Myofascial Release Flashcards
Thoracolumbar MFR/INR, prone (Direct or Indirect)
Setup: patient prone, physician at side of table
Physician right hand at the right TLJ with thumb pads medial to the longissimus thoracis and thenar eminence upon it; the left hand is placed similarly on the left side •Internally rotate your arms at your shoulders to load the tissues
•Assess flexion/extension, rotation, & sidebending myofascial and joint-related tightness and looseness. Load tissues appropriate to indirect (away from restriction) MFR or direct (into restriction) MFR.
Activating forces:
•MFR: Inherent and respiratory
•INR: REMs– leg extension, IR/ER; arm motion
•Timing= 20-60 seconds or until palpable release
Follow & Monitor release/s
Finishing position: no more releases noted; assist pt. to assessment position & Re-assess
Prone Regional Thoracic MFR/INR (Direct or Indirect)
Setup: patient prone, physician at side of table
Physician right hand with thumb pads medial to the longissimus thoracis and thenar eminence upon it at T7-9; the left hand his placed similarly on the left side
•Assess each hand independently for flexion/extension, rotation, & sidebending myofascially for tightness and looseness. Load tissues appropriate to indirect (away from restriction) MFR or direct (into restriction) MFR.
Activating forces:
•MFR: Inherent and respiratory
•INR: REMs– arm motion flex/extend, IR/ER,Ab/Ad
•Timing= 20-60 seconds or until palpable release
Follow & Monitor release/s
Finishing position: no more releases noted; assist pt. to assessment position &Re-assess
Prone Sacral Base MFR/INR (Direct or Indirect)
Setup: patient prone, physician at side of table
Physician places one hand with pinky just superior to the lumbosacral junction, thenar & hypothenar eminence lateral to one of the sacroiliac joints and the contralateral finger pad on the lateral aspect of the other sacroiliac joint
•Assess flexion/extension, rotation, & sidebending myofascial and joint-related tightness and looseness. Load tissues appropriate to indirect (away from restriction) MFR or direct (into restriction) MFR.
Activating forces:
•MFR: Inherent and respiratory
•INR: REMs– leg flex/extend, IR/ER •Timing= 20-60 seconds or until palpable release
Follow & Monitor release/s
Finishing position: no more releases noted; assist pt. to assessment position &Re-assess
Cervical MFR/INR (Direct or Indirect)
Setup: patient is supine, physician at head of table
Physician cups the subocciput with hands (no pressure with thumbs)
•Gently, add traction to engage the hypertonic tissues
•Assess flexion/extension, rotation, & sidebending myofascial and joint-related tightness and looseness.
–Keep in mind the principle that “less is more” and adding too much motion loses localization.
Activating forces:
•MFR: Inherent and respiratory
•INR: REMs– eye, tongue & UE movement •Timing= 20-60 seconds or until palpable release
Follow & Monitor release/s
Finishing position: no more releases noted; assist pt. to assessment position & Re-assess
Hip region MFR/INR, standing (Direct or Indirect)
Setup: patient supine, physician at side of table
Physician places one hand on the proximal anterolateral aspect of the leg (over quadricep and greater trochanter) and the other posteromedially (over hamstrings
and adductors)
•Care is taken to avoid the genitalia
Assess IR/ER of hip region myofascia for tightness and looseness
.Load tissues appropriate to indirect (away from restriction) MFR or direct (into restriction) MFR.
Activating forces:
•MFR: Inherent and respiratory
•INR: REMs– knee/hip flexion/extension, AB/AD, IR/ER
•Timing= 20-60 seconds or until palpable release
Follow & Monitor release/s
Finishing position: no more releases noted; assist pt. to assessment position &Re-assess
Popliteal Space MFR/INR (Direct or Indirect)
Setup: patient supine, physician at side of table
Physician uses finger pads to grasp the medial & lateral aspects of the hamstrings (superior) or the gastrocs (inferior) as they create the superior/inferior popliteal space
•Use a separating force to load the tissues, then assess IR/ER of area for tightness and looseness.Load tissues appropriate to indirect (away from restriction) MFR or direct (into restriction) MFR
Activating forces:
•MFR: Inherent and respiratory
•INR: REMs– knee flexion/relaxation; IR/ER at the hip
•Timing= 20-60 seconds or until palpable release
Follow & Monitor release/s
Finishing position: no more releases noted; assist pt. to assessment position & Re-assess
Knee MFR/INR (Direct or Indirect)
Setup: patient supine, physician at side of table
Physician uses superior hand to grasp thigh superior to the patella & other hand inferior to patella on tibia and fibula
•Compress hands together to loose pack the joint, then assess IR/ER of area for myofascial tightness and looseness.
