Myofascial Release

Trigger points are a bundled area of scar tissue in a muscle that can create local pain as well as radiating pain elsewhere. This is very common in neck related headaches. For example, when a trigger point is “activated” in the anterior scalene muscle (muscle in the neck) by applying a sustained pressure it can recreate pain up into the head and towards the eye on the same side and even down the arm to the hand. By breaking up these type of trigger points the muscles can move more freely and eliminate all sorts of pains that seem unrelated to that specific muscle. Very commonly we see in our practice patients with disc bulges that were told they were the source of their pain syndromes. After a thorough examination we often times find that the bulges have nothing to do with the patient’s pain and it turns out to be a referred pain from a muscle. Myofascial release effectively eliminates these pains in a short series of treatments.

Chronic inflammation can cause dense scar tissue to form in the painful area. This scar tissue binds up and ties down tissues that need to move freely resulting in decreased range of motion. When muscles are short and tight, they lose strength, power, and efficient function. This leads to various pain and/or tightness. There are many aspects of soft tissue injuries that require a targeted approach. Unfortunately, not one single method can address all of them. Fortunately, we have multiple approaches for the various soft tissue injuries that can cause pain and suffering.