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MFRresearch
Your source for Myofascial
Release research.
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4.  Fascial Plasticity – a New Neurobiological Explanation Part 2
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5.  Craniosacral Therapy: The Effects of Cranial Manipulation on Intracranial        
Pressure and Cranial Bone Movement   
Editorial Link                Comments
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6.  Evidence of a Nonlinear Human Magnetic Sense   Comments
Link
7.  Effects of Myofascial Release Leg Pull and Sagittal Plane Isometric
Contract-Relax Techniques on Passive Straight-Leg Raise Angle                               
               
Comments
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8.  "Cranial Osteopathy: Its Fate Seems Clear                    Comments
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For some words from the opposing camp, these two links are articles from Massage
Today Magazine
Link
1
Link
2
9.  Diagnosis and treatment of TMJ, head, neck and asthmatic symptoms in
children.
by B Gillespie and J Barnes (you may have found a full text version of this study in one of your packets
received at one of John Barnes' seminars)
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10.  Connective tissue: a body-wide signaling network?  This paper presents the hypothesis that...connective tissue functions as a
body-wide mechanosensitive signaling network
Link
11. Active fascial contractility: Fascia may be able to contract in a smooth muscle-like manner and thereby influence
musculoskeletal dynamics  
Working on the recent discovery of contractile cells within fascia,  study shows that fascia may be able to contract in
a smooth muscle-like manner and influence musculoskeletal dynamics.
Link
12.  The effect of manual physical therapy in patients diagnosed with interstitial cystitis, high-tone pelvic floor
dysfunction, and sacroiliac dysfunction
Utilizing myofascial release as a part of a treatment regime, a 94% improvement in dyspareunia and
symptomatology was noted
Link  
#
ICBR-
51
13.  Childhood Trauma, Stress Linked to Adult Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.  Based on two separate studies in the November issues
of Archives of General Psychiatry suggest that childhood trauma/stress and emotional instability are connected to adult development of chronic fatigue
syndrome. NOTE: you will have to complete the free registration on Medscape that this link leads you to in order to view the article.
Link
14.  Massage Therapy and Frequency of Chronic Tension Headaches  Demonstrated that when Myofascial Release is used as a part
of a massage therapy regime, a reduction in the frequency of chronic tension headaches was noted. Note in the "Methods" section of this study the
limitations in application of MFR that must be followed in order to be included in a controlled study. Imagine the results if the therapist was allowed to
follow the body, instead of following a protocol.
Link
15.  Increasing Orgasm and Decreasing Dyspareunia by a Manual Physical Therapy Technique
Link
16.  Treating Female Infertility and Improving IVF Pregnancy Rates With a Manual Physical Therapy Technique
Link
17.  The female pelvic floor: a dome-not a basin
Link
18.  Lumbar lordosis in acute and chronic low back pain patients  Demonstrates a positive correlation between increase anterior
pelvic/sacral angles with chronic low back pain
Link
19.  Treatment Options for Persistent Pain Following Pudendal Nerve Decompression Surgery; from the 31st Annual Meeting
of the International Urogynecological Association: Recommends Myofascial Release as a treatment methodology for this type of pain.
Link
20.  Myofascial Release (MFR) for an Adult with Idiopathic Scoliosis to Help Decrease Pain and Increase Quality of
Life ~Case Study~
Thanks to Aaron LeBauer
Link
21.  Treatment of women in the united states with localized, provoked vulvodynia: practice survey of women's health
physical therapists  
Identifies Myofascial Release as a standard treatment modality
Link
22.  Improved Chest Expansion in Idiopathic Scoliosis After Intensive, Multi-Modality, Non-Surgical Treatment in an
Adult
 Identifies Myofascial Release as a part of the treatment regime used to achieve positive results (see pg. 673)
Link
23.  Effects of Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment on Pediatric Patients with Asthma: A Randomized Controlled Trial
 
Identifies Myofascial Release as a part of the "manipulative treatment" that gave positive results.
Link
24.  Effect of an Intensive Physical Therapy Program with Partial Weight Treadmill Training on a 2 Year-Old Child
with Spastic Quadriplegia Cerebral Palsy
 Identifies Myofascial Release as a part of traditional physical therapy intervention for cerebral
palsy
Link
25.  Sinusitis in Children: The Importance of Diagnosis and Treatment  Identifies Myofascial Release as a part of an Osteopathic
protocol
Link
26.  Influences of Craniosacral Therapy on the Health and Development of Infants and Young Children  We may not like
what all of the research states, but I feel it is important to know what is being said.
Link
27.  Botulinum Toxin for Myofascial Pain  Identifies Myofascial Release as a part of a post-botulinum injection therapy regime for
myofascial pain
Link
28.  Improving Physical Function and Blood Pressure in Older Adults Through Cobblestone Mat Walking: A
Randomized Trial
This study does not involve MFR, see Comments
Link
29.  Treatment of Patients with Arthritis-Related Pain  Identifies Myofascial Release as a part of an osteopathic treatment regime can
improve arthritic pain, promote healing, and increase mobility.
Link
30.  Chronic Pelvic Pain - Part 2: An Integrated management Approach  Identifies Myofascial Release as a recommended modality.
Link
31.  Chronic Pelvic Pain  Identifies "Myofascial release techniques and innovative approaches to bodywork with postoperative patients might
eventually prove to be some of the most powerful techniques for treatment of
visceral abnormalities.
Link
32. Listed here are six thesis/dissertation references (note, these citations are not abstracts or full citations, they are listings of available
theses/dissertations that have been written)
: Effects of myofascial release on strength of the quadriceps femoris muscle group, The
theory and evidence for myofascial release: a review of literature, The effect of myofascial release on cervical range of motion
and perceived exertion, A comparison of myofascial release and ultrasound in the treatment of musculoskeletal pain, The effects
of myofascial release on forward head posture, The efficacy of myofascial release intervention on anterior pelvic tilt posture.
 
