The Restoration Room, Norfolk
HOMEOPATHY. MYOFASCIAL RELEASE. MASSAGE THERAPY.
Integrated Myofascial Therapy
A light touch, manual therapy combining Myofascial Release with Soft Tissue Therapy and Massage techniques
What is Fascia?
Facia is a continuous 3D fluid net found all over the body making Myofascial Release useful for:
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Pain, stiffness, tension and tightness
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Restricted movement
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Joint Pain
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Stress, & feeling "wired"
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Nervous System Dysregulation
Clients choose Integrated Myofascial Therapy for a wide variety of conditions including:
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Chronic Pain (Fibromyalgia, CPRS, M.E, CFS)
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Neck, Shoulder & Knee Pain
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Rotator Cuff, Bursitis & Frozen Shoulder
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Tennis & Golfers Elbow
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Low Back Pain
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Runners Knee & Trochanteric Bursitis
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Sciatica & Piriformis Syndrome
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Headaches, Jaw Pain & TMJD
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Plantar Fasciitis & foot pain
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Scarring & Abdominal adhesions
What can you expect to feel during Myofascial Therapy?
During a session you might feel that your tissues are warmer and softer.
They may feel freer, and more able to move.
Because MFR downregulates the nervous system you will probably notice your tummy gurgle a lot!
You may feel lighter and more connected to your body and find that you're breathing differently.
You might find you feel more confident about movement and are generally calmer, safer and more relaxed.
Learn more by reading the Frequently Asked Questions section below.
You are also welcome to book a Free Discovery Call
Ready to go ahead? Book your consultation and treatment in Gressenhall or Norwich
Your Myofascial Therapy Session
Provides you with a safe, calm, private environment in which to focus on how you feel.
Consultation: Before each session we go through the consultation you completed online and you can tell me what you want to be different.
Assessment: we carry out a standing postural assessment called a "body read".
This can help relate any symptoms you feel with your tensegrity (balance of tissue balance, tension & tone).
Treatment on the day: each session provides hand-on Myofascial & Soft Tissue Therapy and together we explore what approaches help you to feel more safe, comfortable and better able to move.
Areas treated: MFR can be applied to the whole body including the head, face, neck, ribs, back, abdomen, pelvis, limbs and hands.
What to wear: For the consutlation and the treatments it's requested that you wear shorts, a vest top, and for ladies a wireless bra.
Frequently asked questions about Myofascial Therapy
What is Fascia?
Found throughout the body facsia is everywhere, making up 17% of our tissue.
Fascia is comprised of 80% water, fat & a specialised gel-like fluid containing Hyaluronic Acid that permits tissue glide.
This forms a continuous lattice work web. A dynamic system of fibrils that senses, supports, & changes shape according to load. How amazing!
What pressure does MFR use?
Myofascial Therapy works with the whole person via the nervous system so there is no need to press hard.
It uses slow, sustained touch and pressures that you might feel as compression (pressing downwards) or traction (pulling away).
Is bad posture causing my pain?
No. Pain is far more complex than that.
The presence of medical conditions and postural imbalances don't automatically mean there will be pain.
Any number of long or short-term causes can influence how we feel including lifestyle, stress levels, nutrition, occupation, trauma, illness, injury and even our beliefs and expectations.
Many of today's issues are caused by lack of stability, connection, postural compensations, repetitive use and even under use.
What is Myofascial Release?
Myofascial Release (known as MFR) is the name given to the hands-on skin-to-skin manual therapy that uses light touch to effect changes across this body-wide fascial net.
It aims to provide the best nervous system“input” to influence your sensations, comfort, breathing, body awareness and movement.
Can you stretch or break up fascia in MFR?
No. The forces required to do this are outside the range of human hands.
Also, and I love this next part - if fascia stretched like that then the weight of your own buttocks would deform your body! Can you imagine?
Yes, Fascia is stretchy, like a multi-threaded cotton t-shirt is stretchy. But, can I stretch it for you? No.
Gill Hedley explains it best when he talks about the IT band here:
What is Soft Tissue Therapy?
Soft tissue includes fascia but also our muscles, tendons & ligaments.
Soft Tissue Therapy includes a range of techniques that are used in sports & remedial massage therapy including trigger point therapy, positional release and muscle energy techniques.
These can help with mobility & reducing our feelings of musculoskeletal tension & pain.
Do you release the fascia in MFR?
No. Despite the name we don't physically "release" fascia.
I know's confusing, but, a bit like "Sports" Massage, the name was given to the therapy years ago and it just got stuck!
A more modern understanding is that, being a living, responsive & electrically active connective tissue our fascia responds (& changes tone which might feel like a release) to all sorts of things including sensory stimulus, thought, touch, emotion and mechanical load.
Does MFR include Massage?
Traditionally, no. Pure Myofascial Release doesn't use wax, lotion or include any massage.
But I practice a blended form that includes soft tissue work it means that I do sometimes include specific massage techniques as and when needed, and after the Myofascial part.
If you would prefer massage then you can opt for a Holistic Massage instead. I don’t offer sports massages anymore.
Can you feel the fascia during MFR?
By using skilled touch Myofascial therapists apply different stimuli then "listen" to how the tissue under their hands changes tone (or tension) in response.
This makes it feel subtly different.
But Myofascial Therapy is a two-way process so we are also listening to you as a whole person. What you say, how you breathe, what your body is doing etc.
The most important thing is how the touch feels to you and whether it’s useful for your goals (movement, pain, etc).