When your body feels like one big ball of tension…

…you know that it’s time to act. Yet so many of us choose to ignore our muscles at the end of the day, opting instead to lounge around and let the tension fully set in. No one is blaming you- you work hard and you deserve every minute of rest that you can find. However, if your muscles feel chronically tight, it may be time to take a look at how your lifestyle causes systemic tension. Everyone knows that excessive sitting is bad- it is the position that causes more spinal pressure than any other, damages your internal organs and contributes to muscle tension. When you sit, especially when you sit with bad posture, certain muscles remain overly contracted while others are over-activated. The result is a musculoskeletal system that is literally pulling itself out of alignment, and this manifests itself in your feelings of pain, stiffness and soreness that accompany your commute home. One response to such systemic tension is myofascial release.

Myofascial Release is therapy for systemic muscle tension

Myofascial release is a natural modality in which we apply gentle pressure and low-load stretching in order to restore mobility and reduce pain in a given muscle or set of muscles. The fascia is a thin, fibrous layer of tissue that encloses every muscle and organ in the human body. When you sit all day, certain muscles, like the hip flexors and hamstrings, remain overly contracted and become “bound down” by the fascia. Over time, these muscles train themselves into a shorter, less functional position which leaves you vulnerable to injury when it comes time to stretch them. The affected area of densely contracted muscle receives less circulation and the healing process is delayed. Myofascial release starts rolling back this negative feedback system by releasing tension, restoring mobility and reducing pain.

A multi-faceted approach to back pain in Clifton

Myofascial release is just one of the many natural modalities we use to help you manage your spinal health. If you are interested in reversing the ill-effects of your tension-heavy lifestyle, give our office in Clifton a call to schedule an appointment today.