Back pain can affect almost anyone. There have been estimates that four out of every five adults in the UK will suffer back pain at some point in their lives. This can be a short-term problem, perhaps caused by bending over and picking up a heavy load, a car accident, or simply spending too long digging the garden. On the other hand, it can be an ongoing problem which can have a serious effect on daily life.

Quite often a visit to the GP results in a referral to the physiotherapy department of the local hospital, along with some medication to ease the pain. In fact, back pain is actually the second most common reason that patients visit their GP. Around 7 million visits to the GP for back pain occur every year, with the corresponding cost to the NHS. In many cases, simply resting can produce an acceptable result - combined with medication, dependent upon the level of pain.

Of course, back pain can be a result of many different things. Overworking of the back in all sorts of situations, such as gardening - mentioned a moment ago - DIY, carrying heavy loads, and even standing in one position for too long can all cause back pain. Continuing with an activity, even when it is causing pain, is something else that many people do because they feel the need to “get the job finished” – despite the fact it is causing pain. Arthritis is another cause, where the cartilage in the spine wears down and results in the bones rubbing against one another. Unfortunately, there is not really a “cure” for arthritis.

However, many other types of back pain can be overcome by using a process known as myofascial release. This is a particular form of massage which is used by the therapists at Acubody and can help to free up, soften, and stretch the connective tissue in the fascia, and it is an excellent therapy for relieving muscle pain. It can also help to restore postural imbalances from which some people suffer.

Myofascial (muscular) release involves putting pressure on the body tissues in a specific direction and gradually building up to the point at which the therapist feels resistance. When this occurs, the massage therapist holds the hands in the same position for anything up to 90 seconds. The result is that the tissue then relaxes, which in effect stretches the muscle unit. The theory behind it is that the transverse pressure which is applied to the muscle unit persuades the peripheral nervous system to release the muscle.

Myofascial release techniques developed from the work of Ida Rolf in the 1940’s and which was then known as Rolfing. Myofascial release is not actually a single procedure, but a combination of procedures which have been developed since the time of Rolf, and which each practitioner will use in a slightly different manner from the next one, because it relies on the reaction the therapist receives from the client, and obviously they will not all be the same.

About The Company:
Acubody is a team of therapists based in Central and North London who use myofascial release as a part of their therapies to relieve severe pain suffered by clients. For further information, contact Duncan McGechie on 020 3823 6888 or email [email protected].
http://www.acubody.net/
Greater London
Acubody Ltd
London Natural Health,
46 Theobalds Road,
London,
WC1X 8NW