We have all experienced or treated patients whose symptoms after a whiplash accident far exceed what could reasonably be explained by the velocity of the accident.  Full-blown symptoms have been frequently seen at automobile speeds below 10 to 15 mph.

Most victims of even relatively minor motor vehicle accidents usually describe a sense of detachment and shock.  The major symptoms of the whiplash may not appear for 48 hours and then may progressively worsen for many days, weeks or even months despite extensive care. 1

In both the forward and backward motions involved, the front of the brain (which has the consistency of well-set Jell-O) slides forward and impacts against the rough and jagged edges of the eye orbits.  The orbito-frontal areas are particularly susceptible to hematomas, contusions, and intercerebral hemorrhages.  Particularly if the head is turned to either side at the impact, a phenomena called shearing may occur.

Psychoneuroimmunology research implies that “every cell in the body can communicate with every other cell.”  The reason that myofascial release and myofascial unwinding have been so effective with whiplash victims and other post traumatic injuries may be explained by the fight/flight/freeze response developed by Dr. Peter Levine. 2

He postulates that the fight/flight/freeze response is seen in animals in response to life-threatening experiences.  In other words, the preyed upon animal will flee or attempt to fight, but if run to the ground will enter a freeze response where it assumes a state of immobility while physiologically still manifesting high levels of activity of both the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems.  2

Myofascial release and myofascial unwinding release the contracted tissue, the tissue memory, and allows healing to commence.  Dr Levine goes on to say that if the animal survives the attacks, it will go through a dramatic period of discharge of this high-level autonomic arousal through the motor system.  This discharge involves trembling, profuse sweating and deep breathing.  This type of discharge is frequently seen after a deep myofascial release, followed by substantial improvement.

In the case of a motor vehicle accident, a holding pattern develops to protect the body against impact.  As a result of the freeze response, this holding pattern is maintained indefinitely, manifesting sustained muscular contraction with resultant myofascial pain and tightness.  1

This explains why traditional therapy’s focus on symptoms is not enough for a complete resolution of the problem.  Myofascial release and myofascial unwinding release the muscular contractions, the myofascial restrictions and the holding patterns maintained by the “freeze response.”

The fight/flight/freeze response answers many questions we therapists encounter with our trauma victims.

Myofascial Release can resolve the instinctual “bracing patterns” that impede progress.

Reference:
1.  Robert Scaer, MD, Bridges Magazine, Observation on Traumatic Stress, The Whiplash Model.
2.  Levine, P., Walking the Tiger, Healing Trauma Through the Body

PT . OT .  SPEECH TODAY Vol.  5, No. 40

About the Author:

-John F. Barnes, PT, conducts myofascial release treatment in  Paoli, PA and Sedona, AZ.  Additional information on Myofascial Release Treatment Centers and Seminars can be obtained by calling 1-800-FASCIAL

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Traditional therapy has viewed pain from two different perspectives.  One school of thought was to avoid pain, “mask” the symptoms and teach the patient to cope with his or her problem.  This approach did not cause direct trauma, but forced people to be satisfied with limited results.  There was the possibility of cumulative trauma since untreated restrictions caused microtrauma to the patient’s system over time.  This microtrauma was like a ticking time bomb left in the system, forcing a return of symptoms or a shift to another area.  This is rarely a satisfactory solution.

The other school of thought was “no pain, no gain.”  Too many times patients were instructed to exercise and force their way through the pain.  The result:  a lot of strong patients in agony.  Or manipulation and other aggressive manual techniques produced force into osseous structures while paying no attention to the tight surrounding myofascial environment.  The aggressive force used created the possibility of increased pain, injury or a return of symptoms because the environment of every osseous structure, the myofascial system, had not been released first.

Myofascial release can safely and effectively free the osseous structures and/or create a more open environment to enhance the effectiveness of manipulation, mobilization procedures, muscle energy techniques and exercise and flexibility programs.

Is there a possibility of another option for the relief of pain and the restoration of motion?  I strongly believe the possibility exists, based on my years of experience and the experience of over 20,000 physical therapists (one-third of the profession) that I have had the opportunity to train in this approach.

I would like you to consider the possibility of a third treatment option of relieving pain and restoring motion:  therapeutic pain.

