Myofascial release based on the John F Barnes approach is an effective therapy for restoring balance, and achieving a more balanced structural alignment of the body and releasing pain and discomfort.  It uses gentle deep sustained, hands-on pressure into restrictions, which allows the tissue to elongate, restore elasticity and enhance the horse's overall performance.

Since myofascial release is a whole-body technique, it treats the cause of the problem, not just the symptoms, and this is what allows for permanent results Fascial restriction can be caused by injury, post surgery and scarring, chronic holding patterns related to stress or micro traumas (injuries built up over time due to repetitive strain/trauma). It also releases the build up of toxins that can cause muscle stiffness and soreness. Through releasing tight restrictions that compromise equine athletic ability and comfort a greater range of motion and performance can be achieved.

What is Fascia?

Fascia is a seamless web of connective tissue that covers and connects the muscles, organs, nerves, veins and skeletal structures in our body.  It can effect every system and function in the body muscular, cellular, neurological, metabolic and so on.  Interestingly it is not composed of separate parts but rather an uninterrupted whole that goes from head to toe. The myofascial system is like a super highway of information that connects the body together.  It knows everything that is going on in the system. The most obvious example of fascia is the dense white fascia membrane clearly visible when we cut meat.

The fascial system is often likened to a spider web or thread of a sweater.  If a thread in the sweater gets pulled in one place it affects the whole sweater. Further the fascia can produce enormous tensile strength of up to 2000 lbs. per square inch on pain-sensitive structures.  Excessive pressure such as this can explain why symptoms develop and may not respond to conventional treatment methods which do not affect the myofascial system.  It is important to note that myofascial restrictions do not show up in any of the standard tests (x-rays, CT scans, MRIs, myelograms, etc.), so it is felt that myofascial problems are either missed or misdiagnosed.