I’m always interested in reading about research that looks at the techniques we use on our clients to see if it validates those techniques or not. Below is a review of several studies on Myofascial Release affecting different conditions, published this month in the Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies (edited by Leon Chaitow).
In Direct-Indirect Technique, we blend various forms of Myofascial Release (sometimes called Myofascial Induction lately), along with NMT, CST, and some hybrid techniques to loosen tight muscles and release restrictions in the connective tissue in order to reduce pain and increase flexibility and range of motion. Here is the essence of the review:
“Positive outcomes have been reported when MFR has been applied in a variety of clinically challenging conditions, including:
•Neck pain: “This study provides evidence that MFR could be better than a multimodal PT program for short-term improvement of pain and PPTS [pain thresholds] in patients with neck pain”. (Rodríguez-Huguet, 2017)
•Neck and shoulder pain in breast cancer survivors (BCS). “A single Myofascial Induction maneuver produces a greater decrease in pain intensity and improved neck-shoulder ROM, but does not affect mood in BCS, to a greater degree than placebo electrotherapy for BCS experiencing pain”. (Castro-Martín et al., 2017)
•C-section scar related pain: “after 8 weekly Myofascial Induction treatments “In all 10 cases studied, changes were observed after applying MIT on the structure of the scar fold, both at deep (shown by ultrasound) and at superficial (shown by scar fold measurement) levels” (Comesaña et al., 2017).
•Back pain (amongst nurses) “This study provides evidence that MFR when used as an adjunct to SBE is more effective than a control intervention for CLBP in nursing professionals.” (Ajimsha et al., 2014a, Ajimsha et al., 2014b)
•Hip dysfunction: (MFR compared with hot packs): “Only MFR resulted in changes in both deep fascial motion and muscle stiffness measured by elastography” (Ichikawa et al., 2015)
•Lateral epicondylitis: “Patients in the MFR and control groups reported a 78.7% and 6.8% reduction, respectively, in their pain and functional disability in week 4 compared with that in week 1, which persisted as 63.1% in the follow-up at week 12 in the MFR group” (Ajimsha et al., 2012)
•Temperomandibular dysfunction, involving deep longitudinal fascial induction of masseter muscles (Heredia-Rizo. et al., 2013)
•Improved pain levels in cases of plantar heel pain (PHP). “The principal finding of the current study is that the MFR intervention tested in this trial was significantly more effective than sham ultrasound therapy over the pain, functional disability and pressure pain threshold of PHP” (Ajimsha et al., 2014a, Ajimsha et al., 2014b)
MFR (MIT) appears to have increasing degrees of evidence, as safe and effective manual therapy approaches, in management of musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction.”
Here is the full article:
http://www.bodyworkmovementtherapies.com/article/S1360-8592(17)30232-2/fulltext