This is incredibly useful - I’ve totally been telling people that with careful, gentle breathing and movement with daringly, gently, patiently focused intent, you can very slowly, over time, move your fascia. I had a massive injury 15 years ago that i’ve been gradually improving, for some time - using this philosophic approach. Just subscribed after seeing this one video - I hope I find more things on the subject when I have time to come back
Thank you for sharing your experience. As a massage therapist highly trained in myofascial release, I was really disappointed in your video. You were absolutely correct in that a Swedish/relaxation massage will not do much to change the fascia. It takes skill and training to learn to release fascia, but a massage therapist can absolutely change the fascia, you just need to find the right one.
thnks for saying that... i am a craneal osteopath and i totally agree with you, release the fascia is possible and easy with manual therapy if you know how to do it
The problem is that the word massage, and it's registration or certification is used for all touch therapy except medical (MD prescribed), OD, or DC) is regulated as the word"Massage". The deep compression with movement work is also legally under the term, "Massage". Massage is a circulatory enlivening and relaxation way of treating a person through touch and pressure. The other disciplines need to have their own provenance. Their curricula are largely distinct from massage.
YES! A therapist that learns how to listen with their hands and work with the breath of the client and themselves can do this. Great Myofascial release training can make a big difference. You actually feel the unwinding of Fascia.
I’m surprised to see people so upset over her video, but I can understand, the problem is that this is quite complex and she could probably talk for hours! I really appreciated the video and completely understand and 100% agree with her. I have found working on my own body that when I find the “tension point” through meditation-guided body awareness I will hold it there and then “find” a trigger point belonging to that web of tension and press, and simultaneously very slowly move that area in the different “lines” of tension. The movements have to be very subtle or else I will “step out” of the line of tensions. Anyways, I believe science will one day make drugs for healing fascial inflamation (yes it will become recognized as an organ and as such monetized). I also have my own theory, that some people have “hyperfascia” so their fascia tends to grow abnormally really fast if they get injured. Then there’s the spiritual connection to fascia... I’m not a masseuse or PT or anything medical I’m just fascinated by fascia (I guess I have a fascial fascination haha). I think the fascia “hold” information that if we could one day use an imaging device to visualize would revolutionize healthcare. We could see where on the body there are fascial constructions and inflammation and adhesions all that. And also see how a person “holds” their body to diagnose mental illnesses.... potentially... or gain on insight on a persons mental or physical status. I’ve almost thought about going back to school to study fascia. My pt said I respond really well to myofascial therapy, I literally experience profound healing from 1 session, so much that I almost felt like I was on drugs when I left and my forehead felt like it was melting. I think good therapy like this causes the body to release certain chemicals, but the person also needs to be receptive to it. One last thing, when I feel profoundly relaxed (something that rarely happens inside my body as I have a condition that I WILL heal from I don’t even like saying what it is because it gives the “disease” more power) so when I feel profoundly relaxed inside my body (like my muscles have finally “let go” I become magically aware of all my fascial constrictions... it’s like a deep part of my brain turns on.. that healthy part before this disease that intuitively knows proper body alignment without any cognition just pure feeling... and then I will feel the fascially constricted places all at once as I become aware of “two layers” in my body, the “defective” fascial body “suit” and my pure “energetic” (neurologically connected to health and correct body alignment that we “know” is right from birth) body that is far more profoundly experienced than the fascial body suit... it’s like a light turns on and I realized that my fascia is just a “body suit” that I am wearing... I am not my fascia. The key or rather the journey is to integrate this fascia body suit into my “energetic” suit, and to do so I need to break the fascial deformities/restrictions. Because what I feel when I say fascial body suit is more like “restricted” fascial body suit. Once the restrictions are gone the fascia is no longer something separate from my naturally aligned body state (or energy state or neurological equilibrium whatever you want to call it).
One more comment... or question... lol. Do you think that the fascia can go into spasm? Just like muscles can go into spasm? I’ve looked into this and found that yes indeed fascia possibly has some motor neurons though not much. The reason I ask is because I’ve had certain spasms in my back/neck that I can’t say were muscle spasms... but definitely a spasm of some type (and when my pt using myofascial release worked on it I actually felt worse because he release part of the spasm in only the area he was targeting and the rest of the “sheet” absorbed the spasm/energy which was a very awkward feeling). The thing is is it possible for some people to be so physically sensitive/aware that they can trigger a certain fascial complex to spasm on its own through maladaptive body postures and mental fixation? Am I making any sense lol. Lastly, I want to say that unlike all the other organs of our body the fascia is the one that has a spatiotemporal connection to the world. I also believe it is why it has a little bit of motor neurons scattered inside it. Perhaps those motor neurons are also a type of sensory neuron that aids in this body awareness of space. Which brings me to a point I made in my previous comment, it is a physical link to our spiritual expression. Other organs of course are also linked spiritually but in a less direct way, they’re more of the foundation for our spiritual being, while fascia is a sort of medium or substance for that expression. Spiritual or mental or whatever you wanna call it. Anyways, fascinating stuff. I apologize for the free flowing rant of my comments, I just don’t have time to write a succinctly made comment especially when I’m feeling very passionate about what I am talking about!
I read all you typed I have to say this is very interesting...and I can say that I agree with the feeling of the body suit I like the way you worded alot of things you do sound very intelligent (a bit manic but hey I get that way too, esp when it comes to something I deal with all the time and trying to explain it/a possibility of a solution,and yes passionate about the subject, not saying it's a bad thing so don't take it the wrong way💓) I just wanted to show you my appreciation for what you took so much time to type and I hope one day you feel better cuz even I don't think I could endure what you explained that you deal with all the time. Sending good vibes, thank you!
