Stretching your hip muscles and joints decreases your risk of low back and knee pain, according to physical therapist Gray Cook, author of "Movement." Myofascial release is a technique that physical therapists and massage therapists use to stretch...
Massage therapy can be traced back to the days of Hippocrates. More recently, physical therapist John Barnes took deep tissue -- or myofascial -- massage and transformed it into myofascial release. From reducing stress to eliminating chronic pain,...
Myofascial release, or MFR, is a technique used to reduce pain and/or improve range of motion by applying manual pressure to your body's myofascial tissue, says the Essence Center Myofascial Release and Holistic Birth. In doing so, it is believed...
Your temporomandibular joint, TMJ, is where your jawbone meets your temporal bones, which are located on each side of your head. Several muscles connect to this bone. When they become inflamed, imbalanced or stretched, TMJ disorder occurs. This...
If you suffer from chronic muscle pain, myofascial release may be an effective way to obtain pain relief. Myofascial release is a form of treatment that uses gentle pressure on specific locations of your body for alleviating pain and restoring...
Myofascial release is a specialized stretching technique used by physical therapists to treat patients experiencing a variety of problems involving soft tissue. Research studies on myofascial release have shown this form of therapy offers numerous...
A foam roller looks similar to a plastic-foam log. Its purpose is to help stretch your muscles and connective tissues. Using a foam roller is called self-myofascial release because you can use the roller on your own body--you don't need to use a...
According to the National Fibromyalgia Association, fibromyalgia affects approximately 3 to 6 percent of the world population. People with fibromyalgia experience widespread pain, fatigue, problems sleeping and digestive issues. Unfortunately,...
A foam roller is a tube-shaped fitness tool made of a durable foam material. In the fitness industry, foam rollers are commonly used for self myofascial release. This is a technique used to release knots in muscles and in a type of connective...
Foam roller exercises are referred to as self-myofascial release. This stretching technique focuses on the neural system as well as the fibrous tissues that surround your muscles. With self-myofascial release, you apply gentle force to tight...
The Achilles tendon, located at the back of the ankle, has a poor blood supply. This may be a reason that it is so prone to tendinitis, an overuse injury. To speed up healing of injuries to the Achilles tendon, you must increase the blood supply...
Foam exercise rollers are cylindrical pieces of dense foam used to relieve muscle tension and soreness. They are found at local gyms, personal training studios and home exercise areas. Foam exercise rollers are a cost-effective way to massage sore...
Range-of-motion exercises enhance muscle flexibility and joint mobility. Static and dynamic stretching and self-myofascial release alleviate tension, correct muscle imbalances and promote movement fluidity. Static stretching involves holding a...
Foam roller exercise is also known as self-myofascial release. It combines the benefits of flexibility and massage. Because of their cylindrical shape, foam rollers are an unstable surface. As such, in addition to their therapeutic use, foam...
A physio or massage foam roller is a simple, cylinder-shaped piece of foam a couple of feet long that is designed for the purpose of self-massage. Foam rolling can relieve muscle knots and the stress in your body. Just as in traditional massage,...
A foam roller is a cylindrical tube made from very dense foam, which can range in length from 12 to 36 inches. They prove useful for self-myofascial release, a massage technique designed to loosen up tight soft tissue in the body. When done...
The Ming Method is a self-therapy program developed by Ming Chew, PT, P.C. The method is based on Ming's research and development of myofasical release modalities. Myofascial release is a type of massage therapy that releases tightness in...
Foam rollers are tools used for stretching and strengthening. Whole foam rollers are cylindrical and come in various sizes, such as 6 inches in diameter by 3 feet in length. Use the foam roller on your back to increase mobility of the spine, to...
Foam rollers consist of a large round tube covered in foam. They are used in the fitness industry as a form of stretching. This different method of stretching is known as self-myofascial release. As opposed to typical static forms of stretching,...
Discrepancies in leg length, or uneven legs, may be due to congenital differences in the length of the femur. Imbalances in the muscles that attach to the hip girdle, including the lower back and abdominal muscles, can also cause uneven legs....
Improving your posture can be an important part of muscle performance and injury prevention. Good posture may also help reduce back pain by relieving stress on muscles, bones and joints. You will gain definite benefits of improved posture in a few...
Don't let your aches and pains prevent you from weightlifting. Weight training tightens your muscles. Massage releases muscle tension and improves the flexibility of muscles. Massage improves your tissue quality, helps prevent injuries and...
The foam roll is the primary tool used for a technique referred to as Self-Myofascial Release. SMFR is very similar to deep tissue massage--in fact, the name self-myofacial release, really is just another way to say self-massage. This technique...
There are many gentle forms of massage that are appropriate for a bed-ridden patient. According to Cancer Supportive Care Programs, massage for those confined to a bed can help promote relaxation, speed up the healing process and decrease levels...
Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of the plantar fascia, a thick band of tissue located on the bottom of your foot. It is a common cause of heel pain. Left untreated, plantar fasciitis can decrease your ability to walk. Exercises, however, can...
SMR, or self myofascial release, involves a dense roll of foam about 1 to 3 feet in length and about 4 to 6 inches in diameter that acts as a deep tissue massager. When people overtrain, get injured or stay in one position too long, muscles get...
A foam roller is a cylinder of foam that resembles a noodle used in the pool for floatation. Foam rollers come in a variety of lengths, widths and densities. While a smaller foam roller can be helpful when rolling one leg at a time, you do not...
A common postural deviation is anterior pelvic tilt. The movement and function of the pelvis play an important role in correct movement patterns in sports, fitness and daily living activities. Anterior pelvic tilt is characterized by excessive...
Tight hamstring muscles and middle back pain can bring pain and agony to any athlete. Self-myofascial release with a foam roller can improve your stretching routine and result in flexible, loose, pain-free muscles. Because the hamstring muscles...
Pinched nerves usually occur in the neck, but can lead to pain and muscle spasms throughout the upper back and arm. Learn how to treat a pinched nerve in the neck and stay fit in this sports medicine video.
