For a practical understanding of myofascial release, we will use an article from Gary D. Keown, PT and Tim Juett, PT of South Umpqua Physical Therapy Services in Winston, Oregon.  (We have edited here for easy, simplified understanding.  To view the entire article, go to http://www.wholisticphysicaltherapy.com/mfrintro.htm)

From the functional point of view, the body fascia may be regarded as a continuous laminated sheet of connective tissue that extends without interruption from the top of the head to the tip of the toes. It surrounds and invades every other tissue and organ of the body, including nerves, vessels, muscle and bone.

Myofascial Release is generally an extremely mild and gentle form of stretching that has a profound effect upon the body tissues. Because of its gentleness, many individuals wonder how it could possibly work.

A key to the success of myofascial release treatments is to keep the pressure and stretch extremely mild. Muscle tissue responds to a relatively firm stretch, but this is not the case with fascia. Fascia will soften and begin to release when the pressure is sustained over time. This can be likened to pulling on a piece of taffy with only a small, sustained pressure.

CASE HISTORY Status Post Right Mastectomy and Radiation Burn

  This 73-year old woman came for her initial physical therapy treatment on July 14, 1987. She had a right mastectomy in January, 1986. She received one year of chemotherapy following surgery, then six weeks (30 treatments) of radiation therapy.

She had irregular shaped radiation burn with hypertrophic scarring over the distal third of the sternum (of approximately 6-7 mm. diameter). The right shoulder was drawn forward. The right shoulder and chest were extremely hypersensitive to mild touch and minor movement of the right shoulder. The radiation scar still had a small area of scab.

She was referred to us as soon as the physician felt that the burn was sufficiently healed to begin physical therapy. Right shoulder external and internal rotation range of motions were within normal limits. Active flexion and abduction (standing) were respectively 0-130 degrees and 0-97 degrees.  She was given a home program of cane exercises and treated a total of 15 times (ending August 21, 1987) with moist heat and myofascial release to the chest, right upper extremity and neck.

At the final treatment she had 160 degrees of motion of both right shoulder flexion and abduction (equivalent to the contralateral motions). She had no further discomfort, except for mild tenderness when pushing her range of motion exercises to the end of range.  On follow-up with this patient over seven months later, she had maintained her range of motion and reported no limitations of function and no pain.

She felt fully recovered in every way other than "some tightness at the site of radiation." She expressed how thoroughly grateful she was for the remarkable increase of motion and reduction of pain which occurred with such gentle and relatively painless techniques.

Tim Juett, PT
Roseburg, Oregon

Self Treatment

To self treat breast pain, non cancerous cysts or post surgical issues with myofascial release we will give you instructions here.  This is not cancer treatment!  Although it is great and important POST cancer treatment.  If yu have had cancer, please find a therapist that does myofascial release and work with them.

Many of us have tightness in our neck and shoulders.  As you remember the fascia is a continuous sheet of connective tissue.  Old injuries around the breast or even the shoulders can cause fascial tightness in the breast. 

Here is a typical case I see in my clinical practice.  A woman comes in with a non-cancerous lump.  When I am doing the lymphatic drainage I notice that the shoulders are so tight, that there are fascial adhesions (long held tight spots) in muscles that go directly under or around the breast. 

When I combine the lymphatic massage with myofascial release, the cyst issue clears faster than with lymphatic drainage alone. 

Myofascial tension inhibits lymphatic drainage and thus the breast is more prone to swelling and fibrocystic lumps.  John Barnes the founder of Myofascial Release Treatment Centers taught me this technique and has allowed me to share it with you.

A few words of warning:

           If you have had cancer treatment, work with a professional, treatment can be more complex.

           This is not cancer treatment, this instruction is for non cancerous lumps or fibrocystic tissue.

Self Treatment Instructions

Grab your breast in both hands.  Gently pull the breast so that you feel a slight tension, either in the chest wall or within the breast.  Remember this is a very gentle technique.  Hold the tension by pulling continuously for at least three minutes.  (yes, you can start with a shorter time.) 

You may move the breast so that you pull at different areas of tightness along the chest wall.  If you have a non cancerous cyst, try to pull so that you can feel the pulling into the cyst area. 

Breathe and feel into your chest. 

Where there are tension spots, hold the pulling there and soften in your body allowing the tension to release. 

Breathing helps this process.

Do this on both breasts.  This should help breast tenderness and swelling from pms also.  Then go on to do the lymphatic massage.

If you have questions, write to us.   Daya Fisch MS CMT Oct 2009