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SoftWave Therapy
Chiro858
SoftWave Therapy

Myofascial Release: What It Is and What the Research Says

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By Dr. Dave Bourgouin, DC · Chiro858, Solana Beach

Myofascial release is a hands-on treatment for tight, sore muscles and the connective tissue around them. Your provider applies slow, steady pressure and holds it while the tissue gradually eases. One research review describes it as a “low load, long duration stretch” meant to restore length, reduce pain, and improve function.

It feels different from a typical massage. There’s no oil or lotion, and the pressure stays in one spot instead of gliding. Below is what happens during a session, where the research is encouraging, where it’s thin, and who should check with a doctor first.

Fascia, briefly

Fascia is a thin, fibrous connective tissue made mostly of collagen. The Cleveland Clinic describes it as the tissue that “wraps around and supports every structure in your body.”

Researchers still disagree on an exact definition. What they agree on is that fascia covers every structure in the body.

What a session involves

There are two main ways to do it.

  • Direct release. Your provider finds the point where the tissue resists and holds firm, steady pressure there until it lets go.
  • Indirect release. The pressure is much lighter, and you stay relaxed and passive while the tissue is gently guided.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, a session usually lasts 15 to 50 minutes. Expect gentle, constant pressure applied slowly, and tell us if it’s more than you want.

Trigger points and myofascial pain

Some people come in with a specific problem called myofascial pain syndrome. StatPearls, a clinical reference from the U.S. National Library of Medicine, describes it as regional pain in a muscle or the surrounding tissue, with “hyperirritable trigger points within taut bands of skeletal muscle.” These spots can refer pain to other areas. When it lasts 6 months or longer, it’s considered chronic.

That’s different from fibromyalgia, where the tenderness is spread across the body without those taut bands.

It’s also different from normal post-workout soreness. That kind usually starts 1 to 3 days after a hard session and rarely lasts more than 5 days. If muscle pain hangs around longer than a week, the Cleveland Clinic recommends getting it checked.

What the research shows

Here’s the honest version. The research on myofascial release is mixed, much of it is small, and the benefits tend to be modest and short-term. It has some real support, but it isn’t a cure-all.

Low back pain. A 2021 meta-analysis of 8 trials with 375 people found that myofascial release reduced pain and improved function compared with control treatments, rated as moderate-quality evidence. Only one of those trials was at low risk of bias, though. The same analysis found that adding myofascial release to spinal manipulation or exercise didn’t add a significant extra benefit. A second 2021 meta-analysis found improvement in disability but not in pain.

Neck pain. Two recent reviews disagree. A 2023 review of 13 studies found no significant difference in pain, range of motion, or neck disability. A 2024 review of 10 trials found a modest reduction in pain. Neither is the final word.

Fibromyalgia. A 2021 review of 6 studies with 279 people found less pain after treatment, and some of that improvement was still there at 6 months. The authors rated the evidence as moderate.

Tension-type headaches. A 2024 analysis found improvements, but rated the certainty of that evidence as low or very low.

Not every review is positive. A 2018 systematic review of chronic musculoskeletal pain concluded the evidence was “not sufficient to warrant this treatment,” partly because 5 of the 8 trials it examined had a high risk of bias.

So how do we use it? As one part of a plan that also includes movement and exercise. We don’t treat it as a stand-alone fix.

Foam rolling at home

A foam roller is a do-it-yourself version, often called self-myofascial release. The research is useful here if you keep expectations realistic.

A 2019 meta-analysis found that foam rolling before exercise improved flexibility by about 4 percent, and rolling afterward reduced muscle soreness by about 6 percent. The authors called those effects “rather minor.” A 2020 analysis found foam rolling improves range of motion compared with doing nothing, but it wasn’t any better than regular stretching.

That makes a roller a reasonable warm-up or cool-down tool for runners, surfers, and anyone training hard. It won’t replace stretching or strength work. If you want a routine built around what your body needs, ask about our corrective exercises.

Tool-assisted soft tissue work

We also offer the Graston Technique, which uses specially designed stainless steel instruments to work the soft tissue. Research on instrument-assisted soft tissue work is mixed. A 2023 review found very low-quality evidence that didn’t support it, while a 2025 review found moderate-certainty evidence of pain reduction. Temporary discomfort and small spots of bruising are possible side effects.

Soreness afterward, and who should check first

It’s common to feel a little sore where the tissue was worked. According to the Cleveland Clinic, that soreness usually fades fairly quickly.

Talk with your doctor before myofascial release if you have any of these:

  • a broken bone that is still healing
  • burns or open wounds
  • a history of deep vein thrombosis (a blood clot in a deep vein), or you take blood thinners
  • severe osteoporosis
  • advanced diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis
  • cancer, or an aneurysm

Serious problems from hands-on soft tissue work are rare. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health notes rare reports of blood clots, nerve injury, or bone fractures, mostly with vigorous massage and often in older adults. It’s one more reason we start with a full history before any hands-on care.

When to see a doctor instead

Some symptoms need a medical evaluation, not soft tissue work.

  • Leg swelling, warmth, redness, or tenderness, especially in one calf. These can be signs of a blood clot. The CDC advises seeing a doctor as soon as possible.
  • Chest pain or trouble breathing. Call 911.
  • Back pain with weight loss you can’t explain, pain that’s worse at night, or a lump or swelling in your back. See your doctor.
  • Numbness or weakness in both legs, loss of feeling around the genitals or bottom, or changes in bladder or bowel control. Call 911 or go to the ER.

How we approach it at Chiro858

Your first visit starts with a health history and an exam of your posture, movement patterns, and spinal alignment. We assess the patient as a whole. If myofascial release fits what we find, we’ll explain what we’re working on and why, and pair it with exercises you can keep doing on your own.

Want to see if it’s right for you? Call us at (858) 481-2481 or request an appointment. We’re at 320 S Cedros Ave, Suite 320, in Solana Beach.

This article is general information and not a substitute for an in-person exam. If you have pain or a symptom that concerns you, talk with your doctor or call our office. For any of the emergency signs above, call 911.

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