Load tissues appropriate to indirect (away from restriction) MFR or direct (into restriction) MFR.
Activating forces:
•MFR: Inherent and respiratory
•INR: REMs– knee flexion/extension •Timing= 20-60 seconds or until palpable release
Follow & Monitor release/s
Finishing position: no more releases noted; assist pt. to assessment position & Re-assess
Ankle MFR/INR (Direct or Indirect)
Setup: patient supine, physician at side of table
Physician grasps the patient’s distal leg crossing the ankle joint (holding medial & lateral malleoli) with superior hand and with inferior hand grasp the forefoot
•Assess IR/ER of ankle with the malleolar hand for myofascial tightness and looseness. Then assess inversion/eversion & dorsiflexion/plantarflexion. Load tissues appropriate to indirect (away from restriction) MFR or direct (into restriction) MFR.
Activating forces:•MFR: Inherent and respiratory
•INR: REMs– dorsiflexion/plantarflexion •Timing= 20-60 seconds or until palpable release
Follow & Monitor release/s
Finishing position: no more releases noted; assist pt. to assessment position & Re-assess
Plantar Fascia MFR/INR (Direct)
Setup: patient supine, physician at the foot of table
Physician’s thumbs are crossed, making an X, with the thumb pads over the area of concern at the plantar fascia.
•The thumbs provide a separating force to load tissues appropriate to dMFR.
Activating forces:
•MFR: Inherent and respiratory
•INR: REMs– plantarflexion/dorsiflexion •Timing= 20-60 seconds or until palpable release
Follow & Monitor release/s
Finishing position: no more releases noted; assist pt. to assessment position & Re-assess
Glenohumeral and Scapular MFR/INR (Direct or Indirect)
Setup: patient prone, physician at side of table
Physician grasps the proximal humerus inferiorly near the axilla and superiorly placing thumb & 5th digit on humerus and digits 2-4 on scapula
•Assess F/E, IR/ER & AD/Abduction of the GH joint & lateral/medial, superior/inferior, & sidebending of the scapula. Load tissues appropriate to indirect (away from restriction) MFR or direct (into restriction) MFR.
Activating forces:
•MFR: Inherent and respiratory
•INR: REMs– arm F/E, IR/ER, AD/ABduction •Timing= 20-60 seconds or until palpable release
Follow & Monitor release/s
Finishing position: no more releases noted; assist pt. to assessment position &Re-assess
Elbow MFR/INR (Direct or Indirect)
Setup: patient supine, physician at side of table
Physician grasps the radioulnar area near the radiohumeral joint with one hand positioned inferior to the joint and the other superior
•Assess the IR/ER for the fascia at the joint. Load tissues appropriate to indirect (away from restriction) MFR or direct (into restriction) MFR.
Activating forces:
•MFR: Inherent and respiratory
•INR: REMs– dorsiflexion/plantarflexion •Timing= 20-60 seconds or until palpable release
Follow & Monitor release/s
Finishing position: no more releases noted; assist pt. to assessment position &Re-assess
Wrist MFR/INR (Direct or Indirect)
Setup: patient seated, physician facing patient
Physician a) Grasp the wrist just proximal to the wrist joint; b) Grasp distal to the wrist joint with the other hand
•Assess the IR/ER for the fascia at the joint. Load tissues appropriate to indirect (away from restriction) MFR or direct (into restriction) MFR.
Activating forces:
•MFR: Inherent and respiratory
•INR: REMs– wrist flexion/extension, radial/ulnar deviation & clenching/unclenching fists
•Timing= 20-60 seconds or until palpable release
Follow & Monitor release/s
Finishing position: no more releases noted; assist pt. to assessment position &Re-assess
Still’s Wrist MFR/INR (Direct or Indirect)
Setup: patient seated, physician facing patient
Physician a) Grasp the wrist anteriorly/posteriorly using your thenar and hypothenar eminences
• Assess fascial response to Flexion/Extension, Ulnar/Radial deviation at the joint. Load tissues appropriate to indirect (away from restriction) MFR or direct (into restriction) MFR.
Activating forces:
•MFR: Inherent and respiratory
•INR: REMs– wrist flexion/extension, radial/ulnar deviation & clenching/unclenching fists
•Timing= 20-60 seconds or until palpable release
Follow & Monitor release/s
Finishing position: no more releases noted; assist pt. to assessment position &Re-assess
