| Frequently Asked Questions How long will this process take? There is honestly no way to predict this, as each of us is unique and brings a myriad of past and present problems to the process. But, I can tell you that after 2-3 sessions at the most, you should feel lasting, positive changes from your Myofascial Release treatment at the Pain Relief Center. After over 16 years, I've seen this as a consistent result. I will empower you to be an integral part of your recovery. What is your session length and frequency? Standard therapy sessions are 50 minutes in duration. Half-sessions (25-minutes) are usually appropriate for children. Often clients will book double sessions to achieve deeper results. I also make available intensive therapy programs, where multiple sessions are booked on successive days of the week. This is a tried and true model for making huge shifts and changes. Please inquire for more information. Session frequency is determined at the time of evaluation and re-assessed along the way. Unlike traditional physical therapy, where you are sent for a prescribed frequency and duration that may have no bearing on your condition, we will look at the evaluation results, the chronicity and extent of your apin/dysfunction, and determine a frequency that works best for you. Why hasn't my Doctor recommended Myofascial Release? More and more physicians are becoming aware of the benefits of Myofascial Release. But sadly, many believe that physical therapy is just that, physical therapy, with no specialization for the practitioner or patient. Myofascial Release is a nationally taught accredited treatment modality available to a wide variety of health professionals. Also, many physicians are financially penalized for referring patients to physical therapists out of their HMO Network. This really penalizes you, the consumer. Physical therapists who work within the HMO setting are able to only provide you with brief interactions, as limited reimbursement rates require them to see a large number of patients per hour. Myofascial Release at the Pain Relief Center, needs continuous presence and interaction by the therapist in order to achieve its maximum potential. Standard session duration of 50 minutes provides an optimal time for goals to be accomplished and Myofascial Release to be effective. By no means is treatment at the Pain Relief Center "assembly line" therapy that patients have settled for in the past. |
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| Pain Relief Center Walt Fritz, PT 2050 South Clinton Ave. Rochester, NY 14618 585-244-6180 Want more information? Contact me |
| Myofascial Release, or MFR, is simply one of the most effective methods for relieving pain, restoring posture, and returning one to function. Myofascial Release is a hands-on technique that provides sustained pressure into myofascial restrictions (tightness, scar tissue, injured areas) to eliminate pain and restore motion. The theory of Myofascial Release ("myo" meaning muscle and "fascia" meaning connective tissue) requires an understanding of the fascial system (or connective tissue). The fascia is a specialized system of the body that has an appearance similar to a spider's web or a sweater. Fascia is very densely woven, covering and inter-penetrating every muscle, bone, nerve, artery and vein as well as all of our internal organs including the heart, lungs, brain and spinal cord. The most interesting aspect of the fascial system is that it is not just a system of separate coverings. It is actually one structure that exists from head to foot without interruption. In this way you can begin to see that each part of the entire body is connected to every other part by the fascia, like the yarn in a sweater. |
| The use of Myofascial Release allows me to look at each patient as a unique individual. Our one-on-one therapy sessions are hands-on treatments during which I use a multitude of Myofascial Release techniques and movement therapy. We promote independence through education in proper body mechanics and movement, through the enhancement of strength, flexibility, and postural and movement awareness. While Myofascial Release may share some commonalities with traditional massage, it is a modality that reaches deeper and creates lasting change. It shares a common goal with standard physical therapy practice, however works from a different perspective. In a traditional physical therapy setting, pain is often viewed as a result of weakness. Strengthening an already tight system often only makes the problem worse. Myofascial Release relieves the tightness and pressure from your body, allowing strength and function to return in a natural manner and returning you to your desired state. |
| Fascia also plays an important role in the support of our bodies, since it surrounds and has attachments to all structures. These structures would not be able to provide the stability without the constant pull of the fascial system. In fact, our bones can be thought of as tent poles, which cannot support the structure without the constant support of the guide wires (or fascia) to keep an adequate amount of tension to allow the tent (or body) to remain upright with proper equilibrium. In the normal healthy state, the fascia is relaxed and wavy in configuration. It has the ability to stretch and move without restriction. When we experience physical trauma, scarring, or inflammation, however, the fascia loses its pliability. It becomes tight, restricted and a source of tension to the rest of the body. Trauma, such as a fall, whiplash, surgery or just habitual poor posture over time and repetitive stress injuries has a cumulative effect. The changes they cause in the fascial system influence comfort and the functioning of our body. The fascia can exert excessive pressure producing pain or restriction of motion. They affect our flexibility and stability, and are a determining factor in our ability to withstand stress and strain. |
| Myofascial Release at the Pain Relief Center...safe, gentle, and powerfully effective. |
What Is Myofascial Release?
| In Print From the September 2006 edition of Natural Health Magazine. |
Walt Fritz, PT Copyright 2007-2010
| Will my Health Insurance cover these services? Services at the Pain Relief Center are considered "Out-of-Network" physical therapy by most insurance companies. Many plans now have Out-of-Network provisions. I suggest that you contact your health insurance provider to see whether you have coverage. There are plans that do not specify the need to visit only an In-Network provider. If this is the case you should be able to receive reimbursement for my services. Please feel free to contact me for more information. |
