Myofascial Release

Authors: Rebekah Vang, Shoua Yang, Dylan Nguyen, Alex Lemon

Myofascial releases is an effective massage therapy technique. Myofascial is the tissue between the skin and the muscle. There are two types of massages that are use to release muscle pain. They are call trigger points and sweeping pressure. Trigger points uses the thumb and is to relieve muscular pain aches and pain. Sweeping pressures uses the palm to massage and to relax muscle. This massage helps the break down pain Spasm Cycle. The pain is develop because the muscle spasm. So in order to release this pain, these two types of massages are use. It is a type of therapy that athletic trainers and therapists uses. Myofascial release is a significant to the body along with health.

There are lots of ways to massage someone. Each massages has their own name. Not all massages are suppose to feel the same way. Certain massages relaxes certain muscles and more. The most effective massages are trigger point massages.

Sweeping Pressure

One of the trigger point massages are called, Myofascial Trigger Point. It's found in the belly of a muscle as opposed to its insertion points. They can both be active and latent trigger points. They can also be located in different areas to massage. Not all massages have to be in the back.

Active Trigger Points produce symptoms of local or referred pain, whereas a latent trigger point will only be painful when stimulated. To locate a trigger point, the clinician palpates the muscle perpendicular to its fiber, feeling for a taut band of tissue. When the taut band is found, the athletic trainer or therapist has to look for the most tender spots.

Trigger Points

There are two types of myofascial techniques. One technique involves application of direct, focused pressure to the adhesion or spasm. The slow sweeping pressure promotes soft tissue extensibility, and breaks up adhesion's and scar tissue. Direct pressure breaks up adhesion and muscle spasms.

Self Myofascial Release is when you use a foam roller; to roll your muscles, tendons and ligaments, It takes about 30-90 seconds. It's good to do be relieved and can function together correctly. Foam rolling decreases adhesion or spasms. This all affects the kinetic chain, which is made up of soft tissues such as muscles, tendons, ligaments, and fascia. Foam rollings basically correct muscle imbalances and improve joint range of motion.

What we thought that was interesting, is how there's different types of techniques  on releasing pain. Also, not only that, we as athletic trainers can accomplish the techniques. The techniques are safe, yield high patient satisfaction, and reduce pain. We can use these massaging techniques for patients who are in pain, soar, or stress out. Leaning different types of massaging techniques help us, athletic trainers, to help out people in the future. The article agreed that relieving spasm, breaking adhesion, and increasing blood flow help increase soft tissue extensibility. We, athletic trainers, can learn as easy and quick way to reduce pain and still help out a person.

Reference

John Paolini, 2009. Review of Myofascial Release as an Effective Massage Therapy Technique, Athletic, Human Kinetics-ATT14(5), 30-34