Lately the term Self-Myofascial Release' is acquiring a lot of buzz in media, and more so in the fitness and massage world. Years ago the term could only be heard in hospitals, physical therapy clinics as well as the chiropractors office, but has now become a household name. So what exactly is Self-Myofascial Release? Well before we attempt to tackle the subject, we should understand what the fascia is.
The prefix myo-' refers to the commonly known muscles of the body. Fascia however, is a very strong, fibrous connective tissue that encompass many areas of the human body from head to toe, and keeps them in place. These parts include but are not limited to muscles, bones, joints, and organs. Some of the responsibilities of fascia are to: provide an environment for muscles to slide across each other, hold organs in their place, and transmit movement throughout the body.
It is not uncommon for individuals to develop knots within their muscles due to injury or over work. This is especially common in athletes and those who live a sedentary lifestyle. Your common knot is referred to as a trigger point the the healthcare industry. Trigger points are tangled muscles within the fascia that can cause pain and soreness if left untreated. This in turn, can also lead to a loss in range of motion and flexibility of muscles. By massaging these points, you signal to the brain to release that muscle area from the surrounding fascia. This is called Myofascial Release.
It is now possible to do SMR in the comfort of your own home, or even at the office. All you need is the proper equipment such as foam rollers, or massage balls. This is the reason SMR has gained a lot of recognition in recent years. Gone are the days where you have to travel to the spa just to get a deep, beneficial massage.
Massage balls are really simple to use. They can simply be used to massage the chest, thighs and other easy to reach arease. As opposed to the more challenging foam roller, that requires the use of ones body weight to to get to target deeper trigger points. Though it sounds like SMR is just another massage, it actually is much more than that. It requires actually searching for trigger points in the body and working out them until they release from the fascia.
The prefix myo-' refers to the commonly known muscles of the body. Fascia however, is a very strong, fibrous connective tissue that encompass many areas of the human body from head to toe, and keeps them in place. These parts include but are not limited to muscles, bones, joints, and organs. Some of the responsibilities of fascia are to: provide an environment for muscles to slide across each other, hold organs in their place, and transmit movement throughout the body.
It is not uncommon for individuals to develop knots within their muscles due to injury or over work. This is especially common in athletes and those who live a sedentary lifestyle. Your common knot is referred to as a trigger point the the healthcare industry. Trigger points are tangled muscles within the fascia that can cause pain and soreness if left untreated. This in turn, can also lead to a loss in range of motion and flexibility of muscles. By massaging these points, you signal to the brain to release that muscle area from the surrounding fascia. This is called Myofascial Release.
It is now possible to do SMR in the comfort of your own home, or even at the office. All you need is the proper equipment such as foam rollers, or massage balls. This is the reason SMR has gained a lot of recognition in recent years. Gone are the days where you have to travel to the spa just to get a deep, beneficial massage.
Massage balls are really simple to use. They can simply be used to massage the chest, thighs and other easy to reach arease. As opposed to the more challenging foam roller, that requires the use of ones body weight to to get to target deeper trigger points. Though it sounds like SMR is just another massage, it actually is much more than that. It requires actually searching for trigger points in the body and working out them until they release from the fascia.
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Want to find out more about Self Massage, then visit Jay Rivera's site on how to choose the best self massage equipment for your needs.
