Myofascial Release Services (John Barnes Method)

Christine McDevitt, MS, OTR/L is the founder of Farfalla Integrative Health and a licensed occupational therapist providing myofascial release as part of occupational therapy care. She has extensive post-professional training as a myofascial release therapist using the John Barnes method which differs significantly from trigger point or massage therapy.

Does your body feel like something’s off even though you’ve been told everything is fine?

Many people seek out myofascial release after living for months or years with pain, tightness, or movement limitations that don’t show up as a problem on scans or medical tests. You may have been told that nothing is structurally wrong, yet your body still feels braced, restricted, or uncomfortable.

These symptoms may have developed after an injury, surgery, or a prolonged period of physical or emotional stress. While physical therapy, massage, exercise, or even counseling may have helped to some degree, you’re still not feeling or doing as well as you expected by now.  

In some cases, symptoms aren’t caused by a single issue. Patterns of tension in the body, including restrictions in the fascial system, can affect how you function long after the original onset of the problem has passed.

If this sounds familiar, myofascial release at Farfalla Integrative Health can be an effective way to help you move forward when you’re struggling with ongoing symptoms.

Because myofascial release is provided within occupational therapy, treatment can also focus on how those symptoms affect your ability to function in your daily life.

Feel free to schedule a brief phone call or video chat to discuss your situation.

What Is Myofascial Release?

Myofascial release is a body-based therapy that addresses a type of connective tissue called fascia. Fascia runs through the body like an uninterrupted, three-dimensional web and wraps around every structure.

Injury, trauma, medical treatments, and even poor posture can cause the fascia to bind down and become restricted.

These restrictions can cause excessive pressure on nerves, muscles, organs, and other structures and result in symptoms such as:

Myofascial release techniques help to gently unbind restricted tissue. This process helps the body release unconscious bracing patterns or held trauma so you can move through your day with greater ease and less pain.

The method of myofascial release that is practiced at Farfalla Integrative Health is a whole-body approach that differs significantly from traditional massage or trigger point therapy.

Rather than forcing releases with techniques that use strong pressure for shorter durations, this method uses gentle, sustained pressure for prolonged periods of time to allow the tissue to release at its own pace.

How Myofascial Release Can Help

Because fascial restrictions don’t appear on standard medical tests, many people with symptoms continue to suffer even with appropriate treatments like conventional physical or massage therapy.  

Traditional stretching, massage, and trigger point therapy may provide temporary relief, but those techniques aren’t sufficient to address deeper restrictions in the fascial system.

Time is a key factor in effectively releasing the deeper restrictions to promote lasting change in the tissue. With myofascial release using the John Barnes method, gentle, prolonged pressure is applied to fascial restrictions to help the tissue unbind at its own pace without forcing.

As the restrictions begin to soften, people often notice changes such as:

Over time, many people find it easier to participate in the life activities that matter most to them.

Myofascial release is not a cure for illness or disease and does not replace medical, psychiatric, or emergency care services.

If you’re unsure about your specific situation, you can schedule a time to discuss your needs or concerns.

What To Expect During Myofascial Release Sessions

Myofascial release is provided by licensed healthcare professionals. At Farfalla Integrative Health, myofascial release sessions fall under the scope of occupational therapy services.

Myofascial release is not appropriate for all situations and is not a replacement for traditional medical care. Always check with your doctor before starting treatment.

Initial Session

The initial session is typically 60 minutes long and consists of an evaluation and some treatment time.

• We’ll start by assessing your symptoms, physical status, current challenges, and other factors that may make certain activities difficult for you. This ensures that we guide treatment toward what matters most in your daily life.
• Once the evaluation is complete, the remainder of the session will consist of treatment using myofascial release techniques. (See below for details.)

Follow-Up Sessions

Follow-up sessions each last up to an hour.

• At the beginning of the session, the therapist will perform a brief observation of your body and posture while you’re standing. You’ll generally start the session lying on a treatment table. The therapist’s hands will be on your bare skin.

• The therapist will apply gentle, sustained pressure into an identified fascial restriction. Pressure will be adjusted to your tolerance level. The therapist’s hands will follow the movement of the fascial tissue as it releases. The therapist will never try to force the fascia to move or release. 

• Each hold will generally last at least 5-10 minutes, sometimes longer. Your position on the table may change as the session progresses. Multiple restricted areas are often addressed during one session. (These may or may not be located in the same body area.)

• As part of your treatment plan, the therapist will instruct you in techniques for a home program so you can keep making progress on your own. (This does not necessarily occur during every session.)

Meet Your Myofascial Release Therapist

How Myofascial Release Fits Within Farfalla Integrative Health’s Services

At Farfalla Integrative Health, myofascial release is provided within the scope of occupational therapy. Treatment addresses not only symptoms but also how those symptoms affect your ability to function in your daily life.

Because myofascial release falls under occupational therapy practice:

• Services are subject to healthcare regulations and state licensure laws.
• To comply with Pennsylvania law, a prescription from your doctor for occupational therapy is required to begin myofascial release services.

Sessions take place at the office in Lafayette Hill, PA (just outside of northwest Philadelphia).

When appropriate, other approaches such as acupressure may be incorporated into your plan of care. Services are not automatically combined, and no modalities are incorporated into your sessions without your consent.

Insurance and Payment

Myofascial release services at Farfalla Integrative Health are provided on a private-pay basis.

Farfalla Integrative Health does not participate directly with insurance networks. If you have out-of-network benefits on your insurance plan, you may be able to submit claims to your insurance company for possible reimbursement under occupational therapy services.

How To Get Started

If you’re interested in myofascial release at Farfalla Integrative Health, you’re welcome to take the next step that feels right for you.

You can:

• See frequently asked questions about myofascial release.
• Reach out by email (christine@farfallaintegrativehealth.com) if you have a specific question.
• Schedule a 20-minute phone call or video chat to discuss your situation and any questions or concerns you may have. This call is simply to see if we might be a good fit. There is no pressure or obligation to schedule services.
• Start the scheduling process online if you’re ready to move forward with myofascial release.

It’s possible to feel like you again, and you don’t have to do it alone.