Wow!! As a LMT with 14 yrs of practicing myofascial release, this commentary stung me a bit. Any serious body worker understand s the value of multiple, dimensional approaches to addressing stubborn issues. With that being said, I and many of my clients can personally testify that it is absolutely possible to release restrictions as low as level 4 of the fascia system (visceral), working superficially at the skin. It takes practice to develop the sense touch and patience to achieve that. This is not something experienced by a 1 yr massage therapist or, an occasional spa treatment receiver.
I must say that this is the most informative and interesting comments section I've ever read on yt... thanks to everyone who posted on this informative video 🙏😊
She is correct that compression and movement is the key, just a massage would not create that, unless there is movement like elishe says i have noticed improvement in my hips in under 2 weeks so far, i find it also takes commitment with the fascia
@@sherryjones5082 many of her other videos show it, but basically you compress with an object such as a block or ball, say by sitting on the floor and placing your calf on a tennis ball. Then you do a voluntary movement of rotating your leg, say inward. That creates the compression and voluntary movement, across a muscle group.
The key is movement! Get out of bad muscle memory to feel relief. Every Day! If you hurt, get moving and stretching. You wont get better by sitting still. If you use it wrong or dont use it , you loose it✌
Found this out recently after having several Atlas adjustments which is moving vertebrae /body parts back to where they should be. The body aches because it doesn’t like it. Walking, however discomforting, makes a big difference in how I feel. After about 10 mins.the discomfort settles down.
I had really tight calves and after rolling with a small hard ball, it hurt like a bitch but my ankle mobility has improved a lot and my balance and coordination improved dramatically and I’ve gotten faster
Fasciae unwinding is a beautiful way to change the fascia from the inside.. it has its own innate healing ability as does the whole body- I have been teaching this and clients release on many levels, physical, emotional and mental. :-)
I find your theory not only interesting, but quite sensible. Thank you. IMHO, everyone should learn how to do their own self-massage therapy and myofacial release, unless you have the time and budget for frequent visits to a masseuse, DC or PT professional. Learning self-massage/release techniques is one of the best gifts I've given to myself. I give them to myself while on walks, bike rides and - in particularly - 'swimming'. For example; I always take my snorkel and fins with me to the pool when I take my daily swim. With snorkel and fins on, I simply float upright in the deep end (face down in the water). I can then hold on to my hamstrings with both hands while I 'bicycle' one leg at a time. Talk about active release! It works and feels incredible as you are weightless, balanced like a cork, and your muscle facia is much more soft and flexible. The fins allow you to give your hamstrings a vigorous workout after 5 or so minutes of intense facia release,. You can 'shake it out' with a vigorous horizontal lap swim. It's really incredible. The snorkel and fins also let you easily perform release on your shoulders, arms and torso while you either swim prone or on your back. Or, you can just hang vertically and bicycle. Lastly, when I'm at home, I always use a heating pad prior to massaging, as well as during the massage wherever I can. Heat is the best muscle relaxer and the next best thing to a nice warm swimming pool, IMHO.
I am a massage therapist and an FST practioner (fascial stretch therapist) and I can tell you, fascia can definitely be affected effectively, with lasting results, by outside forces by a skilled therapist. Just like any proffesion, there will be Michael Jordans and bench players. Both are basketball players, but one is in a league of their own. Its the same with bodywork. What might not work with one therapist, can absolutely be benificial when recieved from a different, more skilled therapist. Sounds like she's gotten work done by average massage therapist who probably didnt know how to release fascia properly and worked the muscles more than the fascia.
Hi, I have had a chronically tight lower back for several years after landscaping my garden over the space of a year, lifting hundreds of 23KG+ bags of gravel with poor technique. My lower back tightened up to counteract this force I put upon them. I have finally started stretching, but find it boring and hard to commit to it, especially as I have a physical job and when I get home from work I am tired so don't feel like stretching. I am wondering how much massage could help release these muscles? and which type of massage is best, would it be best if I went to a clinical masseuse?
Apparently, the video's author has not heard of Rolfing, Bindegewebsmassage, or Neuromuscular Therapy. Using words like "I think" and "probably" indicate her experience and education are limited.
@@footyball66 , First, please stop calling them all ''masseuse". 😛 And, Yes__there are various modalities in the realm of massage/bodywork that may benefit your situation. You have to do your own research in defining and categorizing them with regard to your specific requirements. At the same time, it would also be wise to learn and implement proper 'functional' exercises to strengthen your back and pelvic girdle muscles. Hope you find this information useful. Love, Light, and Healing Blessings. 🙏😇✨💫🌱🌿🌻🐝🌳🌎💖🙌😺
I recommend looking into the definition of fascia if you watch this. What component, exactly, are you referring to? Is it the dense connective tissue? Is it the loose connective tissue? What part of the dense or loose connective tissue? Cells, fibres, ground substance? If you want to understand the behavior of fascia, you need to understand the behavior of its components, and the interplay between them.
