Condition · Whole Body
Chronic Pain
How Myofascial Release addresses it, and what to expect.
Chronic pain is persistent and long-lasting discomfort or pain that extends beyond the expected period of healing for an injury or illness, typically persisting for three to six months or longer. Unlike acute pain, which serves as a warning signal for an immediate threat or injury, chronic pain may linger for an extended period and can impact one’s quality of life. Chronic pain can result from various causes, including injuries, medical conditions (such as arthritis or fibromyalgia), nerve damage, or as a consequence of surgery.
Why fascia is involved
When pain outlasts the injury, the fascia is often still holding on.
Fascia responds to injury, surgery, inflammation and long-term stress by tightening, and it does not always release on its own once the original problem has healed. Over time those restrictions can pull on muscles, nerves and organs throughout the body, keeping the nervous system on alert and creating pain that standard scans and tests do not explain. This is one reason chronic pain so often resists treatments aimed only at the painful spot.
Myofascial Release treats the whole person rather than a single symptom. Therapists trace the restrictions that connect to the pain, releasing them with sustained, gentle pressure and giving the nervous system time to settle. Progress can be gradual, but many people find that pain they have carried for years begins to loosen its grip.
MFR Resource
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Every therapist in the Directory is trained in the John F. Barnes Myofascial Release Approach®.