we are to consider the answer to this question. I cannot say; it is different for everyone. It's helpful to think of MFR like you would think of going to the gym to build muscle, or going to PT to get better from an injury - it takes consistency to see the results. Occasionally people notice a difference right away, even after a single session. The vast majority however see increasing results with more and more sessions. The more frequent your visits upfront the better. This is because the fascia has such a strong memory. Twice a week for a couple of weeks, then decreasing to once per week, and then once biweekly, once per month, and then as needed for maintenance, is what we usually recommend. Why Hasn't My Doctor Mentioned This Before? Fascia does not show up on MRIs, CTs, XRays, etc. It is ENTIRELY looked over by allopathic medicine. Up until about 50 years ago, this incredible tissue has gone unnoticed, considered nothing but "packing material." Can MFR Help Me? Please give us a call at (716) 880-7059 anytime for a free 15 minute consultation to ask questions about your specific concerns, and if myofascial release could be a good fit for you!