Good description of the fascia and purpose. Bob Cooley's method of Resistance Stretching and Strength training targets exactly what you are talking about. The change happens within as the client is resisting the movement from the trainer. The movements also correlate with the Chinese medicine meridian lines so it works the body as a system to reorganize and rebalance. He calls it a subtractive technology. I am an Elite Trainer and haven't found any other method that strips away accumulated dense tissue and scar tissue like this one. And it is. pain free. I have been doing massage for 18 years and this method works in only a few sessions. Yes, clients need to be aware of what they want to accomplish in the session.
Massage, la crosse balls, back knobber all help me immensely. I’m getting massage because it reduces my pain for weeks to months. It is lasting relief for me but I’ll check out your other videos and see what’s up.
Great piece of Information. Recently i got relief from back pain that was there for 3 decades. This fascia was hardened and was deep down. Hot fomenting followed by compression with elbow, followed by cupping finally helped.
@@aniket1969 I am homeopathic doctor so I didn't take any help from outside other that Physiotherapist. Backache started with sprain that became chronic. What adds is attitude to take too much responsibility, and digest bad behaviour of others that leads to sleep problem. SO, get rid of of toxic people around you, try to improve sleep and use elbow to loosen the muscle knot that is preventing blood flow. 1 month good sleep will repaid that: I do yoga for flexibility. Very important is to state right as right and wrong as wrong. Once you are free from stress, elbowing and exercise will smoothen it. Good wishes!
@@kellieleachmeyer The first thing I would suggest is to look for or get diagnosed if there are degenerative changes in the area where nerves are forking to the limbs. If there are, get homoeopathic medicines for that. No one believes but it works. Rhus Tox C1000 for example, but it should be according to the symptoms. 2nd thing is to change the types of food we eat. Again huge problem, what to say without. 3rd thing is to manage stress! Backache == Long-standing stress. 4th thing is to avoid negative people around you to make 3rd possible. The 3rd will make the second possible and the second will stop the degenerative changes. I generally use homoeopathy and massage (Yoga, targeted exercise) from here onwards.
"Meant to be bullet-proof" is problematic. It seems to *me* that the "strength" of biological systems is that they are constantly adapting, rather than resisting change. The strength of a biological system is a range of behavior without become destabilized and falling apart, *not* being immutable to external events. The classic Chinese parable is the example of the Willow Tree, it bends in the storm and so does not break.
I just FOUND YOUR CHANNEL. You never realize how much you USE SOMETHING UNTIL YOU HURT IT!!! I have had many accidents and will benefit from this very much!!! Bless you and yours. I am now a new subscriber now. Thank you so much!!! 🙏❤🇺🇸😊
Mantak Chias book, Iron Shirt Chi Kung explains it way deeper and how the fascia is meant to be pressurized like a balloon inside the body. He explains how to pressurize the three layers of fascia.
@@divineunique77 I read the book for ten years or so, a step at a time. In retrospect, I should have read it all the way through at first and then back through it again slowly. Years later, unexpectedly pressurized the fascia layers in Kundalini yoga class after doing sodarshan for about an hour a day for a few days in a row.
This is the incredibly foundational strategy of "anchor and stretch" that I learned from Art Riggs' book "Deep Tissue Massage: A Visual Guide To Techniques". It's amazing (and disconcerting) how few LMTs understand how and why to do this.
Art Riggs is a Rolfer and Rolfing is the grand daddy of all these ideas that she has, most of which is correct, except for some of the sentences that start with I believe. The principle she is trying to explain is called mechanotransduction. Movement, for example, is not absolutely necessary to get change.
Also she links that and other videos in the description for this specifically (I had a look after the video to see if there was more info). Hope that helps and take care 😊.
This makes so much sense. I was going to P.T. for frozen shoulder, but what finally released my frozen shoulder was my OWN movement, combined with use of a yoga roll. Of course, P.T. and massage therapy do have many, many benefits, even including helping to soften fascia. However, if you're not also doing your own body movement, there is only so much massage and P.T. can do. That's why P.T.s assign excersizes for you to do in between visits.
Don’t appreciate throwing all massage into one category of it “just feels good”. There are therapists out there that know how to do myofascial release as you just described but I guess we are all only here for “fluff and stuff”. Thanks a lot
I've had Plantar Fasciitis in both feet over the last two years. And spent a fortune so I can get back running. What this Lady says rings true to me. Last week I bought some cheap compression socks and they improved my foot by an unbelievable amount. Also with my last foot it never got exactly right until I recommenced running on it. Hmm!
Food and stress have a huge part to play in fascia stickiness. Virtually all of our food is poison today. incomplete digestion == malabsorption. Mental holding patterns == holding stress == no internal bodily movement. so many factors need addressing.
Totally agree. At first I thought this comment was on my other video about food and stress in relationship to fascia! Thanks for adding your thoughts here. Our fascia is under tremendous assault, from poisons to EMFs to lack of real nutrition and trauma...it's along list.
Thank you so much,just came on to your site . Have just tried some self fascia release from some of your videos and feel amazing- has already relived tight muscles which has been there for years. Please keep on sharing and ignore the skeptics🙏👍
Fascia resists force for sure, that's why light touch fascial methods work. It takes a trained touch, but you can learn to have it melt basically. It is deeply connected to the nervous system. If you do it right, the clients nervous system goes in super deep relaxation and the mind goes into theta.
As a massage therapist, I disagree and have seen many times I have made changes, along with the client. ALL massage is a 2 way street, but you make it sound like we are doing nothing to make the changes. That is not a helpful way to about it. If you want the theorize, pls use only what you know and do not include ALL other modalities. I think you shd be careful about what you state as true or correct. I wonder if you have had therapeutic massage. Not being mean, just stating my opinion.
