Myofaction - A Massage Technique for the Effective Treatment of Muscles (ePub)

Myofaction - A highly effective massage technique for the treatment of muscles puts the myofaction technique in the spotlight. Myofaction uses the best elements of classical remedial massage - cross-fibre and tortional kneading and passive stretching and combines them with isometric muscle contraction and focused breathing. It uses both tension and relaxation to lengthen and relax muscles. The tension is produced externally with kneading and stretching actions and internally with the isometric contraction and breathing. The internal tension of the isometric contraction adds an important tension level to the technique, which is absent in regular massage.

Myofaction works because the technique acts directly on the muscle to increase the length of the muscle fibres and stimulate the movement of fluid within and around the fibres. Longer muscle fibres are stronger, more flexible and less tense, and greater fluid movement increase the availability of nutrients and oxygen to the muscle and the removal of waste.

Myofaction also works because of the assistance of breathing. Inhalation raises muscle tension and exhalation helps the muscle relax. Relaxation is assisted by the patient deliberately letting go of the muscleand and by the isometric muscle contraction because the tension generated by the contraction is followed by a post-isometric muscle relaxation.

Myofaction involves the patient with the treatment. Instead of just being a passive body being treated, the patient connects with the therapist and engages with the treatment, and the psychosocial reinforcement produces a better outcome.

The name myofaction is a derivative of muscle (myo) and fascia (fa) and isometric muscle contraction (action). Although the technique mainly treats muscle fibres, it also treats the fascia which surrounds and connects muscles, and which is an integrated part of the muscle.

Myofaction is written for manual therapists such as osteopaths, physiotherapists, chiropractors and masseurs. It provides them with a unique system of manipulation for each muscle or group of muscles in the body. The first part of the book, Theoretical consideration, explains the goals of myofaction and the ideas behind the technique. There are also several useful tables to help the reader understand the arrows and applicators and a graph outlining the myofaction cycle.

The book covers the muscles of the human body in a superior to inferior direction, starting at the head, then working through the cervical spine to the thoracic spine, ribs and lumbar spine. It then follows the upper limb from the shoulder muscles down to the elbow, forearm and hand. Similarly, the lower limb starts with the muscles attaching on the pelvis and spine and then works down through the thigh, leg and feet.

Each of the technique chapters uses the same group of headings with bullet points of easy to follow statements describing how the technique is done. At the beginning of each section the anatomy of the region is explained, and handy anatomical diagrams of the area are provided. Each technique begins by describing the position of the patient and therapist. Then the applicator is defined - this is the part of the therapist's body that is applied to the patient, usually the hand. Then the primary, secondary and longitudinal tissue tensions are described - these are the external forces that you will be applying to the muscle. And finally, the technique is explained - what you do and what you ask the patient to do.

This book is mostly concerned with the myofaction technique but there is an extensive appendix covering anatomical and medical terms, muscles, the case history and physical examination, muscular changes and pathologies, and the principles of wholism and self-healing underpinning myofaction.