Myofascial Release Therapy (MFR)

Experience Relief with Clinical Myofascial Release Therapy

At Feel Better Bristol, Zoe and Becki run one of the region’s first clinics dedicated to providing Myofascial Release Therapy, serving Bristol and North Somerset. This gentle technique, developed by physical therapist John F. Barnes, uses sustained, hands-on pressure to soften and relieve tension in the fascial connective tissue of the body – which research is pointing more to connections with chronic pain, repetitive strain, and ongoing inflammation.

Using healing, compassionate touch, we aim to help you find relief from pain and tightness, recover from injuries, and improve mobility, function and ease in your body. MFR is a highly effective, whole-body approach that may help with chronic and acute pain and dysfunction. Whether you’re dealing with tight muscles, pain, or recovering from illness or surgery, myofascial release therapy in Bristol offers support that is gentle and lasting.

What is “fascia”?

Fascia is the strong, connective tissue living system that surrounds and supports every muscle, bone, organ, and cell in the body. When healthy, fascia is fluid and flexible. But after injury, surgery, or prolonged stress, it can become tight, restricting movement and causing discomfort. Research shows fascia plays a role in cellular communication and is part of every cell in the body (5).

Zoe and Becki will tailor your treatment to best support your needs, drawing on their extensive joint experience working with adults and children experiencing scar tissue, stress and traumatic events, pelvic floor dysfunction, cancer treatment, and sports injuries.

Why myofascial release?

Myofascial Release (MFR) may help address the root cause of dysfunction by addressing the whole person, rather than just symptoms. It’s a safe, gentle and effective therapy for working on fascial restrictions in the body, making it ideal for chronic pain, injury recovery, post-surgical healing, or simply restoring ease of movement.

What to expect during treatment

Your first session begins with a thorough assessment to understand your goals. Initial appointments are 90 minutes, with follow-ups available in 60 minute or 75 minute sessions, allowing ample time for the slower techniques to be effective.

MFR is performed without oil and with minimal clothing to access the skin. Your therapist uses skilled, responsive hands to identify lines of tension. Techniques may feel subtle, but may support significant, long-lasting change. Comfort and communication are central to every session.

MFR therapy is often deeply relaxing and satisfying. The benefits of myofascial release therapy go beyond the physical to enhance your overall wellness. The slow, sustained movements are not painful, although some mild ‘therapeutic’ discomfort may be experienced. Some techniques are subtle and gentle, while others target deeper tension more directly.

Alongside physical treatment, we encourage self treatment to enhance your results from therapy, and provide advice to help you strengthen and improve flexibility, and enhance movement awareness.

How may myofascial release help me?

• Reduce chronic pain and tension
• Improve flexibility and mobility
• Support post-injury or post-surgical recovery
• Soften and improve scar tissue
• Relieve stress and promote deep relaxation
• Enhance overall wellbeing and body awareness
• Reduce anxiety and improve emotional regulation
• Boost athletic performance and recovery
• Help children feel more at ease in their body and mind

Who may benefit from Myofascial Release Therapy?

MFR is suitable for a wide range of people, including:

• Individuals with persistent or complex pain
• Post-operative patients
• People recovering from cancer
• Anyone managing stress, anxiety, or trauma
• Athletes aiming to prevent or recover from injury
• Women with pelvic floor dysfunction or birth-related trauma
• Children with musculoskeletal or sensory-driven challenges

At Feel Better Bristol, we work with adults and children. Many clients come to us after other approaches have offered only short-term relief. MFR gently supports the body’s ability to heal and reset itself – often providing long-lasting results. Whether you’re recovering from injury or managing chronic pain, myofascial therapy offers a gentle, effective solution for many in Bristol

Our practitioner Zoe provides treatments to children who may be experiencing musculoskeletal problems or anxiety driven conditions. Children often respond positively and quickly to bodywork and many children say they look forward to their sessions.

Commonly asked questions

How many sessions will I need? It depends on your goals and how long your symptoms have been present. Some people feel significant change in just a few sessions, while others with more chronic conditions may benefit from ongoing support.

Is it safe? Yes! MFR is extremely gentle and safe for all ages and fitness levels.

What should I wear? Wear comfortable clothing that allows access to your skin – vest tops and shorts are ideal. Avoid using moisturiser before your session so your practitioner can work more effectively.

What does the evidence say? Emerging research continues to support MFR as a valuable supportive treatment for chronic pain, postural imbalance, and conditions like fibromyalgia, frozen shoulder, jaw and chronic low back pain.

Key findings include:

• ✅ Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain:
• Research suggests that Myofascial Release can help reduce pain and improve physical function in some people with persistent musculoskeletal conditions, although the results of studies vary between conditions.
• ✅ Knee Osteoarthritis:
• A systematic review of 12 controlled studies found that Myofascial Release, particularly when combined with conventional treatment or exercise, was associated with improvements in pain, knee function and range of motion (2025)
• ✅ Frozen Shoulder:
• A systematic review of 11 studies involving 383 people found that Myofascial Release used alongside rehabilitation was associated with improvements in pain, shoulder movement and functional ability.
• ✅ Chronic Low Back Pain:
• A systematic review and meta-analysis (2021) found that MFR led to significant improvements in pain and mobility for people living with persistent low back pain. A more recent randomised, sham-controlled trial found that diaphragmatic Myofascial Release reduced pain and disability in people with chronic non-specific low back pain. Improvements in pain were present at one-week follow-up, although larger studies are needed to confirm the findings.
• ✅ Fibromyalgia:
• A systematic review and meta-analysis of 10 studies found that therapist-delivered Myofascial Release was associated with reduced pain in people with fibromyalgia. The findings support MFR as a potentially useful part of an individualised treatment approach (2026)
• ✅ Jaw and Facial Pain:
  A systematic review (2026) of seven randomised trials found that Myofascial Release may reduce pain and improve mouth function in people with muscular temporo mandibular disorders, although the certainty of the evidence remains limited.

References

1. Chaitow, L. (2003) Clinical application of myofascial trigger point therapy. Churchill Livingstone.
2. Langevin, H. M., Sherman, K. J., Wu, G., Taatjes, D. J., & Butler, D. S. (2011) Connective tissue: a body-wide signalling network? Medical hypotheses, 76(5), 662-669.
3. Pischinger, A. (2007) The Extracellular Matrix and Ground Regulation: Basis for a Holistic Biological Medicine.
4. Ughreja RA, Venkatesan P, Balebail Gopalakrishna D, Singh YP. Effectiveness of myofascial release on pain, sleep, and quality of life in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome: A systematic review. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2021 Nov;45
5. Ide FC, D’Oliveira A, Vieira EP, Martins TB, Andrade A, do Nascimento IB. (2026) What are the effects of connective tissue massage vs. myofascial release on fibromyalgia pain? Systematic review with meta-analysis. Complement Ther Med. Mar;96
6. Wu, Z et al. (2021) Myofascial Release for Chronic Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Front Med. Jul 28:8
7. F. Farshchi,  N. Farshchi, and  R. A. H. Kalayi, “ The Role of Myofascial Release Techniques as an Adjunct to Other Therapies in Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review,” Health Science Reports  8 (2025):  1-12
8. M. Ferrillo,  D. Calafiore,  A. De Rosa, et al., “ Efficacy of Myofascial Release Therapy and Related Soft-Tissue Techniques for Pain in Temporomandibular Disorders: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials,” Journal of Oral Rehabilitation (2026):  1–13

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