With new clients, we sometimes get asked about what Myofascial Release is and whether it relates to foam rollers. This is somewhat understandable given the fact that rollers are now a commonplace item in most gyms, fitness centres and households.
However, we like to stress that while there are some similarities in using a self-bought foam roller tool and professional myofascial release treatment, carried out by a trained practitioner, the differences are actually huge.
Understanding Myofascial Release
We’ve talked about this a lot on our blog, so here’s a quick reminder about what myofascial release is:
- A safe and targeted treatment that involves slow, steady and gentle releases of tension in your body’s fascia
- Treatment that targets areas of resistance to disperse energy to aid the body’s healing process and restore balance
- Something that takes into consideration the way the whole body is connected
Why Can’t Foam Rollers Achieve Myofascial Release?
Fascia is a band or sheet of connective tissue that surrounds and stabilises muscles and organs. To achieve true myofascial release, adhesions or fibrotic scars that build-up due to physical activity needs to be able to slide past one another.
This is best done with gentle targeted movements by a professional rather than just by simply compressing the tissue for short bursts of time with a foam roller.
What Myofascial Release Is Not
- Any type of deep tissue work that is carried out by a non-trained professional
- Treatment that can be carried out by yourself
- Something that takes less than five minutes to do after a workout or during your morning stretch
Key Differences
| Foam Rolling | Myofascial Release Treatment |
|---|---|
| Fast, repetitive movements | Slow, targeted and intentional movement |
| Releases elastin fibres | Releases elastin and collagen fibres |
| Only address the area you target | Achieves whole body impact via interconnecting fascial web |
| Sometimes painful | Usually pain-free |
| Forces your body to release while pushing through restriction | Gentle encourages the body to release allowing it to heal itself |
| Used on areas that are convenient and accessible | Performed on almost any part of the body by someone with knowledge of fascia |
Learn More
Myofascial release treatment is incredibly interesting, so get in touch with us at Acubody if you want to learn more about how it works or how we can create a treatment plan for you.
