pull, inflicting stress equivalent to as much as 2,000 pounds per square inch on areas of the body, resulting in chronic pain. Unfortunately, fascia injuries do not show up on standard medical tests like x-rays, CT scans, and MRIs, so the patient is often told there is nothing physically wrong. Many must decide between constant pain or potentially dangerous pre- scription pain medications. Susko says patients will often describe their pain as feeling like “hav- ing a knife stuck in the back,” and are frustrated by having been to a number of doctors and/or therapists with little to no relief. He finds myofascial release to be particularly helpful for issues like chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia, in addition to head, neck and back pain. He also sees many patients with range of motion issues and for clicking in the shoulder blade area, known as snap- ping scapula. Because myofascial release uses a
To: Email:
Myofascial release therapy involves
three components: release, rebounding and unwinding.
Box 421 Emmaus, PA 18049 • P: 610-421-4443 • F: 610-421-4445
LVEditor@NaturalAwakeningsMag.com •
www.NaturalAwakeningsMag.com
al therapy may not have been effective. Still, once the fascia has begun to heal, traditional physical therapy exercises - along with activities like yoga and pilates - can often be beneficial, and Susko will often prescribe those for patients. Myofascial release therapy involves three components: release, rebound- ing and unwinding. The practitioner determines which are used in what pro- portions to affect the optimal healing in each patient, yet each is extremely gentle and relaxing to the body. The initial session takes about an hour for evaluation and treatment, and subse-
whole body approach, Susko says that multiple body issues can sometimes be resolved with a single treatment, but he cautions that its more likely for the body to take time to heal, especially from ailments that have been manifest- ing over longer periods of time. He adds that a job or lifestyle that produces repetitive stress on any area of the body will require continued treatments to keep the fascia functioning properly. Because the therapy involves the
entire body, Susko notes that the area of injury to the fascia may originate someplace other than where the pain manifests, another reason that tradition-
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quent sessions typically last 60 to 90 minutes. Susko says that even sessions as short as 30 minutes can offer benefit, “but longer is definitely better.” As an initial skeptic himself, Susko understands that the concept of myo- fascial release may seem foreign to most people, but he encourages those suffering from chronic pain who have not been helped by traditional methods to keep an open mind, and he does his best to get them functioning in the shortest time possible. “I’ve seen some pretty amazing healings,” he says, adding “I tell my patients I want to see them out and about, not my office. That’s the most rewarding thing, seeing them enjoying daily activities again without pain.”
Susko Therapy is located at 2800 Me- morial Highway, Suite 5, in Dallas. For more information, visit suskophysical-
therapy.com or call 570-675-1800. See ad, pg xx.
natural awakenings June 2016
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