Have you ever heard a physician say to you, “I’m looking at
the x-rays and the MRI. I don’t see any thing wrong. There is nothing we can do
for you except send you to a pain management clinic?” You go to pain management
and their solutions are drugs that cloud you mind, destroy your bones and ruin
your liver. Or worse yet, they recommend destroying some of your nerves. It is
time to become knowledgeable and proactive.
When you experience a deep, aching muscle pain, a tender
knotted muscle, a sensation of muscle weakness, tingling, and stiffness, or
difficulty sleeping due to muscle pain that persists or worsens over time this
is myofascial pain syndrome (MPS). Tight muscle fibers may form in the muscles
after injuries or overuse creating sensitive areas called trigger points. The
trigger point causes strain and pain throughout the muscle causing other
muscles to try to compensate. Over time this pattern of compensation creates
further muscle strain creating a cascading chronic pain.
Fascia is a soft connective tissue located just below
the skin, which wraps and connects the muscles, bones, nerves and blood vessels
of the body. Myofascial release is a massage therapy typically done by sports
and rehabilitative massage therapists. MPS most often occurs in people between
the ages of 30 and 60 years and affects men and women equally.
Tight muscle fibers occur for various reasons including
disuse, not enough stretching, or injuries. The fascia and the underlying
muscle tissue can become stuck together creating an adhesion.
Adhesions restrict muscle movement, create pain and soreness, reduce
flexibility, and may limit range of motion.
Myofascial release is also affective in treating
patients with sloppy posture, chronic fatigue, severe tension and anxiety, and
repetitive stress injuries. Other factors that increase your risk of muscle
trigger points are stress and anxiety. The theory is that these individuals,
when stressed, are more likely to clench their muscles, which is a form of
repeated strain leaving muscles susceptible to trigger points.
Research suggests that myofascial pain syndrome may
develop into fibromyalgia Fibromyalgia, a chronic condition, features widespread
pain and is believed to occur when the brain has become more sensitive and
reactive to pain signals over time.
Trigger points are highly sensitive areas within the
muscle, which are painful to touch and may cause pain that is often felt in
another area of the body; this is called referred pain. Active trigger points
are always sore and may prevent the full use of the muscle leading to weakness
and decreased range of motion. A latent trigger point does not cause pain
during normal activities, however, it is tender when touched and may be
activated by muscle strain, overwork, fatigue, injury or cold.
Often physical therapy is recommended for MPS, which
includes stretching, postural and strengthening exercises. Therapeutic
massage therapy can loosen tight muscles and relieve cramping or
spasms. It is important to address lifestyle factors, such as poor
posture, workplace ergonomics, or mechanical problems, hypothyroidism, vitamin
D and magnesium levels, as well as stress that contribute to pain.
Lifestyle factors:
•
Improve your posture
•
Reduce your body weight
•
Exercise regularly
•
Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet
•
Learn stress-management techniques
•
Use proper techniques at work, and during exercise and sports
The normal, healthy state of fascia is a relaxed, supple
web, like the weave in a loose-knit sweater. Restricted fascia looses pliability
and may create pulls, tensions, and pressure as great as 2,000 pounds per
square inch. The fascia system is a continuous running from the bottom of the
feet through the top of the head and has three layers. Superficial fascia lies
directly below the skin and stores fat and water. Nerves to run through it, and
allows muscle to move the skin. Deep fascia surrounds and infuses with muscle,
bone, nerves, and blood vessels. The deepest fascia interfaces within the durra
of cranial sacral [spinal] system.
Fascia restrictions do not show up on MRI scans or X-rays
making diagnosis more difficult. Pain caused by myofascial tightness is due to
restrictions within the fascial system, which is the web of connective tissue
that spreads throughout the body and surrounds every muscle, bone, nerve blood
vessel, and organ to the cellular level. These restrictions can play a
significant role in the malfunction of the spinal structure; lymph and blood
flow in the extremities and proper organ function.
Self care aims to control pain and keep muscles and joints
warm and loose and includes:
- Anti-inflammatory
pain relievers (herbs such as white willow bark and boswellia)
- Applying
heat to soothe constricted muscles or using ice to calm swollen areas
- Performing
self-stretching exercises to maintain flexibility and increase range of
motion
- Aerobic exercise to increase blood flow to the affected areas
Other treatments include:
- Chiropractic
manipulation,
- Physical
therapy, or occupational therapy
- Acupuncture
The rehabilitative massage therapist may use light to
moderate traction and twisting strokes to apply the appropriate tension on the
soft tissue to achieve a full reflex range of the muscle and to unblock fascia
and muscle. The therapist may also use a hands-on, kneading-style strokes that
are meant to stretch, loosen, soften and lengthen muscle tissues. The stretch
is performed until the muscle is totally relaxed and a release is felt.
Myofascial Release is considered a neuromuscular
therapy massage. Because painful muscle spasms occur when our muscles lack
adequate blood flow. The lack of blood flow allows lactic acid to accumulates
in the muscle. Neuromuscular massage disperses the lactic acid so the deficient
muscle can accept a clean supply of oxygen and blood flow.
Does our height need to shrink as we age? Do we need
to have age related scoliosis, curvature of the spine? Many body workers,
massage therapists say no. They know from the daily practice of their
profession that through massage and myofascial stretching people can regain
height. There is a theory that some of the shrinking in spinal discs results
from the contraction of the fascia---pressing on the discs not allowing proper
hydration.
Massage is absolutely essential to healthy aging. And
myofascial massage is essential to anyone with chronic muscle pain.
Borg-Stein J. Treatment of fibromyalgia, myofascial
pain, and related disorders. Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am. 2006
May;17(2):491-510, viii.
