First of all, what is the myofascia? 

We are glad you asked: it is a good thing to know about, since it covers you from head to toe. Fascia, or myofascia is the continuous, dense layer of tissue that covers every muscle and bone in your body without beginning or end. It covers the inside of your body like a superhero’s suit and it is designed with superhero strength: the fascia has a tensile strength of over 2,000 pounds. In its normal state, the fascia is soft and flexible; and it stretches and moves with your body throughout the day without your awareness. In fact, the only time we do become aware of our fascia is when it causes us pain… 

Trigger points cause pain in the fascia

As stated above, the fascia’s normal state is pliant and soft. Injuries, whether acute or chronic, and the accompanying inflammation cause the fascia to lose this pliancy. Some of the common risk factors for injury to the fascia include: 

• Direct trauma
• Consistently poor posture
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Muscular tension due to stress
• Repetitive motions
• Inflammation

As a result of the scenarios above, the fascia becomes tight and has the ability to cause serious pain. A trigger point is the term used to describe a point of irritability in the fascia that surrounds your skeletal muscle. Further compression or movement of the trigger point causes pain, tenderness and even feelings akin to muscle spasms. The pain can radiate and be felt in points of the body distant from the origin. 

The response: trigger point therapy and myofascial release

At OFW Chiropractic, we utilize two modalities to help release the tight bands of tissue that are causing you pain: trigger point therapy and myofascial release. These are gentle, targeted, manual manipulations that release tension and induce the body’s healing response. If you suspect you may be suffering from pain in the fascia, give our office a call to schedule an appointment today.