33. Massage therapy and restless legs syndrome Cites Myofascial Release as an effective part of a successful treatment regime for
Restless Leg Syndrome
Link
34. Atlas vertebra realignment and achievement of arterial pressure goal in hypertensive patients: a pilot study
Confirms the need for correct C1 alignment (achievable via a suboccipital MFR release)
Link
35. Reversible pelvic asymmetry: an overlooked syndrome manifesting as scoliosis, apparent leg-length difference,
and neurologic symptoms.
Pelvic asymmetry is seldom cited as a primary cause of scoliosis in the literature. Here is one study that looks at
things from a different perspective.
Link
36. Myofascial release provides symptomatic relief from chest wall tenderness occasionally seen following lumpectomy
and radiation in breast cancer patients
.
Link
37. Early Rehabilitation Improves Extremity Function and Decreases Postoperative Complications in Cancer Patients
Undergoing Modified Radical Mastectomy (MRM): A Preliminary Report.
Includes myofascial release as a successful part of an
early intervention treatment regime to improve ROM and quality of life
Link
38. The Role of Physical Therapy in the Rehabilitation of Patients with Mastectomy and Breast Reconstruction (free
download available at link)
Link
   
Check out www.bodyworkonline.com to connect with a
larger community of MFR practitioners, as well as a wide
range of body workers. I am a frequent contributor there.
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39. Relief of internal snapping hip syndrome in a marathon runner after chiropractic treatment  A combination of
manipulation if the SI joint and myofascial release of the psoas muscle is used.
Link
40. Effect of osteopathic manipulative treatment of length of stay for pancreatitis: a randomized pilot study  An
intresting study that shows with patients hospitalized with pancreatitis, those given daily myofascial release, sift tissue, and strain-counterstrain
techniques are discharged an average of 3.5 days sooner than the control group.
Link
41. Myofascial release provides symptomatic relief from chest wall tenderness occasionally seen following
lumpectomy and radiation in breast cancer patients
Link
42. Myofascial release of carpal tunnel syndrome
Link
43. Myofascial manipulative release of carpal tunnel syndrome: documentation with magnetic resonance imaging
Link
44. Thoracic outlet syndrome--a myofascial variant: Part 1. Pathology and diagnosis
Link
45. Thoracic outlet syndrome--a myofascial variant: Part 2. Treatment
Link
46. Thoracic outlet syndrome--a myofascial variant: Part 3. Structural and postural considerations
Link
47. Whiplash as a total-body injury
Link
48. Pelvic Pain  An excellent article by Jerome Weiss, MD. A worthwhile read
Link
49. Therapeutic Effect on the Change of Gait Performance in Chronic Calf Myofascial Pain Syndrome A Time Series
Case Study
Link
50. Musculoskeletal Problems in The Female Athlete: Patellofemoral Pain
Link
51. Listed here are a few studies and papers by Alvar Pascual-Leone, MD PhD, regarding the nueuroplastic changes
in the brain.
The first Link is to an article by Peter Levine, in PT Advance, regarding Pascual-Leone's study and how a subject "sees" with her
fingertips. The second link is to a paper by Pascual-Leone and Hamilton, which covers a wide range of research on related areas of neuroplasticity.
The third and fourth links provide additional background. I a hypothesizing that this information leads us to a better understanding of how we, as
MFR therapists, learn to "see" with our hands.
Link 1
Link 2
Link 3
Link 4
52. The First Annual Fascia Research Congress's webpage lists dozens of research citations relevant to the field of
Myofascial Release.
Link
53. Bioelectric Responsiveness of Fascia: A Model for Understanding the Effects of Manipulation (Techniques in
Orthopaedics. 18(1):67-73, March 2003.)
Link
54. The Role of Connective Tissue as the Physical Medium for the Conduction of Healing Energy in Acupuncture and
Rolfing®
Link
55. Effectiveness of Myofascial Release in Treatment of Plantar Fasciitis: A RCT "Experimental group showed more
improvement in terms of both pain relief and in functional ability. This can be attributed to myofascial release which experimental group received in
addition to conventional treatment."
Link
56. Soft tissue mobilisation following free TRAM breast reconstruction: A case report
Link
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
Walt Fritz, PT        Copyright 2007
As one can see below, there is a tremendous amount of research that includes Myofascial
Release. What is sorely lacking is primary research about the how's and why's of Myofascial
Release. It would be great if the leaders in the MFR field would put their money where their
mouths are when it comes to funding research. It no longer suffices to state that one simply
need experience MFR in order for it to be understood.