Myofascial massage: effect and technique
Do you know classical techniques for pain and spasms but want to learn how to work with complex and chronic cases? Do you want to become a master who, in one session, gives the client relief that another specialist could not achieve in a whole course? Do you want to attract clients who suffer from back, neck, and limb pain: office workers, professional athletes or amateurs, or people with spinal problems? Would you like to learn how to solve the cosmetic issues of patients by performing a non-invasive facial procedure?
You are on this page, which means that you will find out the answers to your questions about myofascial massage and will be able to realize your professional plans in life!
Do you want to learn how to perform self-massage, how to learn to scan the patient’s body with your hands, how to work with overweight clients, or why do myofascial massage specialists earn more than their colleagues? At the end of the article, there are answers to all these questions.
Understanding the concept of “fascia” in myofascial massage
This word is translated as “bandage,” not by chance: fasciae are muscle shells that envelop them like a bandage. The body has bones, muscles, and internal organs – their purpose is clear, but why do we need fascia?
- Fix the position of muscles, blood vessels, and nerves in the desired position;
- Helps muscles to adhere tightly to the bones;
- Separate the zone of one internal organ from others;
- Accelerate lymph flow and blood circulation;
- Have a protective effect on nerves and blood vessels;
- Protect muscles from stretching and deformation.
Healthy fascia is good; unhealthy is bad!
“It will hurt and stop” – such a slogan is not suitable for working with fascia. In some cases, pain can go away independently (for example, after a person has pulled his back due to sudden physical exertion). Still, in some situations, discomfort develops into inflammation and degeneration of muscle fibers due to oxygen starvation of cells. The pain may become chronic. “Unhealthy” fascia in the face is premature skin aging.
Why does pain or spasm occur?
- Regular serious physical activity;
- Sharp physical exertion on an unprepared body;
- Violation in the structure of the spine;
- stress;
- Passive lifestyle;
- Incorrect body postures while working or sleeping.
The effect of myofascial massage
The benefits of myofascial massage for a person of the 21st century are enormous:
- The general condition improves, pain decreases;
- Immunity increases;
- Improves blood flow and lymph flow, removes toxins;
- The consequences of stress are eliminated: psychological and physical;
- The condition of the skin and body improves, and age-related manifestations decrease.
- Cosmetic problems in various areas of the face disappear:
- wrinkles;
- lowered oval of the face;
- bags under the eyes;
- flew;
- uneven complexion;
- double chin;
- deep wrinkles and folds associated with body tension and stress.
- Improves posture;
- The problem of swelling of the face and limbs and heaviness in the legs go away.
How to do myofascial massage of the face and body?
Preparation for myofascial massage includes the classic steps:
- Ventilation of the room;
- Cleansing the patient’s skin;
- Applying a massage agent if necessary.
Face and neck during myofascial massage
Myofascial massage has a healing effect: it relieves sagging of the vertebrae, pain and spasms in the neck, infringement of the nerve roots, and poor lymph flow and blood circulation. The cosmetic effect is to reduce the manifestations of age-related changes, “widow’s hump,” puffiness of the face, and wrinkles.
- Carrying out myofascial massage begins with warming up the tissues of the face and working out the area under the corners of the lips with circular movements.
- With the same movements, we work out the area from the corners of the mouth to the cheekbones and back.
- Using the classical method, we work on the area of the upper and lower eyelids.
- Pinch movements move from the bridge of the nose to the temples and back.
- With the help of twists, we work out the chin area.
- Twisting in the ears, behind them.
- On the face and neck area, we find spasmodic points by manual scanning; we work on the fascia.
Back
If the master has mastered the technique of myofascial back massage, then the appointment is not for a month but two months in advance; he is provided because patients have problems like “pulled their back” or “it hurts due to working on a computer,” “a feeling of heaviness due to a sedentary image life” is enough!
