Myofascial Release and Migraines

Myofascial Release and Migraines

AUTHOR: Lulu Picart

If you suffer from migraines, you’re not alone. In the United States, over 37 million men, women, and children have this affliction. More than 4 million people have chronic daily migraine (15 or more days per month). Because migraines can last anywhere from a few hours to a few days, they can be quite debilitating, causing millions of workdays lost in the U.S. every year. Migraines are largely invisible afflictions that can steal time, joy, and focus, and it can be very difficult to explain the severity of symptoms to friends and family.

Traditional migraine care such as pain relieving medications, caffeine, hydration, and reducing environmental stimulus (i.e. light, sound, and odors) focuses on alleviating symptoms and reducing pain, nausea, and sensitivity. However, it’s also important to include preventative techniques and measures, like myofascial release.

Preventative techniques for migraines

People seeking migraine relief have traditionally been steered to pain relieving medications, both prescription and non-prescription, supplements, and lifestyle changes, focusing on sleep and exercise, and avoiding food triggers.

Diet can be a big factor in preventing migraines, in both the quality of what you eat and keeping a regular meal schedule. Many people with migraines report success when avoiding common migraine triggers such as alcohol, chocolate, aged cheeses, processed meats, cultured dairy, MSG, and organ meats. Tracking foods and how they affect your migraines can be instrumental.

Many preventative measures can help reduce migraine frequency and intensity, and myofascial release can be a key part of migraine management. Adding in a preventative routine of massage and myofascial release can help keep tension and tightness out of the triggering areas and can also relieve stress and promote a healthy sleep cycle.

What is myofascial release?

Myofascial release (MFR) is a massage technique releasing tension and knots in the fascia, the strong connective system of tissues that encapsulates and supports every structure in the body. This web lives between and around your muscles, nerves, joints, ligaments, tendons, organs, and bones. When fascia is healthy, it’s flexible and hydrated, but if becomes inflammed or injured, the fascia can become hyper-irritated and inelastic.

While fascia can be manipulated and stretched on your own, a therapist trained in MFR can expertly locate pockets of rigidity and tightness. They will supply gentle, sustained pressure and to stretch and flex the fascia and release fascial restrictions. For migraines, MFR can be focused on trigger points in the shoulders, neck and head, but because the fascia connects systems throughout your body, it can require attention elsewhere. Because the effects of a fascia restriction can be felt in seemingly unrelated ares of the body, treatment often involves discussing and exploring historical trauma and injuries.

Who can benefit from myofascial release?

Myofascial release can help many people, including those with:

• inflammation
• compressed nerves (including bulging discs)
• repetitive stress injuries (like carpal tunnel syndrome)
• headaches and migraines, and
• physical and emotional trauma.

MFR can be an effective treatment and prevention plan for those with chronic migraines.

MFR can directly relieve muscle tightness and pain, promote relaxation, boost circulation, and increase oxygen flow, making it an effective treatment and preventative measure for people with chronic migraines.

For more information on how myofascial release can help you heal your body, listen to “Free Your Body From Past Trauma with Myofascial Release,” from The Healing Heroes Podcast, featuring special guest and expert MFR instructor Karen Remele. Karen's journey began as a modern jazz dancer and instructor until a horrific motorcycle accident changed the course of her life. She is now dedicated to helping others live pain-free existences and educating on the benefits of myofascial release. Karen is both a licensed physical therapist assistant and a licensed massage therapist. Ultimately, she became a student and expert instructor of the John. F Barnes MFR therapy, which she has now practiced for over 25 years.