Muscle Release
Muscle injuries are a common occurrence that can result for a number of reasons, including trauma and infections. Oftentimes, they can result in scar tissue, which alters the muscle’s functioning and imposing pressure on the surrounding nerve. To treat this, physicians have traditionally leaned on muscle relaxants or alternative therapy treatments, such as muscle release techniques.
Muscle release techniques are a form of physical therapy that works specifically on muscle injuries and strains to relieve pain. Therapists use a series of massages, compression and breathing techniques to break up the scar tissue and release tension in the specific area of pain, including the back.
How Do Muscle Release Techniques Help Back Pain?
There are few ways in which muscle release techniques help back pain.
First, therapists identify the problem area by speaking with the patient and asking them to make certain poses or motions. Then, they will work to stretch the muscles of the pained area gently through compressed and extending movements. These help the muscles become more elongated and flexible while eliminating pain and tension.
The exercises may be applied on multiple areas of the body, not just the back. Muscle tension in the arms or legs can cause poor posture, resulting in muscle tightness and chronic back pain. Muscle release therapists keep this interconnectedness in mind while treating back pain. They also target the source of misalignment, which can include any part connected to the spine
Myofascial Release
Myofascial release is a form of muscle release technique that uses similar practices to relieve muscle pain, but by focusing on the fascia. The fascia comprises the connective tissues that surround the muscles and organs as well as between them. Myosfascial release also entails placing a gentle pressure to pained areas to relieve pain and restore motion.
Therapists utilizing myofascial release techniques will vary its application. Some may use compression methods to break up scar tissue, while others prefer to have contact with only the overlying fascia. This technique is based on the idea that stretching the muscles will also stretch the fascia, which can be affected independently of the muscles it is attached to.
Who Can Muscle Release Techniques Help?
People suffering from back pain and finding little relief in other forms of treatment may turn to muscle release techniques. If the cause of your neck or back pain is related to muscle injury, muscle release techniques are worth exploring.
However, some forms of back pain may not respond to muscle release, due to the type and extent of damage. In these cases, myofascial release techniques targeting the fascia may offer a way to relieve pain without working on the muscle directly.
It should be noted that muscle release techniques, like most forms of physical therapy, rarely provide a singular solution to back pain. Ask your physician for more information and whether you can benefit from receiving treatment. After a complete evaluation, they may be able to refer you to muscle release therapist who can help treat your back pain.