Often times in therapy work, words are interchanged for one reason or another. At Chagrin Valley Wellness Center we have recently added a new staff member, Tanya Wieker LPT who practices a technique called the John Barnes Myofascial Release. The hallmark therapy that has been associated with the Wellness Center is Muscle Release Therapy, MRTh® a theory and technique that was developed by Dennis Gibbons, LMT. To avoid confusion I will clarify the distinct differences between the two forms of therapy.
First is to understand the tissue systems of the body. Fascia is a connective tissue that has minimal to no blood supply and is feed by the fluid that keeps our cells healthy; known as interstitial fluid and is a thick, syrupy form of matter. It is this fluid that allows the Fascia to glide easily and permits the organs, tissues and skeletal system to move with minimal resistance. Fascia is a three dimensional tissue that intertwines throughout the body and begins at the top of the head and completes its connection in our toes. It is a strong and durable tissue that in reality holds us together.
The Fascia is also highly innervated, which means that there are many nerves that traverse through it; it is where all of our sensory nerve endings are found. It is these nerve endings that control all of our movements during our daily lives. If you have read my blog(s) in the past I talked about the energy field that our body has, and this is where it is found!
If you were to skin a chicken you will find directly under the skin a thin white filmy substance, this is the Fascia and that is how our bodies are wrapped. If you take this white filmy substance, you will see that it has the properties of being able to stretch and form it in many patterns. On the other hand, take the meat that it wraps around and you will see that it has very little movement; this is basically the same tissue that our muscles are made of. This quality of flexibility is what we experience when we “stretch our muscles” and is also what allows the movement to take place.
The tissue that is dealt with during Muscle Release Therapy, MRTh® are the ligaments, tendons, and muscles, and how they correlate to movement of the skeleton. Understand also that the Fascia is also involved because as we encourage the proper muscle response to balance the tension on the bones, we also must activate the Fascia. The practitioner locates and treats the imbalances in the tension to bring about a balance to the skeletal structure. The practitioner of MRTh® uses the barriers found in the Fascia covering to help in the location of points of distress in the tissue that it covers. The use of the Fascia is imperative in finding all of the points so that a more complete therapy can be delivered.
In Muscle Release Therapy, MRTh® the therapist will locate and activate the proper nerve signals to encourage balance. This is done in the following manner: the ligaments are activated so that all four of their qualities are properly “turned” on. The four qualities of the ligaments are positioning of the bones that form the joints, stabilization of the joint, movement of the joint, and controlling the speed of the joint. Once these four qualities are re-established the tendon, which joins the muscle unit to the bone, is activated and begins the process of movement. The tendon receives its message from the brain once the ligament has established itself. The tendon will signal the brain as to the amount of dynamics the muscle tissue must provide to move and re-balance the skeleton.
In Myofascial Release, the therapist will carefully guide the Fascia in movement so proper permission is giving to the tissue to move without restriction. When a barrier or restriction is encountered the educated guidance of the therapist is used to ensure proper release. Since the Fascia is three dimensional the proper guidance is mandated to avoid any further damage. These movements are very intricate and a thorough education of the Fascia and how it moves is necessary.
This all works in conjunction with the Fascia because of the nerves that are imbedded in it. This imbedding of the nerves also is what drives Acupuncture as the meridian system is located in the Fascia as well. This information is passed through the Fascia by what is called piezoelectric. The Collagen material that makes up the Fascia, and many other tissues and organs of the body, has the ability to generate multiple electrical energy fields. It is these energy fields that control all of the movement and stability to the body, and it is the first tissue to form in the embryo.
Hopefully this gives the reader a basic understanding of the different forms of therapy we are now able to provide to you at Chagrin Valley Wellness Center. If you have further questions, please feel free to call and we will personally talk to you about these differences.
a Reason to HOPE!
Dennis
First is to understand the tissue systems of the body. Fascia is a connective tissue that has minimal to no blood supply and is feed by the fluid that keeps our cells healthy; known as interstitial fluid and is a thick, syrupy form of matter. It is this fluid that allows the Fascia to glide easily and permits the organs, tissues and skeletal system to move with minimal resistance. Fascia is a three dimensional tissue that intertwines throughout the body and begins at the top of the head and completes its connection in our toes. It is a strong and durable tissue that in reality holds us together.
The Fascia is also highly innervated, which means that there are many nerves that traverse through it; it is where all of our sensory nerve endings are found. It is these nerve endings that control all of our movements during our daily lives. If you have read my blog(s) in the past I talked about the energy field that our body has, and this is where it is found!
If you were to skin a chicken you will find directly under the skin a thin white filmy substance, this is the Fascia and that is how our bodies are wrapped. If you take this white filmy substance, you will see that it has the properties of being able to stretch and form it in many patterns. On the other hand, take the meat that it wraps around and you will see that it has very little movement; this is basically the same tissue that our muscles are made of. This quality of flexibility is what we experience when we “stretch our muscles” and is also what allows the movement to take place.
The tissue that is dealt with during Muscle Release Therapy, MRTh® are the ligaments, tendons, and muscles, and how they correlate to movement of the skeleton. Understand also that the Fascia is also involved because as we encourage the proper muscle response to balance the tension on the bones, we also must activate the Fascia. The practitioner locates and treats the imbalances in the tension to bring about a balance to the skeletal structure. The practitioner of MRTh® uses the barriers found in the Fascia covering to help in the location of points of distress in the tissue that it covers. The use of the Fascia is imperative in finding all of the points so that a more complete therapy can be delivered.
In Muscle Release Therapy, MRTh® the therapist will locate and activate the proper nerve signals to encourage balance. This is done in the following manner: the ligaments are activated so that all four of their qualities are properly “turned” on. The four qualities of the ligaments are positioning of the bones that form the joints, stabilization of the joint, movement of the joint, and controlling the speed of the joint. Once these four qualities are re-established the tendon, which joins the muscle unit to the bone, is activated and begins the process of movement. The tendon receives its message from the brain once the ligament has established itself. The tendon will signal the brain as to the amount of dynamics the muscle tissue must provide to move and re-balance the skeleton.
In Myofascial Release, the therapist will carefully guide the Fascia in movement so proper permission is giving to the tissue to move without restriction. When a barrier or restriction is encountered the educated guidance of the therapist is used to ensure proper release. Since the Fascia is three dimensional the proper guidance is mandated to avoid any further damage. These movements are very intricate and a thorough education of the Fascia and how it moves is necessary.
This all works in conjunction with the Fascia because of the nerves that are imbedded in it. This imbedding of the nerves also is what drives Acupuncture as the meridian system is located in the Fascia as well. This information is passed through the Fascia by what is called piezoelectric. The Collagen material that makes up the Fascia, and many other tissues and organs of the body, has the ability to generate multiple electrical energy fields. It is these energy fields that control all of the movement and stability to the body, and it is the first tissue to form in the embryo.
Hopefully this gives the reader a basic understanding of the different forms of therapy we are now able to provide to you at Chagrin Valley Wellness Center. If you have further questions, please feel free to call and we will personally talk to you about these differences.
a Reason to HOPE!
Dennis
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