Another indicator that the problem is in the fascia is not getting results from traditional stretching or exercise. The fascia doesn't respond to conventional stretching. You may get temporary muscle lengthening, but if the fascia is tight, it will be pulled right back where it was.
Signs that your fascia may be stuck can include feeling stiff and creaky, popping joints, areas of sensitivity and tightness, chronic pain, reduced range of motion, and feeling like you are trapped in a “straightjacket”.
Time element: Myofascial Stretches are held continuously for at least 90-120 seconds. This is how long it takes for the fascia to begin to let go. Shorter stretches do not affect the collagenous aspect of the fascia (connective tissue) and therefore lead to only temporary, partial results.
Myofascial release therapy is a type of gentle, constant massage that releases tightness and pain throughout your myofascial tissues. First, your healthcare provider will locate trigger points, or knots, in your fascial tissues. Then, they'll gently apply pressure until they feel the tension release.
Fascia Pain
Dried-out fascia — called fascia adhesions — can happen because of: A lifestyle without enough physical activity. Activity that uses the same part of your body over and over. Surgery or injury that causes damage to one part of your body
Fascia-Related Muscle Pain and Stiffness
Healthy fascia is smooth, slippery and flexible. Factors that cause fascia to become gummy and crinkle up (called adhesion) include: A lifestyle of limited physical activity (too little movement day after day) Repetitive movement that overworks one part of the body.
Sometimes emotional trauma or stressors can result in physical symptoms because the memory of the trauma is stored in the fascia.
Myofascial Release brings about an increase of hydration of the ground substance, the collagen fibres and the whole of the fascial system. It increases the distance between the collagen fibres, and restores elasticity, allowing for further hydration and a decrease in compression around other structures.
If you stretch in this special way, you'll stimulate the fascia's automatic functions: tension is released, adhesions loosen up and your tissue becomes more supple.
By applying pressure to these points, you can relieve the pain and tension. There are a few different techniques that you can use to find and apply pressure to these trigger points. One can use your fingers or a tennis ball to massage the muscle. Another is to use a foam roller.
With self-myofascial release, you achieve the benefits by using a foam roller or a particular massage ball to treat yourself. As we mentioned, it's usually not as effective as working with a trained therapist. But it is beneficial and can be used to help maintain muscle and tissue flexibility.
Ever felt a crunch when massaging a knot? That crunchy feeling can be scar tissue, metabolic waste buildup, or fascial adhesions in your muscle. Muscle knots can be present in both superficial muscles, like the trapezius, and deeper ones like the rhomboids, which reside under the trapezius.
Causes of weak fascia
Some examples of what can harm fascia include: poor posture, stress-induced muscle tension, remaining in one position for prolonged periods of time.
This is because the physical response to emotion is through soft tissue; in particular, our fascia, the connective tissue around our organs, muscles, joints, bones, and nerve fibers. Our bodies are able to “remember” or “store” emotions.
You might feel some unique sensations in your body following a session. These can include muscle twitches and tremors, pulsating, or heat as blood flows back into chronically starved regions. Again, this is normal, and all symptoms should pass within 24-48 hours.
Fascia holds on to harmful toxins if it's not hydrated, and sticky, sludge-like fascia fluid is acidic and toxic and can quickly become a migration point for cancer cells.
The physical stimulation created through massage therapy treatments and Myofascial release helps dissolve and eliminate toxin buildup in the tissues. They are released into the bloodstream, which then works to transport them out of the body through excretion.
And, because we can find fascia in widespread locations throughout the body, irritated fascia can cause lower back pain, neck discomfort, and joint inflammation.
Vitamin B12 and folic acid inadequacy are more strongly related to chronic myofascial pain syndromes (MPS) than others.
A restriction of the fascia may cause symptoms such as fatigue and motor incoordination. Several researchers have reported benefits when treating the fascial system manually.