One topic which keeps repeating itself, whether I am treating or teaching, is what is the “right” amount of pressure? Myofascial Release is performed with great variations in pressure and depth, with the therapist making in-the-moment decisions as to the correct pressure at any time. Some schools of Myofascial Release (MFR) claim that they are the only ones who use the correct pressure. I think they are full of crap! There are so many valuable MFR methods and teachers who make effective, lasting changes, despite the advertising claims to the contrary. No one owns the license for true, or authentic, Myofascial Release.
My pressures vary greatly, from nearly energetic in depth to quite deep, but when I use deep pressure it is never forceful. Deep pressure need not be painful, in fact if there is discomfort, your patient should describe it as a good hurt. Rather than quibbling over how much pressure is correct, I feel is more important that the therapist has the ability to touch their patient’s pain. Can you reach into the body and find the restriction? Then, does the restriction resonate with your patient, whether it is their pain or other symptom? Tactility connecting with their issue is the essence of this work. Pressure is simply how far you need to move into the body to make that connection.
In both my Foundations in Myofascial Release Seminars, as well as in my mentoring Program, connecting with the patient’s pain is a primary goal. Most therapists who have been performing MFR can relate to what I am describing. But if the concept seems foreign to you, take some time with your next patient to try to feel this. When you take up the slack with any technique, quiet yourself and look/feel inside. Play with the pressure, try to positively engage their tightness and pain. What does it feel like? How does your patient describe the feel? Soon you will find that you are spot-on with your palpation skills.
No matter who your teacher, Myofascial Release is a valuable modality. Make sure that you working at an optimum level by connecting with the pain.
Hello Walt, So true about the release depth. There is another thought to consider. What if there are a small cluster and the tp’s are in the overlapping muscles and you have to go deeper to get to the second muscle? You probably do this, I operate on a pain scale 1-5 and not go above a 3 or 3 1/2 else I back off. My favorite is to hold till it backs off, then go deeper till it backs off till no more pain. That may take 3 min but I don’t like to hold it too long. The 8 second pumping action is another gentle way I like and each engagement you go a little deeper. But at no time do I go above a 3 and the client is a good judgment of that. So that takes care of how much pressure or depth and take your time. Hope you found this helpful or probably already know.
Alan,
Myofascial Release is a big, broad world. We are speaking different languages, in a sense, but I trust your methods are just as effective. The common ground seems to be allowing the client control, but allowing yourself to make in-the-moment decisions on the correct amount of pressure. Bravo!
Hello Again Walt,
Only a few therapist know this, but let me try & explain it. I use this with Fibro clients that have multiple TP’s. It is called triggerpoint tracing or tracking. The way it works is that you engage the first one and call it tp1. It it referred to the next most sensitive and you test that one and if it is referred, you call that tp2. While engaging tp2 you follow that one to where the client tells you and if that is tender, that becomes tp3. These three are linked. You may even be able to go in reverse from tp3 to tp2 being referred. If you only get one, you missed the other two in the link and the one you did could come back.