SO HOW IS IT DIFFERENT THAN MASSAGE?

The purpose of myofascial release is to provide the slow, sustained, gentle pressure of human touch to cause soft tissue such as fascia to elongate and return to its normal state, freeing up restrictions and relieving pressure. Unlike massage, myofascial release is targeted for treatment of a diagnosed myofascial condition.

Myofascial release is a type of manual (hands-on) healthcare treatment, known as manual therapy. While muscles often respond to the firmer strokes and thrusts of massage, fascia may respond to a milder touch. Another type of manual therapy, chiropractic manipulation, focuses on improving motion and function of particular joints, while myofascial release works on a broader area of muscular and fascial tissue. The movements of myofascial release treatments have been compared to kneading a piece of taffy- gentle stretching that gradually softens, lengthens, and pulls restrictions from the fascia.