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 latest cutting-edge science of fascial physiology, we offer every-body a truly holistic and unique potential to transform. MFR releases stored patterns (even decades) of tension held in your body. The results are profound and long-lasting, empowering you to live a pain-free and active lifestyle again! What is Fascia? Fascia is the connective tissue that wraps around, and penetrates through every single cell in the body. 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, and 20% elastin. Strong, yet mobile. This is called "tensegrity." How Does it Become Restricted? When you sustain an injury, endure a trauma (physical, mental, emotional), or engage in repetitive movements, the fascia will build itself stronger along the lines of tension. It loses its elasticity in an attempt to protect the more important structures around it. It's very similar to a scar. How Are These Restrictions Connected To My Pain? When you have a fascial restriction, (we all do) the entire body feels that effect. Since there is a loss of elastin, your body is now being pulled in directions that your body 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. It is a root-cause approach to healing pain and dysfunction with incredible, long lasting results over and over again. This is because it is now believed, that fascial restrictions, are the root cause of a multitude of peoples' symptomatic conditions today. How Is This Therapy Different Than Massage or the Chiropractor? During a massage, the therapist is simply doing things TO your body. They are using force, and are going far too fast over your tissues to elicit any kind of lasting change. They may be able to feel your tension, and even smooth out some muscular knots, but because they do not spend a proper amount of time over one area, with the correct amount of pressure, the fascia is not engaged, and therefore 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. 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!