Hey Lisa - Thanks for sharing your opinion and experience. Everything I shared in this video and accompanying blog post is based on my experience as an LMT first (before doing what I do now which is step on people and coach them through movement to release the fascia, which is AS STRONG AS STEEL and designed by nature to withstand any force attempting to change it). I get massages regularly myself and have experienced everything from Rolfing and structural integration to myofascial massage, deep tissue, lomi-lomi and on and on. Personally, I've never experienced lasting change with any modality of massage. Neither did any of my clients when I worked in a Chiropractors office as an LMT working with people in pain (they felt good for an hour or day, then came back a week later in pain again). I think it's important to know WHY we choose certain modalities and to be realistic about the results. I get massages to enjoy the experience, feel more relaxed, get in touch with my body and because it just feels good! If I want to change my fascia and get out of pain, I want to have my fascia released with some kind of compression and movement based modality. I certainly won't deny what other people experience so if you feel massage works to get you out of pain - great! I would still maintain my belief that massage doesn't RELEASE fascia.
lil lisa, most therapist are quacks as chiros! no one pulled your chain- most massage is just a scam- ice, heat, exercise- rest! never let a scam go to waste!
It is the nervous system that creates and allows for change in the fascia to occur, whether it be compression (via Merckel disc nerve endings), client initiated movement, skin stretching, or crossfiber friction. In my 4 years as an LMT I have found that the longer i stay in one place on the clients body (compression) the longer the results last. Lower load bodywork with longer durations in a given area produce the best results. And yes, massage (i.e. active movement through soft tissue is great for some things like relaxation and body awareness, but sustained compression does seem to be the best bet for long term results.
Thank you for this. Finally someone who understands fascia. That’s the reason why massages are often temporary. If you don’t move your muscle yourself together with a fascia compression, you won’t get a great change. Anyone who disliked this video, disagreeing with you just doesn’t know better.
It's called soft tissue release.. funny thing is that her quote of bumping into stuff is kind of like compression. Massages are temporary because people are reliable..
@theiriscen, ANY therapy outside of the 'self' will be a temporary attempt to 'fix' a situation, if the 'self' isn't actively involved in the healing process. That's why modern(allopathic) medicine doesn't 'heal' a body, either. 😛 However, that does not mean we cannot heal by utilizing 'specific' modalities of massage/bodywork when used in conjunction with personalized 'homework'__that is to say, 'at-home practices' of specific movements and regular exercises to retrain the body to heal, and strengthen weaknesses for mantaining structural integrity. As a last note, the reason many in this thread are in disagreement with the presenter, myself included, is pretty obvious__certainly NOT because they don't "know better", quite the opposite. They DO know better than the info presented here(which appears to be personal viewpoint, by her own admission), because many here are bodyworkers who use the modalities designed specifically for releasing stubborn tension in the fascia. The bottom line is, no therapy is 'permanent' because we are not 'static' beings! As long as we are living, breathing, moving about, there's always the probability we may require some 'outside' help in returning to homeostasis. And as long as we are 'participants', those therapies will go a long way in helping on our healing journey. Love, Light, and Blessings. 🙏😇✨💫🌱🌿🌻🐝🌳🌎💖🙌😺
As simple as it seems its Very Very important info that I have struggled for long and couldn't fugured it out by myself. Woaw! Big thanks. Already getting the benefits. Muscle knots please
Compressing an adhesion and activating the muscle will only work if the adhesion is properly softened beforehand. Otherwise, you can just tear your muscle right next to the adhesion. You really have to use heat first.
I agree, everything is a process if you know what your doing. The area has to be warned and muscle strands sperated before you can manipulate facia properly to it's normal resting place.
Actuall people she hit the nail right on the head...compression and movement in the full range of motion where the problem is. Voodoo flossing also known as compression flossing is the way to do it.... and it really does the job. You will notice a difference after the first few sessions.
I agree with you. What you are doing is explaining active release technique. If you mentioned this in the video, people would understand and accept what you are saying.
I’m a professional massage therapist and where as this woman seems to know the anatomy an physiology of the fascia she makes big statements that are not clear are misleading and inaccurate. Massage does assist the fascia to release but it is not the only modality to use and the body should be approached as a whole. Referral to other ways of treatment or other practitioners is a given If you wish to rebalance the whole organism. No practitioner know it all otherwise you would be in school several life times all of the time. This woman likes the sound of her own voice and makes huge statements that could land her in some hot water.
A very interesting podcast, information& point of view. Thank you However as a ' patient/ client ', who's works with a ( massage) therapist that works mostly works the fascia, .AND educates/ works with me..... she's done Miracles" ! Bringing me & my body back Twice from Major crashes.
I agree, a person has to change the fascia from the inside out. I been doing this for years by practicing Yen Yoga. It gets into places where no hands can go.
Hey all you people that commented below!!! Go read this on her blog post...she, again, states her reasons and does not eliminate all massage. Don't just jump to conclusions here!
Massage therapy, heat and stretching helps. So moving and compression is the key but massage uses compression and stretching and excercise does move the tissue.
Maybe I missed it… But what sort of movement are you talking about? I would love to work on my fascia, and I see the value in that, but I didn’t see or hear where you were talking about exactly what to do other than compression and movement.
