Introduction to ST & MFR Flashcards
Direct Techniques
- restrictive/pathologic barrier
- move tissues to where they don’t want to go
- Bind: tissues will tighten up
Indirect Techniques
- shifted midline/neutral
- moe tissue to where they want to go
- Ease: tissues will soften/relax
Soft Tissue Technique Definition
- “targeted massage”
- direct technique
- lengthen fascia or muscle (tightens) by lateral stretching (pushing away from midline), linear stretching (pushing neds of muscles away from each other), deep pressure, or kneading
Soft Tissue Technique Proposed Mechanism of Action
- decreased muscular pain by: increasing elasticity in the shortened fascial structures, releases hypertonic muscles by decreasing alpha motor neuron activity, improves local tissue circulation by removing metabolic wastes
Benefits of Soft Tissue Techniques
- decreases muscle spasm and pain
- simultaneous monitoring and treating
Risks of Soft Tissue Techniques
- ecchymosis
- acute muscle spasm
- post-procedure muscle soreness
Absolute Contraindications to Soft Tissue Technique
- no SD
- lack of consent
- open traumatized/friable tissues
Relative Contraindications to Soft Tissue Technique
- other therapies are indicated
- acute muscle strain
- ligamentous sprain
- nearby skin infection or burns
- nearby fractures or dislocations
Activating Forces of Soft Tissue Technique
- Hold & Wait until tissues soften: can do this via Traction (separate ends of muscle and wait) or Inhibition (sustained deep pressure and wait)
- Kneading until tissues release: rhythmic lateral stretching
Myofascial Release Technique (MFR) Definition
- can be direct or indirect (direct = moves fascia to restrictive/pathologic barrier; indirect = moves fascia to shifted midline/neutral)
- apply an activating force – continuous palpation to dynamically localize to new restrictive barriers or shifted neutrals (fascia will change quickly); can also add inherit forces (follow until fascia normalizes, passive) or Release Enhancing Technique (respiratory force, active)
Fascia
- protects and provides structure
- allows tissue gliding
- innervated by sensory nerves
- transfers motion/force – forms tendons and ligaments, dynamically contracts and relaxes
MFR Mechanism of Action
- provides dynamic input
- changes tension of associated muscles
- decreases tension within fascia
- improves local tissue circulation and removal of metabolic wastes/edema
Benefits of MFR
- normalize ROM
- decrease MSK pain
- improve circulation to decrease edema
- simultaneous monitoring and treating
Risks of MFR
- post-OMT muscle soreness
MFR Indications
- edema (swelling) by improving circulation
- MSK pain
MFR Contraindications
- Absolute: no SD, no consent
- Relative: other therapies are indicated, acute muscle strain or ligamentous sprain, nearby skin infection or burns or fractures or dislocations
MFR: associated motion if physician moves both hands inferior
Extension
MFR: associated motion if physician moves both hands superior
Flexion
MFR: associated motion if physician shifts both hands left
Rotate Right
MFR: associated motion if physician shifts both hands right
Rotate Left
MFR: associated motion if physician moves R hand superior and L hand inferior (counterclockwise)
Sidebend Left
MFR: associated motion if physician moves R hand inferior and L hand superior (clockwise)
Sidebend Right
