Enhancing Your Myofascial Release Treatment with Helpful Tips
Myofascial release may be a gentle form of alternative therapy, but it carries with it the chance for side effects and other things that can make the treatment less useful and more uncomfortable. The following are some tips that can make your treatments smoother, more helpful, more comfortable, and an all around better experience.
Drink lots of fluids before and after
A lot of patients using myofascial release often experience side effects like nausea and pain after treatments and the best way to mitigate this is to drink plenty of fluids. Some therapists recommend drinking about a galleon of additional liquid above and beyond what you normally drink for a day or two after each treatment until your body acclimates itself to the changes going on inside of it. If you feel nauseous or sore, you are not drinking enough.
Wear light, loose clothing
Many therapists will recommend wearing a bathing suit or a tank top and shorts during your therapy. Although your modesty will be protected at all times, the more skin you are willing to show, the more your therapist can reach and the better the treatment will be overall. You obviously do not have to be naked, but don’t wear anything constricting or anything that will cover you from head to toe. And do not slather on the lotion as this will make it hard for the therapist to maintain the hold he needs to in order to stretch out the fascia.
It is a process…
Like any treatment, you are not going to instantly feel better, so do not expect to be bouncing around the house. Do not be discouraged by this, it is only because your body is used to be aligned one way and is now being aligned another way. It is natural for you to feel off for a little while. Do not worry about it and do not be discouraged. If you have any concerns, talk to your therapist about it.
Talk to Your Therapist
This is not supposed to hurt a lot! If you are in a lot of pain during or after the treatments, tell your therapist that. Your treatment may have to be modified in order to make it less painful and more relaxing. Tell him or her if anything afterward seems amiss: you are very ill, you are in a lot of pain, you are having a lot of emotional ups and downs (some emotional change can be normal for people, but nothing terribly extreme) or if there is anything else you are worried about. And keep your therapist updated on how you’re feeling during the therapy as well; if you are hurting or feeling otherwise discomforted.
Ask Questions and Learn
Ask any questions you have-therapists will be pleased to answer and some give free consultations. They will also teach you some do-it-yourself stretches for between treatments, so make sure you get them down before leaving the office. That way, you can help yourself on the road to recovery and feel better that much faster. If you have any questions or concerns, ask because it is part of the therapist’s job after all.
Finally, relax and enjoy. This form of therapy can be so relaxing that many people fall asleep or go home and nap. Even if this isn’t the case for you, the best way to help is to relax your body and mind before going in. Being tense and worried won’t help anyone, least of all you. Remember that this is being done in order to help you move better and feel better.