I am not a licensed anything... except driver..and cosmetologist..lol..but this does make sense. Any real lasting change happens from the inside out. As someone who is in knots (physically, though not muscular) I found this video informative and cohesive. I have a PhD in me, and the kind of change I need is definitely inside and out...it all makes sense..to me..a regular person..with a body.. Thanks!
Um, freesyddotcom, take it easy there on the male/female crap please. Yes, there are many inaccuracies in what she is saying. It is a training challenge, not a gender challenge.
Massage Therapists worth their salt always improve their trade. I use positional release technique which is an Osteopathic method. As well as Reflexology, other Reflexes stimulation, joint mobilization, active resist, inhibition, Cranio-Sacral for deeper changes. Suggest restorative yoga for increase in telemeric activity. And for clients to research the pillars of nutritional health as we are living in a world of "Roundup/Glyphosate" mimicking a protein that aids in certain hormone production. Massage therapists I know actually understand that fascia unwinds because they have had personal experiences in meditative and cerebrospinal fluid movement.
Decompressing the body is the best way for back pain relieving, In a simple notice to explain. all cartilage from ankle to fingers and were ever cartilage is present is relived of stiffness and the body slowly realigning it self , I transformed by re-engineer my old bow flex exercise machine into a Decompression or simply hanging upside down , and every day when waking up and every night before going to bed for 5 minutes I Decompress my body , and I feel amazing I could of just bought a teeter Decompressing bed, but I couldn't afford it and I instead Improvise with what I had.
I think most of the times "fascia release" is something referred to the loose connective tissue present in-between dense layers (as we know both epimysial fascia and aponeurotic fascia has 2 to 3 layers) with high presence of HA. Nonetheless, there are some recent studies on the exercises that you have to do to actually stretch the dense part of the fascia. Static stretching, for example, has been shown to increase the amount of collagen if performed about 6 min per week for several weeks. Then it depends on your goal, if you want to increase stiffness (like in an power athlete) you might as well incorporate plyo exercises. Collagen secreting cells are living and active and they respond to load, but they get accustomed to it quite quickly which can explain the lack of further improvements with > than 6 min a week stretching.
Unfortunately I was on accutane 20 years ago and I have had pain ever since! Especially in my thoracic, shoulders, chest... I practice yoga, meditate, get massages, and even got to a chiropractor... I can’t help but wonder if the acne medication could have caused changes in the fasciae?
I know antibiotics can have a big impact on fascia, so it's possible the acne medication can too. Your lymph system lives in the superficial fascia, and you have a TON (70% of your total) of lymph nodes in your neck. So maybe there's a relationship there. You could try a January video I put out about releasing the neck lymph/fascia for starters. Fascia will heal! You just have to open up the channels so blood can flow and waste can move out.
I remember acquaintances a family from South West Asia where the parents would ask the teenage kids to walk on their backs as they lay down, as massage. To do so HARD. Seemed funny but i got it when i had stubborn pains: it help1ed to press hard
I need a little help. 3 months back i jumped from a height barefoot and was badly hurt under my heels. The doctors said its plantar fasciitis. Hot compression and proper movement therapy would slowly fix it. But since it has been over three months and me being a person who moves a lot, i sometimes get worried and depressed because of the sustaining pain. I can feel it is healing, but the rate it too slow. I just wanted to text you for a Reassurance that it would be totally fine in the coming days.
good, but the real difficulty is that fascia problems often prevent from engaging a particular body part properly. for instance fascia problems after injuries or surgeries. the point is, how to work with fascia in these situations?
I trained in deep tissue release over 30 years ago as well a cranial sacral and have been going to bodyworkers for almost fifty years. In all that time I have yet to find ANY modality that provides permanent relief and I doubt there is one.
Do you have any tips and tricks for hyperflexible joints? I've just found out that I have somewhat hyperflexible joints and the doc said that it made me prone to get RSI. I've been battling bilateral tennis elbow and your videos have helped me a lot.
In my opinion, hypermbility is not what causes repetitive strain injuries (I'm assuming that's what you're talking about when you say RSI?) I'm incredibly hyper mobile in my joints from doing gymnastics as a kid. What is really helping me lately is working with a trainer and using LIGHT weight so I can control the movement and isolate only the muscles we're targeting with each set. When you work out with heavier weight and you're hyper flexible, it's an instinct to compensate by having the joint perform the movement rather than the muscles, and/or it's easy to compensate with other overdeveloped muscles. A good example is hyper flexible shoulder joints when trying to do something like a shoulder press or raise - the TRAPS will likely get involved and the shoulder joint will just 'fall' into its hyper mobile position, rather than engaging the deltoids and rhomboids to lock the shoulder joint in place. This is a really complicated issue that's hard to write about in this tiny box! If you'd like my personal help I do offer Skype sessions, which you can check out here: www.mobilitymastery.com/skype-sessions
Ahhh...makes sense about using light weight. I did try using heavier weight, but they only made me feel more sore. Thanks for the Skype session link. I've been referred to two PTs here and they've helped me think of my posture (my wrist posture, my arm posture) but sometimes at work when it's rush hour, it's kinda difficult to remember (I work at a supermarket and some of the stuff I have to move/lift are heavy) and I've been wondering if there are other things I can do on my own (other than standing in front of the mirror when I lift some weights for example).
what if you have fibromyalgia and chronic myofascial pain? I am also 'hypermobile' and my neck gets tight, nerves get impinged, currently my deltoids and biceps are really bad (haven't had that before) and I work on pec minor, scalenes etc. I was better for a while after starting very slow and careful pilates but have now gone into what seems to be an acute-to-chronic phase very quickly.
you MUST change your habits if you expect a long-term change. No matter the method. Her's is the same thing. If she walks on you and you feel better but you go back in your day-to-day life doing all the same, you'll have to go back to her...
