First Assessment
Free
45 minutes, at home
- Full clinical examination at the patient's home
- The likely cause explained in plain language
- A realistic recovery plan and what it will cost
- No obligation to book any further sessions
Fascia is the sheet of connective tissue that wraps and links the muscles. When an area is overused, held in one position for long periods, or injured, the muscle and its fascia can feel tight, tender and reluctant to stretch. Myofascial release applies steady, moderate pressure to those areas and holds it while the tissue eases, instead of the quick rubbing of a massage. Our myofascial release therapy page explains the technique.
Tight from repeating the same job
- Forearms and hands from gripping handlebars in traffic, lifting crates by their edges, or hours of packing and weighing at a shop.
- Calves and the soles of the feet from standing on hard floors and climbing steep stairs many times a day.
- Buttocks and hips from sitting for hours on a low stool or a scooter seat.
- Upper back and neck from leaning over a counter, a stove or a phone.
What a session feels like
The physiotherapist finds the tight, tender areas and applies pressure with the hands, forearm or fingertips, holding each position until it softens. It should feel like a firm, "good" discomfort, not sharp pain, and you can ask for lighter pressure at any time. It is followed by stretches and strengthening so the area copes better with the work that tightened it.
If a deeper, stubborn knot doesn't respond, dry needling is another option. For tightness that started with an injury from sport, see sports injury physiotherapy in Swargate.
How much does it help?
The research on myofascial release is limited and of mixed quality. It points to short-term improvements in pain and flexibility for some people, especially alongside exercise. It is a reasonable, low-risk part of a plan rather than a treatment in its own right, and we will tell you if it isn't adding anything.
Self-release with things from your kitchen
Between visits you can apply similar pressure yourself. A tennis ball against a wall works for the upper back and buttocks. Rolling the sole of the foot over a ball or a chilled water bottle eases a tight arch. A rolling pin, used gently along the calf or forearm, does the job of a foam roller. Keep the pressure moderate and slow, and stop if it brings on tingling or numbness.
A minute or two on each area, once or twice a day, is plenty; longer and harder is not better. Most people find the end of the working day, before the stiffness sets in overnight, the easiest time to fit it in.
When to skip it
Avoid pressure over open wounds, skin infections or recent bruising. A swollen, hot, painful calf can mean a blood clot and needs a doctor, not release. People on blood thinners bruise more easily and need a lighter touch.
Shankar Sheth Road has a separate myofascial release page. To find out whether release suits your problem, book a visit, or read about physiotherapy at home in Swargate.