You Don't Have to Grin and Bear It! How Myofascial Release Can Relieve TMJ, Jaw and Dental Pain
- By Elena Gournelos
- •
- 12 Dec, 2017
For many people, myofascial release offers simple, safe, non-invasive relief of jaw pain and stiffness, and even alleviates clenching and grinding at night. Here's how ...
Is your jaw stiff and painful, or does it “pop” when you open and close it? Have you been told you grind or clench your teeth at night and you should wear a bite guard? How about headaches, neck pain and stiffness? Have you even been told you need jaw or facial surgery to relieve the pain?
Luckily, for most people, Myofascial Release provides a simple, safe and non-invasive solution
Our jaws are held together by extremely strong tendons, ligaments and muscles. When they are tense, they can feel like painful steel cables inside our jaw, and can even pull our jaw out of alignment. This results in a condition called TMD (Temporal Mandibular Disorder), commonly referred to as TMJ.
The National Institute of Dental and Craniofascial Research estimates that over 10 million Americans have TMD. In addition, 10% of adults and 15% of children grind their teeth at night.
That's a lot of stress and tension! To make things worse, tension in the jaw often spreads via the fascia to our teeth, neck and head, contributing to pain, stiffness, and headaches.
We live in a stressful world, and most of us hold an incredible amount of tension in our jaws. We even have idioms that encourage us to do so! When we “grin and bear it” or “keep a stiff upper lip” we may avoid an argument, but our bodies literally pay the price by holding on to the tension and stress we are unable to express.
The good news is, you don't have to live with it. Myofascial Release of the jaw can relieve pain and tension that has been there for decades. Sometimes, our jaws are tight and restricted from orthodontic work we had as children. Sometimes its related to poor posture while sitting at a desk, which puts tremendous strain on our neck, head and jaw. Sometimes it's plain old stress and pent up emotions. But whatever the cause, releasing the myofascial restrictions in the jaw can provide amazing relief you never thought possible!
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John Barnes' myofascial release approach is different from any other type of therapeutic bodywork. It engages the fascia on a cellular level, producing profound levels of pain relief and healing with long term results. New scientific research supports the effectiveness of myofascial release.
Myofascial release can provide a profound level of hope and physical, emotional, and spiritual healing for cancer patients. Myofascial release can help ease pain, improve body function, and possibly prolong life,
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Many cases of foot pain, including plantar fasciitis and metatarsalgia, may not actually originate in the feet. Often, there are fascial restrictions present in other parts of the body (such as the legs, pelvis, and cranium) which are the real culprit. These fascial restrictions create tension in the body's matrix of connective tissue which is ultimately transferred all the way down to the feet, causing pain and discomfort. Myofascial release and cranial work are effective ways to release the extra tension in the body, freeing the feet from their extra burden and eliminating pain.
Surgery is a big decision. Considering all your options can be overwhelming, especially if you are experiencing significant pain and discomfort. Perhaps you've tried other therapies such as physical therapy, massage, and chiropractic, but with limited success, and you feel like there are no other options available to you.
Don't despair! Myofascial release often succeeds where other therapies fail. And you don't have to abandon your current doctor, therapist or chiropractor to reap the benefits.
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Why is the myofascial release approach so important? Myofascial release, especially when combined with cranial work, acts on a cellular level to release restrictions in the body that other therapies aren't able to address. Fascia is a matrix of connective tissue that is present everywhere in your body, surrounding and connecting every cell. It does not appear in X-rays, MRIs, or any other standard medical test. However, when fascia gets restricted, it can wreak havoc inside your body.
Fascial restrictions have a tensile strength of 2000 lbs per square inch, and they can exert a lot of force on surrounding muscles, joints, and even internal organs, causing severe pain and dysfunction. Releasing these restrictions releases the pressure safely and naturally,returning your entire body to a fluid and responsive state. The result? Less pain, better functioning, and a healthier body.
..............
So do you really need surgery? Maybe, maybe not. Myofascial release may be able to alleviate your symptoms and spare you the significant risk, expense, and inconvenience of surgery. And if you do decide to go under the knife, myofascial release can be used both before and after surgery to promote healing. Addressing restrictions in the connective tissue before the procedure may make your surgeon's job easier and decrease the risk of complications. Myofascial release after surgery may decrease the amount a scar tissue formed and speed up recovery time.
In fact, myofascial release can even act synergistically to enhance the effects of other therapies. Because it never works in opposition to the body, combining myofascial release with chiropractic, acupuncture, yoga, or physical therapy can be a powerful approach to healing. When the fascia has been released, chiropractic adjustments hold longer, energy flows more easily through the body, yoga becomes easier, and physical therapy becomes more effective.
So whether you choose to use myofascial release alone or in combination with surgery or other therapies, the benefits are immense, both for your body and your spirit. The sooner you are able to get back to living fully the better!
Don't despair! Myofascial release often succeeds where other therapies fail. And you don't have to abandon your current doctor, therapist or chiropractor to reap the benefits.
..............
Why is the myofascial release approach so important? Myofascial release, especially when combined with cranial work, acts on a cellular level to release restrictions in the body that other therapies aren't able to address. Fascia is a matrix of connective tissue that is present everywhere in your body, surrounding and connecting every cell. It does not appear in X-rays, MRIs, or any other standard medical test. However, when fascia gets restricted, it can wreak havoc inside your body.
Fascial restrictions have a tensile strength of 2000 lbs per square inch, and they can exert a lot of force on surrounding muscles, joints, and even internal organs, causing severe pain and dysfunction. Releasing these restrictions releases the pressure safely and naturally,returning your entire body to a fluid and responsive state. The result? Less pain, better functioning, and a healthier body.
..............
So do you really need surgery? Maybe, maybe not. Myofascial release may be able to alleviate your symptoms and spare you the significant risk, expense, and inconvenience of surgery. And if you do decide to go under the knife, myofascial release can be used both before and after surgery to promote healing. Addressing restrictions in the connective tissue before the procedure may make your surgeon's job easier and decrease the risk of complications. Myofascial release after surgery may decrease the amount a scar tissue formed and speed up recovery time.
In fact, myofascial release can even act synergistically to enhance the effects of other therapies. Because it never works in opposition to the body, combining myofascial release with chiropractic, acupuncture, yoga, or physical therapy can be a powerful approach to healing. When the fascia has been released, chiropractic adjustments hold longer, energy flows more easily through the body, yoga becomes easier, and physical therapy becomes more effective.
So whether you choose to use myofascial release alone or in combination with surgery or other therapies, the benefits are immense, both for your body and your spirit. The sooner you are able to get back to living fully the better!
There IS a way out of fibromyalgia ... and Dr. Liptan explains how John Barnes' Myofascial Release was an integral part of her patients and her own healing process
Hello everyone! As many of you know, I have always been a person who prefers personal, one-on-one communication. However, as time goes on, I'm finding there are some great topics that come up over and over again, and there are so many people who can benefit from these conversations. So, I have decided to start a blog in order share these insights and information, both yours and my own, and support our mutual growth and healing. Keep coming back to this site and check for updates right here on the blog!
Also, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their contributions, especially those of you who have shared your personal stories in the form of testimonials. Your healing experiences help to inspire others as they take their own steps toward health and wholeness.
Also, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their contributions, especially those of you who have shared your personal stories in the form of testimonials. Your healing experiences help to inspire others as they take their own steps toward health and wholeness.