Reki? Energy work? I feel my hernia was due to my hip and Phyloris muscle fissure being surgically drained. Doctor went into the wrong spot and had to pull back and make another hole..
I disagree here. Only by a smidge though haha. Because it really depends on what type of massage you are getting. And the tools do work. It may cause a little soreness or bruising with the tight or painful areas. But it works and some stretching should be done afterwards. With precaution of course. I mean the tool is an aid. And it helps break up those tissues. Heat also helps. I would like to try cryotherapy and hydrotherapy soon.
I think you've missed the point of explaining how to work with fascia and the science behind why we use compression as an energy creating force to begin "melting" the fascia. You are absolutely correct, you can never force this tissue as it can exert up to 2,000 lbs of pressure per sq in. Yet, you never mentioned the extremely important aspect of the time it takes (5 min or longer of a sustained stretch or hold) to create change within the fascia. As a MFR therapist and a person who receives this therapy regularly, it is important to understand that, although quite often there is movement during unwinding, it is not necessary that you "move" to be able to release restrictions. Sometimes the most profound releases occur within the stillness of the body. As far as, "not being able to get to deeper muscles" with MFR compared to massage...you have it backwards. Because of the connective, all pervasive nature of the fascial system you are more likely to go deeper with true Myofascial Release techniques. As one of my colleagues likes to say "MFR goes deeper than what deep tissue massage would like to go". If you are not experiencing that I would look at your training again and who is working with you.
Hey Judy, thanks for commenting. From your language I suspect you've had training with John Barnes. I don't deny that his method probably works (I haven't experienced that exact modality). I was trained to do myofascial work in the style of Thomas Myers and did myofascia massage for a year as an LMT. Then I learned that there are faster and more permanent ways to create change in the fascial system than sustained 5 minute holds using hands as tools (which is exhausting as a practitioner to boot). My main assertion with the above video and blog post is that MOST forms of MASSAGE do not release fascia (not necessarily MRF, if the practitioner is good). This entire channel and blog is a free resource I wanted to offer the world based on my experience working full time for 9 years getting people out of pain and wanting this information to become available to the rest of the world, not just those who can see me in Boulder. Why don't you come try this method and then give me your comparisons :)
You are mistaken; fascia begins (for me) to begin melting the moment I place my hands on the body; just like you could not hold an ice cube without instantly beginning to melt it. You Barnes people are mistaken and I prove it daily for the last 33 years.
I think us "oldies" know what good massage is. It truly does melt fascia if you do it right. The schools push so many through and are concerned that they not 'hurt' themselves so they teach them lighter massage. Plus more spas ( the going trend) want lighter massages for insurance/suing sake. Therapists don't want to lose their license. Many reasons why people don't 'get in touch with the deeper layers' properly. It takes love and care and that is not what is 'taught' in school but rather technique and occasionally caution.
You are absolutely correct, whoever you are. I'm on this same journey of discovery as well. Of all comments I've read here, you're the first to confirm what I've discovered on my own, not being in the profession of health care, just what I've learned through constant experimentation and I'm now 64 and getting rid of bodily pain attributed to years and maybe decades of fascial protecting me from it, those trigger points, at some times the most painful release but I kept at it knowing that when it ended I'd have real relief, no BS, no hype, because if you find the source of the referred pain and work diligently to eradicate or address it, it's permanent. Leg cramps, gone, hamstrings loosened, able to put pressure on both hip joints nada, zilch, because I concentrated on strain or movement that identified a direction to pursue and I went all the way through the layers of fascia apparently and found the trigger point and got it unstuck and smooth, and this includes the most private of parts, when I discovered my "leotard" was on crooked and once I got it properly sorted, sex life without viagra no kidding. Ask the wife....she knows....wow. A kindred spirit among the insanity. We have a built in maintenance system, from birth...how amazing is that? Extremely...and few MD's will even discuss it as a real therapy, treatment or whatever, except for one I met, from India, says it takes a very long time to learn...so what else do we do with the time here on earth? Something essential...along with healthy intake of nutrients. Partnership here holistically, IMHO. All the best to you, friend. She took a risk with the video but it's only the mere tip of what fascia is doing for our bodies and if we address it properly, it'll ensure many years of living among the wise, not the foolish around us. This was huge for me to learn and I still don't know why it came as it did, but eternally grateful for the learning on my own body. Brain says, no pain, anywhere....great day outside...Blessings to you, whoever you are. And Peace, Health and Happy Spirit. Joy of life is being able to repair yourself, not depend on modern medicine etc...amazing beyond words and I may have to pull this post eventually once others read because many still don't understand...guess it's why i find so much massage stuff at local Ross at discount, once they discovered they couldn't just buy one and get relief...there's a science to our bodies that even medical school glances over in 4 years of studies. PT's don't have much of a clue either as to the complexity of not pressing but using either finger or hand pressure for full release as I sometimes do when completing a session over my upper torso, I can even do it in church and no one suspects a thing....Coolest thing ever, self healing, so we are capable of this....and who knows what else? Too much noise for most to find inner quiet and this process has many technical aspects to observe or you can cause more pain than relief. Been there and had to "correct" a few instances where I went a bit off the rails, learned to fix those quickly, so uncomfortable, but I got my suit on pretty straight now. Lends a new meaning to the old term, "birthday suit"....LOL
But wait, there's more...enjoy! To your health, of course...watch pls, I did and he's correct, goes even deeper than taught...you're welcome! Bye...peace. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-TWPukWziQk4.html
25+ years of MT practice, using MFR, just have to write to disagree... I hear you and I know the value of the clients participation, but myofascial stretching by a knowledgeable massage therapist CAN be immensely helpful. I'm here to add my voice to the chorus: don't disparage massage therapy as useless when it comes to making progress in the vast arena of myofascial body work.