The session begins with diagnostics – one of the main stages of myofascial massage, which is not so easy to master perfectly. How to learn how to conduct it like a professional, we tell at the end of the article. Begin the session with the cervical-collar zone. There is no specific plan for the procedure using myofascial massage techniques; each impact is performed individually. The master, using palpation, determines trigger points, clamps, and spasms and directly affects them.
Myofascial massage helps eliminate posture disorders in common diseases, such as scoliosis.
Legs
For this zone, the “felting” technique is useful – grabbing, lifting, pulling the muscle to the side, and returning it to its original position. Stretching is also used. The technique is the same as in the case of the neck and back: the master finds points of tension and acts on them.
Contraindications to myofascial massage
- Active inflammatory processes in the body, fever;
- Oncology;
- Active phases of skin diseases;
- Unstable mental state;
- Diseases of the cardiovascular system.
Myofascial massage at home
Serious myofascial massage is a procedure that should be performed only by a master who knows anatomy perfectly. But if you have no contraindications but have back pain, neck, or limbs, you can reduce it using an independent procedure at home. Warm up the painful area with strokes and rubbing, then lie down on a tennis ball or a massage roller. At the beginning of the procedure, the pain may increase slightly, but then it will begin to subside or even disappear completely.
Myofascial massage can only be performed if the pain is muscular and not inflammatory! If you act on inflammation, there is a risk of complications, fever, and infection of the whole organism. The procedure can be performed at home every other day, daily, or as needed. Sessions will not have a long-term result if the pain is associated with an incorrect position of the back and body while working at a computer or a sedentary lifestyle. Only if you review your habits will such sessions have a good effect.
Possible complications during myofascial massage
If an inexperienced master performs myofascial massage, complications may occur. How to protect yourself from mistakes? How to carry out the procedure and not worry that the effect may be negative?
But it is important to know that mild nausea, reddening of the skin at the site of treatment, and frequent urination is normal consequences associated with tissue heating, increased lymph flow, and the removal of toxins.
How, why, why? Answers to the main questions about myofascial massage
How to learn to do manual scanning for spasms and trigger points?
Learn the theory of anatomy and take courses under the guidance of a practicing master, who will show you the stages of body scanning using the example of real models. Only this method will allow you to learn how to identify problem points on the client’s body accurately.
How to do myofascial massage for obese people?
The difficulty is that it is not easy to identify problem points under the fat layer. As discussed in the article below, working with such patients will also be taught by specialists with experience.
How not to harm the client?
Pain points are dangerous because when exposed to them, you can achieve a negative effect instead of a positive one:
- The pain will intensify.
- The muscles can become inflamed.
- The discomfort can become chronic.
Improper work with the facial fascia worsens the appearance of the patient. The answer is the same – to choose the right master, not to be trained by low-skilled specialists, who, unfortunately, are very numerous in the field of myofascial procedures. This technique requires thorough knowledge and a clear point impact, which only a good master can teach.
How do you find new clients if you have never done myofascial massage or performed procedures in other techniques?
Myofascial procedure solves the most common concerns of potential patients: cosmetic and questions about pain and spasms. A master who has mastered this technique will never be left without clients. It is worth starting with word of mouth and advertising on social networks if you are a beginner. If you are a master, then you can announce your new service to existing customers – there will be many who want to sign up!
How to do myofascial massage: who needs to know the answer to this question?
-Massage masters who want to start their journey in the profession by studying popular techniques or professionals who want to expand the list of services.
-Cosmetologists who understand that the massage + cosmetic procedures scheme works much more efficiently. Age-related changes in the face and neck are often associated with spasms, which, unfortunately, practically do not relax during injection or hardware procedures. And massage movements can work out the deep layers of the skin and muscles and relieve tension, positively affecting the patient’s appearance.
– Specialists in the SPA field. Myofascial massage’s healing and calming effect will not leave customers a chance to go to competitors!
-Fitness trainer or sports worker. Professional athletes are prone to injury and fascia problems. Knowing these questions will help you and your wards to make training more productive and results higher!