Get a Deep Tissue Massage - 12 Benefits of Myofascial Release

It's hard to find the time and motivation to take care of yourself. You might not have even realized that you're in pain until it becomes too much, but now is the time for self-care. What if we told you there was a way to relax your muscles without drugs? A deep tissue massage can do just that by releasing muscle tension and knots through slow strokes. In this blog post, we'll explore 12 benefits of myofascial release (a type of deep tissue massage) and how it can help with common problems like headaches, back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain and more!

What is Myofascial Release?

Myofascial release is a type of deep tissue massage that targets the fascia, or the connective tissues surrounding muscles. It uses slow strokes to help break down knots and tension in the muscles. This can help improve range of motion, circulation, and flexibility.

How Does it work?

Myofascial release decreases pain and improves range of motion. It also increases blood circulation, which can help muscles repair themselves faster after a workout or other strenuous activities. Muscles that are stiffer take longer to heal, so this is an important benefit for athletes!

What Are the Benefits?

There are 12 great benefits to myofascial release.

Myofascial Release and Headaches:

If you suffer from headaches, myofascial release can help! As we've mentioned before, this type of massage is great for increasing blood circulation, which is important to your brain as well as the rest of your body. Improved blood flow throughout the body helps with pain management and stress relief, which means less headaches.

Myofascial Release for Back Pain:

If you suffer from back pain, myofascial release can help! It targets areas in your body that are tense or knotted up to improve flexibility and range of motion. This ultimately makes it easier to complete everyday tasks like walking up stairs or bending over to clean your floors.

Myofascial Release for Neck Pain:

If you suffer from neck pain, myofascial release can help! This type of massage targets the upper back muscles and spine which are often very tense due to stress or poor posture. The techniques used in this treatment helps break down the tension in these areas and improve mobility.

Myofascial Release for Shoulder Pain:

If you suffer from shoulder pain, myofascial release can help! Just like the neck, your upper back is often very tense due to stress or even poor posture which causes a lot of pressure on your shoulders.  This massage technique helps to break that tension down and reduce the pain.

Myofascial Release for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome:

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition caused by pressure on the median nerve, which runs from your forearm to your hand. This can cause numbness, tingling, and pain in your arm and hand. Myofascial release can help by reducing tension in the muscles that cause pressure on your nerves.

Myofascial Release for Shin Splints:

Shin splints are a common running injury caused when you put too much pressure or impact on your legs during exercise, which causes pain and inflammation in the shin bone. Since myofascial release is great for increasing flexibility and blood circulation, it's a wonderful treatment to help relieve this condition.

Myofascial Release For Tendonitis:

Tendonitis is caused by the overuse of tendons which can cause inflammation, pain, or even swelling in your joints. Myofascial release helps reduce tension in the muscles and tendons, which can help to relieve the pain associated with tendonitis.

Myofascial Release for Plantar Fasciitis:

Plantar fasciitis is a condition that causes pain in your heel and arch due to inflammation of the plantar fascia- a ligament that connects your heel bone to your toes. Myofascial release helps break down the tension in muscles and fascia which can help reduce pain associated with this condition.

Myofascial Release for Knee Pain:

If you suffer from knee pain, myofascial release can help! This treatment targets the quadriceps and hamstrings which are two of the most important muscles in your leg. Tightness in these muscles can cause pain, so these techniques help to break down the tension for more comfort.

Myofascial Release for Hip Pain:

If you suffer from hip pain, myofascial release can help! This treatment targets your gluteal muscles which are located in your buttocks. These muscles often become very tight due to activity or exercise, which can lead to pain in your hips.

Myofascial Release for Sciatica:

Sciatica is a condition that causes pain, numbness, and tingling down the back of your leg. This is often caused by compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve- the largest nerve in your body. Myofascial release can help reduce the tension on this nerve and relieve the associated pain.

Myofascial Release for Anxiety:

Anxiety is a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease that can be mild or severe. It's often accompanied by physical symptoms like chest pain, rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, and dizziness. Myofascial release can help by reducing tension in the muscles that are often tight when you're anxious. This can help to relieve some of the physical symptoms associated with anxiety.

Myofascial Release is a deep tissue technique that releases tension in the body. Massage therapists are trained to identify and release trigger points, which can lead to improved functional quality of life for their clients. If you’d like more information on how this massage therapy could be beneficial for your health or if you want us to come by your office today, give us a call! We would love to talk with you about what we do here at Knot-Release Therapies. Our team has more than 36 years of experience helping people find relief from pain through our therapeutic massages and have been voted "Best Massage in the Columbia Basin" for 2021.