One aspect of the myofascial release approach is where the therapist applies gentle, sustained pressure into the fascial system, creating what the patient reports as a feeling of good pain or a good stretch.  Release of the pressure of the fascial system around the muscles, nerves, blood vessels and the osseous structures creates a free mobile environment of these pain-sensitive structures, producing consistent results in relieving pain and restoring functional mobility.

Another aspect of myofascial release is the sophisticated facilitation techniques called myofascial unwinding.  The fascial system is a piezoelectric tissue, so when the therapist applies gentle sustained pressure into the fascial system through compression, traction or twisting the fascial system, or moving a particular body part (taking gravity out of the system), it creates a flow of the body’s bioenergy.  This flow triggers the mind/body complex into spontaneous motion.  This spontaneous therapeutic motion allows the body to assume positions in space that represent positions of past traumas.  These positions of trauma represent one’s subconscious fear, negative memories and/or pain that have created holding or bracing patterns which have impeded progress of traditional therapeutic approach.  It is these positions in space and the re-experiencing of this pain memory which is never injurious, that takes the threat out of the system and allows the mind/body complex to let go of these holding or bracing patterns so that healing can commence.

Working in reverse, myofascial release, and myofascial unwinding, release the fascial tissue restrictions, thereby altering the habitual muscular response and allowing the positional, reversible amnesia to surface, producing emotions and belief systems that are the cause of holding patterns and ultimately symptoms  Thus it is important for the therapist to quiet his or her mind and feel the inherent motions.  Quietly following the tissue or body part three-dimensionally along the direction of ease takes the patient into the significant restrictions or positions.  With myofascial unwinding, the therapist eliminates gravity from the system.  This unloading of the structure allows the body’s ***RUSS***righting reflexes and protective responses to temporarily suspend their influence.  The body can then move into positions that allow these state- or position-dependent physiologic or flashback phenomena to reoccur.  As this happens within the safe environment of a treatment session, the patient can facilitate the body’s inherent self-correcting mechanism to obtain improvement.

The myofascial release approach is more than just an assemblage of techniques. Instead, it creates a whole-body awareness allowing the health professional to facilitate change, growth and the possibility for total resolution of restrictions, emotions and belief systems that impede patient progress.

About the Author:

-John F. Barnes, PT, conducts myofascial release treatment in  Paoli, PA and Sedona, AZ.  Additional information on Myofascial Release Treatment Centers and Seminars can be obtained by calling 1-800-FASCIAL

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Linda Stewart
Lansing, Michigan

Dean wishes to thank the following people who have impacted his professional life:

Dr. Leon Chaitow, N.D.D.O.
Great Britain

John F. Barnes, P.T.
Sedona, Arizona

Lilias Folan, C.Y.I.
Columbus, Ohio

Sandra Cochran-Fritz, C.M.T.
Lapeer, Michigan

The Problem Bottom-Lined:

Because of recently published medical studies, health professionals are beginning to understand the importance and the role of the fascia system, an entire physiological system profoundly influencing all other structures and systems of the body.

Trauma and inflammatory responses are the myofascial restrictions that are capable of producing tensile pressures of up to 2000 pounds per square inch on pain sensitive structures.  These restrictions do not show up on any standardized tests (x-rays, myelograms, CAT scans, etc.)  This enormous pressure acts like a “straight jacket” in muscles, nerves, blood vessels, and osseous structures, producing the symptoms of pain, headaches and restriction of motion.

Medications, traditional therapies treat the symptoms caused by the pressure of the “straightjacket” of the myofascial system, but do nothing about the “straightjacket” of pressure that causes and perpetuates the problem.

Dean Soupal, CMT, NMT, AMTA, is a highly trained and highly skilled massage therapist with an impressive educational background.  With over 15 years of clinical experience, Dean prides himself on utilizing superior manual therapy techniques based on anatomy and physiology of the human body.  Dean’s immense clinical knowledge and advanced techniques will help you with proven manual therapy methods, providing positive clinical outcomes.

Dean’s approach treats the entire myofascial system, eliminating the pressure on the mind/body complex.  Individuals from all over the country have experienced relief from chronic pain when medicine, surgery or traditional therapy did not produce the desired results.

Dean Soupal is a certified Advanced Neuromuscular Therapist specializing in Myofascial Massage serving the communities of Troy, Bloomfield Hills, Birmingham, Auburn Hills, Clawson, Berkley, Ferndale, Rochester Hills and beyond! Advanced Techniques Massage Therapy is located at 2833 Crooks Rd. Troy, (Oakland County) Michigan  48084.

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