Myofascial release can be helpful at any age level, from right after birth to those in their 90s and beyond. The primary principle of myofascial release is that there is no force, therefore injury to a client is very unlikely.

My perspective of myofascial release is to utilize the body structure as a handle to reach deeply into tissue, and instead of brute force, we use gentle sustained pressure into the restricted area—and we wait. There is a time factor that is very important here. As we wait, there is a biochemical, bioenergetic, hormonal response down to the cellular level.

MYOFASCIAL RELEASE FOR CLIENTS IN HOSPICE

Myofascial release techniques can be extremely helpful for a variety of issues, some of which, like back pain, more regularly occur as we age. The fascial system tightens over the years as we go about our every day lives, falling as kids and carrying too-heavy boxes as we move as adults, for example. So much of the resulting pain and tightness, both from physical exertion and trauma, affects our fascial system.

A lot of therapists that I have trained work in hospice, where people are nearing the end of their lives. They say that it is wonderful in reducing their pain and often times, they are able to cut their medications with a doctor’s approval, even sometimes eliminating it. Even clients in their 90s can experience improvement in their range of motion.

Myofascial release can be done in a bed or even in a wheelchair. Massage therapists can stand behind the client and do what is called a yoke technique to free up the trapezius and shoulder complex. For clients in a wheelchair, massage therapists can reach across from behind and release the pectorals and the abdominal/psoas complex.

See Also: Rethinking the Fascial System

Consider, too, having a client lean forward, resting on a pillow on a table in from of them, and performing myofascial release techniques to help release their back, lumbosacral area and quadriceps. Myofascial arm and leg pulls can also be very helpful.

So many therapists that work in hospice report back to me that the fascial system released so many of the past traumas with their clients, helping them to release past memories and pain that many have struggled and suffered with for most of their lives. The fascial system is an electromagnetic field and the structural restrictions that come from holding tension solidified the memories that are no longer available to the conscious mind.

MYOFASCIAL RELEASE FOR JAW, NECK, AND BACK PAIN

A 92-year-old woman was referred to me by her TMJ specialist. She had constant uncontrollable mandibular motion, neck pain, and back tightness and stiffness throughout her entire body. We worked with her for a little over a month and she did quite well. She came to me on her last day to thank me and tell me that me and my staff had been wonderful.

She described how she’d been a very active woman all her life and was beginning to get very scared because she was losing her memory and was in so much pain. She said she felt like her mind had cleared and the constant mandibular motion had ceased and her neck and back pain were now gone. She was moving much more fluidly and even said she felt like a 20-year-old again!

The bodies of most older patients have stiffened considerably, their head and neck are pulled forward. So many things can be attributed to old age are actually untreated fascial restrictions. No matter what the age is, myofascial release will do no harm and will help significantly coupled with your level of expertise of massage and bodywork.

Myofascial release can act as a catalyst to greatly enhance your ability in the important work that you are currently doing. It is truly the missing link in health care.

See Also: Fascia Refresh: Our Evolving Understanding