Before we talk about how to do myofascial release on yourself, let's first briefly go over what myofascial release is.
Contents
What is Myofascial Release?
A myofascial release is a practical approach to managing pain and discomfort. Don't expect a gentle massage with aromatherapy and flute music. Instead, myofascial release can be an intense experience.
During a session, a physical therapist, chiropractor or even a masseuse will gently massage, knead and stretch the muscles and fascia to create knots. This technique also involves applying pressure to tense or painful areas to release them.
Pressure is applied with hands, elbows, or massage tools such as foam rollers or balls. You may be sore afterward, but as the pain subsides, you will feel more relaxed than before.
How To Do Myofascial Release On Yourself
If you work from home, you probably feel the strain and miss the office chair. The good news is that myofascial release can help when neck pain or tension and headaches are common. You can get rid of stress at home using a few simple techniques.
If you don't feel comfortable going down the self-care path, you can always consult a professional first to learn how myofascial release works. You can start with a few sessions and then work with your physical therapist, chiropractor, or massage therapist to develop a home regimen.
What Are The Benefits Of Myofascial Release?
Myofascial release is a soft tissue massage to increase myofascial mobility and reduce musculoskeletal pain. Myofascial is the connective tissue found under the skin that surrounds muscles, bones, ligaments, and tendons. The body's soft tissues can be restricted by injury, overuse, and inactivity, and the result is pain, tension, and decreased blood flow. Myofascial release is a slow and effective technique for relieving symptoms of fascial restriction.
Benefits Of Myofascial Release
If you do this regularly, you can:
- Improve range of motion
- It reduces pain and supports the tissue regeneration process.
- It usually helps to relax the body.
- Improve blood circulation
- Release tension, knots, and even stress.
How to Do Myofascial Release At Home
If you work from home, you probably feel the strain and miss the office chair. The good news is that myofascial release can help when neck pain or tension and headaches are common. You can get rid of stress at home using a few simple techniques.
If you don't feel comfortable going down the self-care path, you can always consult a professional first to learn how myofascial release works. You can start with a few sessions and then work with your physical therapist, chiropractor, or massage therapist to develop a home regimen. For those who want to take the path of self-care, you can find instructions online for basic myofascial release techniques that you can do at home.
Patients with myofascial pain syndrome often benefit from this type of treatment. People with chronic headaches may also find relief with myofascial release. Gently massaging tight muscles in and around the neck and head can reduce headaches. Some people with venous insufficiency, which occurs when blood pools in the deep veins of the legs, may also be candidates for myofascial release.
During venous insufficiency, the pool of blood is drawn out and eventually damages the veins in the legs. You may experience aches and pains in the affected leg. Myofascial release can be used in combination with other treatments to reduce congestion and pain from venous insufficiency.
Want to learn more about myofascial release?
Check out these posts written by Dr. Uzair Ahmad, Doctorate of Physiotherapy and others:
- What are the different types of myofascial releases?
- How To Do Myofascial Release On Yourself
- How Often To Do Myofascial Release
- How Do I Know I Need Myofascial Release?
- How To Use Lacrosse Ball For Myofascial Release
Learn much more in-depth techniques and knowledge about your myofascia in the Obscure Fitness Playbook (440+ pages).
Here are some resources I recommend
A Stud's Physique is the fitness regimen for people who aspire for higher. It's the ultimate primer in both simple and advanced techniques. Get this if you want to lose weight and look great or become strong and jacked.
Heavy Club Training is a hidden gem that teaches you lessons on unique training equipment and physiology taught by a doctor and Olympic gold medalist.
About Nootropics is the #1 supplement and herbal resource for information on both legal and less-than-legal substances. We highly recommend their NEUROHACKING 101 material here.
Health & Fitness Subliminal is an approved self-hypnosis track that we recommend to clients who have mental barriers causing them to struggle with their fitness goals.
We recommend this underrated ebook because it has plenty of health-conscious alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
None of these resources listed here are affiliate links. We recommend these websites and products because we use them ourselves and recommend them to our clients.
