Patricia is an OT and Myofascial Release Therapist trained by John F. Barnes in Sedona, Arizona. She brings with her more than 3 decades of OT inpatient rehabilitation experience and clinical writer work supporting innovative orthotics and prosthetics. She blends her intuitive skills and self-treatment recommendations with MFR therapy to help client’s reduce pain and restore postural alignment and motion to promote optimal health, function and comfort in their daily lives.
Myofascial Release Therapy (MFR) involves gentle, sustained pressure that guides the body to naturally, safely and effectively heal itself by releasing restrictions in the body’s fascia (connective tissue).
The fascia system is one continuous network that 3-dimensionally transverses our entire body to support and protect all other systems and structures (nerves, bones, blood vessels, etc.), thus pain in one area of the body may be caused by a restriction in another region. For example, headaches and low back pain may be related.
Daily forces that come upon us, including the impact with each step we take, resonate throughout the fascia network. We are generally unaware this is happening as normally these forces are absorbed and the fascia has done it’s job to protect our entire body. At the point we start to experience pain, limited motion and posture, we become acutely aware of the changes in our body. Unfortunately, these changes can limit daily function and result in compensatory motions to perform daily tasks. The area of the body having pain may become weaker as one guards their movements to prevent discomfort, creating a domino effect to other areas of the body that now must work harder.
“Strain patterns” in the fascia do not show up on standard tests. Many clients find MFR Therapy after having seen multiple specialists and they continue to have pain, limited motion and postural alignment issues. Restrictions may be recent or chronic, caused by stress, trauma (physical and/or emotional), surgery, repetitive motions and poor posture.
MFR addresses the mind-body complex and creates actual changes in the structure of the fascia to open tight areas, with lasting results to release pressure off of pain sensitive structures, improve postural alignment and promote maximal motion and function.
Interestingly, during MFR Therapy the body provides signs of what help it needs… a foot or hand may move or twitch signalling it needs attention and an area may be red, warm, hard, or tender.
Resource:
https://myofascialrelease.com/about/definition.aspx
Conditions MFR Therapy can help: (note, list is not inclusive)
Pain (one area or throughout),
Range of Motion Limitation (soft tissue restriction, including trunk),
Inflammation,
Postural Alignment Issues,
Jaw Pain (TMJ),
Headaches/Migraines,
Neck Pain,
Whiplash,
Back Pain,
Pelvic Pain,
Sports Injuries,
Plantar Fascitis,
Chronic Pain,
Neurological Dysfunction,
Fibromyalgia,
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome,
Carpal Tunnel,
Painful Scars,
Scoliosis
