Dr. Robert Schleip For decades, fascia has been viewed as a passive sheath providing mechanical support to our musculoskeletal system. While early reports hinted at the presence of sensory nerves in fascia, their significance was overlooked, leaving a gap in our understanding. Pioneers like Moshe Feldenkrais and Ida Rolf primarily attributed mechanical importance to fascia,
Deep tissue massage (DTM) is a therapeutic approach that targets the deeper layers of muscle and fascia to alleviate symptoms associated with fascial disorders. While DTM has been primarily studied for its effects on musculoskeletal conditions, there is growing interest in exploring its impact on other physiological systems, including the respiratory system. The respiratory system
Gentle stroking of the skin is a common social touch behavior that elicits positive affective responses. The preference for slow versus fast stroking of hairy skin has been linked to the activation of unmyelinated C-tactile (CT) somatosensory afferents, which strongly correlate with touch pleasantness. The CT pathway has been recognized as a key sensory pathway
When we think of surgical scars, we often associate them with abdominal pain as a common complication. However, a rare case has recently been reported in Japan of an ankle scar causing sciatica-like pain and gait disturbance in a 75-year-old man. The patient had been experiencing right sciatica-like pain from the thigh to the lower
Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) is a popular myofascial treatment utilized by healthcare professionals. However, there is a lack of research on the effects of a light pressure IASTM treatment on the forearm region. To address this gap in knowledge, a recent observational pretest and posttest clinical study was conducted to explore the effects of
Chronic primary musculoskeletal pain is a newly recognized condition (in 2022) that is categorized as nociplastic pain, occurring without identifiable tissue abnormality. This is a paradigm shift in management towards more centrally directed treatment strategies. Patients with myofascial pain may in fact suffer from this condition. Many questions remain, including validation of examination techniques, prevalence,
Foam rolling (FR) is a popular technique used in physical training and rehabilitation to release muscle tension and improve mobility. However, its effects on myofascial tissue stiffness and muscle strength have remained unclear. To better understand these effects, researchers conducted a systematic review with meta-analysis of trials that tested the acute effects of FR during
A recent study published in the Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies suggests that myofascial therapy may be an effective treatment for clinical anxiety. The study, a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial, involved 36 adult patients with clinical anxiety who were randomly assigned to either the myofascial treatment group or a placebo group. The treatment group
New research from Institute of Sports Sciences at Goethe University Frankfurt shed some light on how the gastrocnemius and hamstring – are connected by a tissue continuity that allows force to be transmitted between them. The deep fascia connects muscles in the body, creating myofascial chains that can affect muscle function and cause pain or
Breast cancer treatment can lead to secondary upper limb dysfunctions. Myofascial treatment is a promising physical therapy modality for this issue. A study from Belgium presents a double-blinded randomized controlled trial conducted in a rehabilitation unit of a university hospital to investigate the effect of myofascial therapy in addition to physical therapy on shoulder, trunk,