What is the most important aspect of being a successful myofascial release therapist? To me, it is developing the “feel”. But what is the feel?

From the first technique that I introduce to therapists at my seminars, I begin to coach them into moving into the body in a curious fashion. Gently apply pressure until they reach a barrier, then patiently begin to “look around”. What is it that they feel? Do they feel a leathery-like area, or a cord of tightness? Once they sense an area such as this, I ask them to seek feedback from their patient; what do they feel. Very often the therapist-acting-as-patient will report back that they are having their pain, or familiar symptom, reproduced. It is this feedback loop of validation that brings the therapist into closer awareness of where the issue lies.

Once the therapist has connected with the feel of their patient’s pain, treatment is quite easy: One just needs to remain at that barrier, allowing the restriction to reduce. Reduction in pain typically follows. That is the crux of my teachings; one on one personal instruction on how to develop “The Feel”. Of course, there are many, many techniques that are taught as a means to that end.

For, Now,

Walt Fritz, PT

Walt Fritz
Author: Walt Fritz

20 Responses to The Feel

  1. What really helps me are 2 things. First, as Rick just said is to slow down and be present. Second, closing my eyes, really makes my sense of touch and the interpretation of that so much more acute. That’s my 2 cents worth!

    • Hans,
      While it would seem that Myofascial Release therapists would have a similar manner of assessing and treating, I find the opposite to be often true. Care to elaborate for myself the the readers?

  2. Hi Walt!
    Very helpful post!
    A challenge for me has always been knowing *where* to look or start. Do you have certain “go to” places to begin your search for certain patterns of symptoms?
    Thanks!
    Tony

    • I certainly have go-to places to aid therapist in developing the Feel. The pelvic floor is a prime area to be able to palpate restrictions of the soft tissue. This may be due to the frequency of surgeries, with subsequent scar tissue, but also due to injury, childbirth, etc, etc. This area is also my first choice for any number of low back, sciatic, and sacroiliac related issues. My success when working the front of the back is much greater than if I concentrate on the back itself. (Go to Youtube for the video I made regarding this technique: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiAGPZYWBsA)

      With cervical issues, I tend to prefer getting the feel through the thoracic/cervical/cranial lift that I teach in Foundations I. This sequence will provide huge amounts of information regarding both soft tissue as well as osseous issues.

  3. Thank you for the reply and for the examples Walt. The youtube video for the abdominal region (as well as the others…those are great btw!) formed part of the basis for my question. Also your blog post about protocols/patterns-while everyone is unique you’ve noticed certain recurrent themes in various symptom presentations is what I took away from that post. Again, thanks for a helpful post, definitely making me eager to get to Canton in April!

  4. I love your wording “Feedback loop of validation”; which describes many of my sessions!

    • Validation becomes less necessary as experience takes over. After a time the validation means more to the patient then it does to me, connecting them to the process.

  5. I too have the sense of the feel. I do muscle warmups where I proceed to find areas that are more tense. They call me magic fingers at work because I go right to the areas that are bothering them. I’m now looking into doing some CE classes and wondering with this feel establish what would be a suggestive area to increase my knowledge best.

    • Nissa,
      Where you go next depends on your interests. Having develop[ed the feel for soft tissue restriction and pain is an asset in any of the many modalities available to you. Myofascial Release is one very good option where this skill can be well utilized. If you are interested, check out the Seminars page of my website.

    • Thanks Walt this has been very informative. I really do appreciate this. Thinking about rolfing happen to have any insights or thoughts about this?

  6. The “Feel” a great term. It is so great you have such focus on Our hand are our tools of perception and the more we develop our abilities in this skill the more successful we will be in determining treatment strategies. Aston-Kinetics classes spends a lot of time developing this specific skill as well as verifying “the pattern” throughout the body with what you see in static posture and movement. The detailed skill of palpation combined with visual and movement assessment is what makes AK such powerful work. I invite you to Aston Theraputics I and II in Austin in Jan. Come join us!

  7. Hi Walt,

    It is nice to see others doing this important work; makes me feel less lonely. What I would really like to see is all the schools teaching it. Perhaps one day… 🙂

    • Hi Paula,

      Confirmation of the importance of learning the feel would need to preceded programs implementing the teaching of it. Let’s hope!

      Walt

  8. In particular for Tony Friese: If you need a down-to-earth basis for assesment, try the work of Carla and Antonio Stecco om fascial manipulation. I am not quite sure about their treatment technique which I think may be some sort of overkill *, but I think they link dissection findings very well with fascia knowledge and biomechanics.
    Personally I use MFR instead in most cases. The feel is a very adequate term.

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