It depends on the massage style, and focus. Saying "it" as if massage is all one thing is highly inaccurate. There are as many approaches to massage as there are therapists. Some disciplines are completely devoted to fascia (with varying rates of sucess). I do exactly what you're referring to as PART of my overall massage technique IF I find the client has issues with their fascia (of course they all do). If you do massage therapy right, you address all layers of the myofascial system.
Elisha, as a massage therapist with a deep interest and lots of CE in fascial release techniques, I am curious what your thoughts are about compression with passive movement vs active movement. I imagine that active movement provides greater change, but do you find there to still be some benefit to passive movement as well? Often my clients come in thinking they want a traditional massage or saying how they need to relax, so I often include compression + passive movement to give them that relaxing massage experience of not having to do anything while also attempting to address the deeper issues causing their pain. Thoughts?
Hi Katrina - thank you for such a thoughtful question, and for sharing your experience! I appreciate every opportunity to dialog and learn from each other. I filmed this video many years ago now, and I've learned a lot since then. Primarily, I've learned that these are complex topics that require thorough knowledge of many systems of the body and how they interact with each other. Any result (or lack of result) is dependent first and foremost on setting a specific goal. Then, it hinges on knowing the root cause(s) of the obstacle standing in the way of the goal. And any strategy designed to produce a result ought to be thoughtfully crafted based on knowledge of the root cause(s), with a way to measure progress. Pain is primarily in the domain of the nervous system (via nociception and neuroception, the 2 nerve receptors responsible for detecting tissue damage and danger), whereas the quality of our tissues, joints, organs, nerve communication, blood circulation etc are primarily in the domain of fascia (since fascia wraps and coats and bathes everything, and the health of the fascia affects all these systems). There's absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to relax and not have to "do" anything. That can be really healing to the nervous system. WHO we partner with (practitioners/doctors etc) also matters. A LOT. Do we feel safe with them? Do we feel seen and accepted for who we are? Can we speak up, say "I don't like that" or "can you please do X, or NOT do Y?" Or do we feel unsafe to be ourselves, unable to set boundaries and get our needs met? Maybe your clients feel really safe with you, and that is healing to their nervous system. This in itself can be monumentally healing, if the root cause of pain has something to do with not feeling safe to be yourself. On the fascia side of things - fascia is almost as strong as steel, it can withstand up to 2,000lbs of mechanical force without deforming, and one of its primary job descriptions is to protect us. So it does not change easily, and my stance in this video hasn't changed much: fascia is resistant to change. HOWEVER... Whether or not fascia grants us the change we're seeking will be largely determined by our nervous system: do we experience fascia release as threatening? Painful? Dangerous? Or do we experience it as enjoyable, relieving, helpful? How we perceive fascia release will largely determine our results. And then there's the fact that by using active movement we have to engage all aspects of our brain body communication systems: nervous system, fascia, proprioceptors, interoceptors, neuroceptors, nociceptors, and we have to DO SOMETHING while all of those receptors are getting triggered. This causes a neuroplasticity event (where we can make changes), whereas being passive is much less likely to do that. Passive movement won't do much in terms of shearing fascia or activating neuroplasticity, but it can still produce a positive effect. So the long answer is: it's complicated and highly individual. I'm a big fan of using fascia release as a "diagnostics" tool first and foremost, to understand ourselves (or t help our clients understand themselves). Since fascia is the only element in the body that touches all other elements, it can tell us about all those other elements: nervous system, circulatory system, lymph system, musculoskeletal system, etc. Pain can happen for emotional, physical, social and environmental reasons. Finding the root cause is the key to lasting freedom.
@@ElishaCeleste thank you for this detailed and well thought out response. I appreciate you taking the time to do so, and so quickly as well. I've become very curious about and invested in the mind/body/spirit connection and how all parts work in harmony to create pain/dysfunction but also healing. I noticed you have a pelvic instability course that seems to address all those areas as potential and even co-root causes. Would you say this is comprehensive or are you working on something that is more comprehensive or that more fully addresses the full physical body as well as the mental/emotional, spiritual, energetic, etc aspects?
@@eclipst85 - I share your curiosity about all these connections! This fascinating journey into what it means to be human, to own a physical body and also a soul, and to be spiritually connected to all life...that's what keeps me on this path and in this career. From the sounds of it, you would love my course Mind Body Breakthrough. In that I course, I explore the mind body connection through the lens of fascia, and what fascia can teach us about the nervous system and survival programs, how beliefs and stories can keep us trapped (or set us free), what trauma is and how it shows up in the body, how our bodies are reflections of us and also reflections of the world...and so much more. Both courses (SPI and MBB) are available exclusively to members of my online community (membership), The Kinetix Academy. It's currently closed, but I will be opening it again in a couple months. You can learn more and get on the wait list here: kinetix.academy/join/
@@ElishaCeleste Thank you! I already signed up for the newsletter and course offering updates. I will check out the membership as well. I agree, the mind/body course you mentioned sounds right up my alley. I look forward to when it becomes available.
