Your First Visit
INTAKE FORM: Please complete the ONLINE INTAKE FORM here at least 24 hours prior to your first session. If you are unable to do that, please come early to your appointment so you can complete the form online in our office.
WHAT TO EXPECT: Myofascial Release is a highly interactive stretching technique that works with the patient’s body to determine the direction, force, and duration of the stretch to facilitate maximum relaxation of the tight or restricted tissues. The Myofascial Release therapist acts as a facilitator, working with the patient, not on the patient and uses no lotions or creams. Rather than planning a step-by-step treatment session, the therapist using Myofascial Release waits for guidance from the patient’s body.
Whereas muscles often respond to the firm strokes and thrusts of massage, fascia is thought to respond to a much milder touch. And unlike a typical chiropractic manipulation, which focuses on improving the motion and function of a particular joint, myofascial release works on a broader swath of muscles and connective tissue. The movements have been likened to kneading a piece of taffy–a gentle stretching that gradually softens, lengthens, and realigns the fascia.
The therapist will first ask about your complaints and closely inspect your posture as you sit, stand, walk, and lie still. The bones in your neck, chest, pelvis, back, or other areas will be felt and the skin stretched to feel for areas of tightness. Using the fingertips, knuckles, heel of the hand, or arm, the therapist then feels, or “palpates,” deeper layers for any areas of bound-down fascia. When a restricted area is found, the tissues are stretched gently along the direction of the muscle fibers until a resistance to further stretch is felt.
The stretch may be held for one to two minutes, and sometimes for up to five minutes, before a softening, or “release,” is felt. The release indicates that the muscle is relaxing, fascial adhesions are slowly breaking down, or the fascia has been realigned to its proper orientation. The process is then repeated until the tissues are fully elongated.
Because the fascia is an interconnected network, the therapist may work on many parts of your body, and not just those that hurt. To help you relax, you may be encouraged to breathe deeply or make sounds. If there is any discomfort, most people describe it as “good” or “healing.”
Some people immediately feel better, even free of pain, and are able to move their joints more freely as soon as the session is over. Others feel some increased discomfort (therapeutic pain) that night or the next day. Any soreness should subside within a day or two, however, and you should feel less pain and move more easily than you did before.
ATTIRE: Please bring loose shorts for your session. For women, please bring a sports bra or loose tank top to change into for your session. Please come to your session showered and do not use body lotion before your session.
EVALUATION: Your first session will include an evaluation including a discussion of your health, injury and illness history. The remaining time will be hands-on, including instruction on home stretches necessary for your complete healing. At that time, your therapist will determine the best treatment plan (including frequency) to suit your personal needs and healing goals.
PAYMENT: Once your first appointment is scheduled, we respectfully require that you pre-pay for your first appointment via the email sent. All other appointments can be paid on the day of service.
ADDRESS & PARKING: 3460 Ocean View Blvd., Suite B., Glendale, CA 91208. We are on the first floor, first door on the right in Suite B. There is a free street parking on Ocean View Blvd., but please remember to curb your wheels to avoid a parking ticket.
CANCELLATION POLICY: Full payment is due if less than 24-hour cancellation notice. Late arrivals are responsible for the full amount.
For more information about MFR and Fascia, please see the following links: