About Myofascial Release
What is Myofascial Release?
Myofascial Release is a safe and very effective hands-on technique that involves applying gentle sustained pressure into the Myofascial connective tissue restrictions to eliminate pain and restore motion. Therapists use MFR to elongate the fascial tissue with gentle pressure into the restriction. After releasing through several barriers, the tissue becomes soft and pliable. The technique releases restriction from pain-sensitive areas and restores ease of motion.
​
Myofascial Release differs from massage and chiropractic manipulation. It allows for the release of soft tissue restrictions that alter bony alignment and performs osseous releases slowly without manipulation. MFR goes beyond treatment of sore spots and is a comprehensive evaluation and remediation of full body postural and movement issues.
What is the purpose of Equine MFR?
Whether our horse is a champion athlete, trail ride, or companion animal, we all want them to be healthy, happy, and pain free. WFEMFR utilizes the same philosophy and techniques of John F. Barnes’ approach to Myofascial Release. www.myofascialrelease.com
​
Horses typically tend to be engaged and responsive in their treatment sessions. In fact, after horses have felt relief from a session, they look forward to subsequent treatment.
What causes fascial problems?
Fascia can lose its pliability, collagen can become dense and fibrous, and the ground substance can solidify. These restrictions can create pain, swelling, misalignments, poor muscular biomechanics, decreased range of motion, cranial and/or sacral restrictions, emotional blockages and reduced strength, and lameness. Standard medical tests will not show a fascial restriction. As a matter of fact, mysterious conditions that have not responded to other modalities often have their origin in fascial restrictions.
Restrictions can develop in fascia from trauma, poor posture, and repetitive training. Even normal activities such as always mounting and leading on the left side can contribute to restrictions. Additionally, an imbalanced rider puts added strain on the horse because it must change its movements and posture to compensate for a rider’s challenges in core strength, flexibility and/or balance.
What is Fascia?
Fascia is a three-dimensional web that surrounds every bone, muscle, nerve, organ, and vessel down to the cellular level, from head to foot or head to hoof. Elastin, collagen, and a fluid-ground substance are their components.
For more information about fascia: https://www.myofascialrelease.com/about/fascia-definition.aspx
What to expect during a treatment
The initial evaluation and treatment lasts 90 minutes. In this session, we will spend some time discussing your horse’s movement, behavior, challenges, and any other concerns you may have. This session includes visual and tactile movement and postural assessments.
Subsequent sessions will last 75 minutes. Prior to beginning the session, Jillian will communicate with you to ask about any changes noticed since the last session.
Most often horses feel relief after restriction release, but sometimes they can feel sore after a treatment.