So, compression and active movement in the "stuck" area are the key. Got it, but it would have been helpful if you showed us an example of the specific technique on someone. Even something simple would have improved your talk to make it more applicable and less abstract. Something to think about for the future. I'm gonna check out your other content.
Hey Jeffrey, thanks for the intelligent comment and feedback. This videos is pretty old now, and I've learned a lot since I put it out (more recent science about fascia that backs up what I'm saying, but also about how to create RU-vid videos). My channel has a lot of technique videos that show you how to compress and shear fascial adhesions.
I think this is only part of the puzzle. Movement, stretching, definitely are an aspect of changing fascia. There is proven scientific data showing changes in fascia from using tools and being consistent. Notice she says “in my own opinion”.
I have come to the conclusion or suspicion or "theory" that fascia is truly the material matrix throughout which all of our other tissue is suspended , including bone cells
"lasting change" ??? No one treatment will give you 'lasting change'. You can not seriously expect lasting change from one session of exercise, massage, stretching etc. Fascia and the body will respond to the repeated stresses of its environment. Habit, daily routine, daily postures and movements will shape our fascia, muscles etc for the good or the bad. The responsibility is with the person who owns the body not any therapist or trainer. And yes, massage does affect the fascia, just not forever.
Spot on. You,ll never get a therapist/ physio or osteopath to agree as their easy money will be gone. Personal exercises are the best way to move & feel free.
Lasting change... I am wondering how much re- education of the body it takes so that a change is really lasting. Bodywise. And which combinations of methods are really the most effective...
I would normally agree, but I did experience permanent change from one session of ART, Active Release Tehnique. My stuck shoulder became unstuck within 5 minutes and has stayed that way! It really hurt at the time but was so worth it!
In another video this very clever lady explains how in her opinion our thoughts/emotions play a bigger role than diet,lifestyle or anything else. Since the emotional/thought process tales place within the CNS and every illness is rooted there to treat anything you really must start with the CNS. think yoga or tao chi. Meditational movement incorporating corrective breathing and mindfulness and a good old cold shower works for me. A few days of sitting around brooding and the inflammation and resulting pain just gets unbearable.
Youre sort of right. The ultimate method for reforming fascia is probably barbell smashing or use of a lacross ball compressing said tissues while moving in such a way that will allow the fascia to break up. Everything else might do the trick in time but the barbell smashing seems to do the most if you can stay with its intensity
That's actually my point! Everything I demonstrate at Mobility Mastery uses tools like foam rollers, lacrosse balls, barbells etc to compress a piece of fascia and then you have to move to release it. What I do in my private practice is "step on" people, sometimes with my full body weight. That's a lot of intensity, but the results are typically instant and very few people even get sore.
Everyone is entitled to put their opinion on the internet, but it seems as though you haven't done much research yourself. If you want to say you are a master of something, you clearly don't even understand that massage therapists, rolfers, etc can do the exact thing you are saying, or that there is an emotional component, a nervous system component, and that skillful practitioners of many kinds understand fascia. But of course when client continues to do the same postural patterns, lack of movement, aggressive activity, guarding pattern, emotional holding, etc etc. it will go back. Actually reading the comment that you agree smashing into the body is the way to go, when it directly contradicts what you said in the video about the body wanting to protect itself, makes it clear that you're irresponsibly sharing information you don't fully understand and trying to make a profit. I almost never comment anywhere on the internet because it's pointless but, I am really in hopes for you that you find yourself some better education since you seem passionate about the topic. Did you ever study anatomy trains before practicing massage? Do you undestand that trauma can be lodged in the body via the poly vagal system and that it actually requires light touch and talk together to release it?
actually unlikely any of that provides enough force to manhandle the fascia into doing what we want. also more clinical studies being done are failing to find proof that fascia or adhesions are what's causing pain at all. it's an assumption we've run with while we had a lack of clinically relevant information and as more is coming out it looks like we may need to rethink our approach
@@stacer1962 Obviously a huge problem within the manual therapy field. As these RU-vid comments continue to expose. Of course the youtube comment section is the place where reason and sanity come to die, so you and I are probably wasting our breath ..hands...w/e. Massage education, especially, is a joke. The academic rigor is null. I cringe when massage therapists especially try to spout off as if they know so much about the way the body works from their 6 months in school. Something particularly about this individuals modality that's distressing is she gets part of it right and talks about how its communication with the nervous system that effects change but then in the next breath talks about how you can only get at that ol fascia if you give it some FORCE WITH YOUR FEET. ...wait what?
Wow...what a way to basically say Massages are pointless. Disagree, but I am not a Dr., however I am a LMT. I hope those who sees this does not believes it. A massage therapist for a year...and this is your conclusion. And what classes did you take to master Mobility. I am in awe of this video and the things you are saying
She just didn't discuss how. I was waiting for the how. I know how painful fascia can be. Perhaps she is talking about ART (Active Release Therapy and Nerve flossing?).
First of all, what question did you answer answer? What clarity did you bring? And, as a massage therapist, I take issue with your comment that massage is good if you "want to feel all loved-up and relaxed"...wth? I'm sorry, but my training goes waaaay beyond that and my treatments are actually TREATMENTS. Also, fascial release is possible at every level and I would be interested to see what your theory is. You talked about "moving the body" to release fascia. Can you be more specific?
