To John Barnes PT principles (www.myofascialrelease.com)
Myofascial Release is a safe hands on technique that applies gentle sustained pressure into the Myofascial connective tissue (fascia) restrictions to eliminate pain and restore range of motion. The essential "time element" has to do with viscous flow and piezoelectric phenomenon, a gentle pressure applied slowly will allow fascia to elongate.
Trauma, inflammatory responses, structural malignments, and/or surgical procedures create Myofascial restrictions that can produce tensile pressures of 2,000 pounds per square inch of pain sensitive structures that do not show up in many of the standard tests (xrays, myelongrams, CAT scans, electromyography, etc).
Fascia is a connective tissue that spreads throughout the body in a three-dimensional web from head to toe. Fascia wraps around every organ, ligament, tendon, cells, muscles everything in the body.
Trauma and inflammation can create a binding down on fascia resulting in excessive pressure on nerves, muscles, blood vessels, osseous structures and/or organs. Many people suffering with pain, dysfunction, or lack of motions maybe suffering from fascia restrictions.
Cleveland Clinic: "Your fascia is a sheath of stringy connective tissue that surrounds every structure in your body. it provides support to organs, muscles, tendons, ligaments, tissues, nerves, joints, and bones. When your fascia tightens, it can restrict the movement of your muscles and tissues, causing pain and other health conditions, so it is important to keep fascia healthy by moving and stretching your body."
Headaches/Migraines, TMJ, Chronic pain, Carpal Tunnel, Cervical pain, Fibromyalgia, Sciatic, Pelvic Pain, Scar Adhesions, Mental Health, and Vertigo.