Logan Steele
Muscle unwinding, also known as myofascial unwinding, is a term coined by John Barnes to describe a type of physical movement that benefits soft tissues, muscles, connective tissue, and even the brain. Myofascial unwinding is an innate ability of the body to heal itself through involuntary movement. It is a hands-on therapy with roots in myofascial release therapy. During myofascial release, the therapist stimulates mechanoreceptors in the fascia by applying gentle touch and stretching, which induces relaxation and activates the parasympathetic nervous system. This, in turn, prompts the body to move into a more relaxed position, allowing for the release of tension and the healing of trauma.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | The body's innate ability to heal itself through involuntary movement |
| Origin | Coined by John Barnes, the "father of Myofascial release" |
| Process | Touch and stretching to induce relaxation and activate the parasympathetic nervous system |
| Involuntary Movement | Ideomotor action directed at the central nervous system |
| Tissue | Fascia is the most common tissue involved in the process |
| Results | Release of tension, improved breathing, flow, and nervous system regulation |
| Emotional Release | May be accompanied by emotions or memories |
| Scientific Explanation | Lack of scientific proof makes it questionable for many |
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What You'll Learn
Myofascial release
Myofascial unwinding is the body's innate ability to heal itself by moving into areas of ease or areas of reduced muscle tone and increased relaxation. It is an amplified release, a continuous movement in any given part of the body. During myofascial release work, the body often 'unwinds', going into spontaneous movement as the fascia and muscles release. The therapist works with and guides this movement, supporting the body where needed. Myofascial unwinding allows people to safely go beyond their perceived range of motion, enhancing the benefits of myofascial release.
Although the concept of unwinding is still a grey area for the scientific and medical communities, the most accepted explanation is that tissues can hold memories (somatic recall) of trauma, and the unwinding process allows the body to adjust to a new position of ease. The therapist stimulates mechanoreceptors in the fascia by applying gentle touch and stretching, inducing relaxation and activating the parasympathetic nervous system. This, in turn, arouses a response from the central nervous system, which responds by encouraging muscles to find an easier, more relaxed position. This involuntary muscle movement is directed at the central nervous system and occurs unconsciously.
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Emotional release
The process of emotional release during muscle unwinding can be understood through the psychology of consciousness model. This model explains how the physical touch of myofascial release can help individuals move from an unconscious or dissociated state from their body, often due to chronic pain, and bring them back to an awareness of their body and mind. This change brought about by touch can trigger a change in their physical, mental, and emotional state.
During muscle unwinding, the therapist uses gentle touch and stretching to stimulate mechanoreceptors in the fascia. This induces relaxation and activates the parasympathetic nervous system, resulting in a state of deep relaxation and calm. In this state, the conscious mind is relaxed, and the central nervous system responds by allowing the muscles to perform actions that decrease tone or create movement, leading to involuntary muscle movements. These involuntary movements are directed at the central nervous system and occur unconsciously, indicating a dissociation between voluntary action and conscious experience.
The process of muscle unwinding and emotional release is not effective for everyone, and not everyone will respond to it in the same way. However, it is a powerful tool for those who find it effective, allowing them to safely go beyond their perceived range of motion and further release tension.
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Mechanoreceptors and the nervous system
Muscle unwinding, also known as myofascial unwinding, is a term coined by John Barnes to describe a type of physical movement that benefits soft tissues, muscles, connective tissue, and even the brain as it builds new neural pathways. Myofascial unwinding is an innate ability of the body to heal itself through involuntary movement.
Fascial unwinding is a hands-on therapy with roots in myofascial release therapy. During fascial unwinding, the therapist stimulates mechanoreceptors in the fascia by applying gentle touch and stretching. Fascia is a type of connective tissue that is densely enervated by nerve endings and mechanoreceptors that respond to mechanical pressure and light touch. The stimulation of mechanoreceptors induces relaxation and activates both the parasympathetic and central nervous systems. The parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for the "rest and digest" functions of the body, promoting relaxation and calm. The central nervous system is involved in the modulation of muscle tone and movement.
When the central nervous system is aroused through the stimulation of mechanoreceptors, it responds by encouraging muscles to find a more relaxed position, introducing ideomotor action. Ideomotor action refers to involuntary muscle movements directed at the central nervous system, which occur unconsciously and are experienced as involuntary responses. The process is repeated until the client reaches a state of ease or "still point". This state of ease is characterised by continuous movement in any given part of the body, allowing the body to adjust to a new position of ease and self-correct from mechanical disturbances.
Myofascial unwinding enhances the benefits of myofascial release therapy by opening up tissues, creating space between joints, taking pressure off nerves, restoring motion, and relieving tension. It allows people to safely go beyond their perceived range of motion, facilitating the release of tension and improving nervous system regulation.
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Self-correction and involuntary movement
Myofascial unwinding is a term coined by John Barnes to describe a type of physical movement that comes from a higher intelligence, which he often describes as a "feeling" (rather than a "thinking") intelligence. Myofascial unwinding is the body's innate ability to heal itself by moving into areas of ease.
Fascial unwinding is a hands-on therapy with roots in myofascial release therapy. During fascial unwinding, the therapist stimulates mechanoreceptors in the fascia by applying gentle touch and stretching. Touch and stretching induce relaxation and activate the parasympathetic nervous system. They also activate the central nervous system, which is involved in the modulation of muscle tone as well as movement. As a result, the central nervous system is aroused and responds by encouraging muscles to find an easier, or more relaxed, position and by introducing the ideomotor action.
Ideomotor action pertains to involuntary muscle movement, which can manifest in various ways and is directed at the central nervous system. These reflexes occur unconsciously, indicating dissociation between voluntary action and conscious experience. In clinical situations, the client is unaware of the unconscious movement and thinks that it is generated by the therapist. This unconscious movement or stretching sensation stimulates a response in the tissue, providing feedback to the central nervous system as outlined in the theory of ideomotor action. The process is repeated until the client is relaxed or has reached a "still point" or state of ease.
Myofascial unwinding may be accompanied by emotions or memories. Myofascial release (MFR) involves targeted and precise movements that aim to release fascial obstructions. MFR is a manual therapy that treats inflammatory responses, injuries, and surgeries. It is a trauma therapy that helps undo the fight-flight-freeze response, a method for reducing stress, and healing PTSD. MFR is also a somatic practice that heightens sensory awareness, a way to feel more comfortable in one's body.
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Tissue tension and trauma
The process of myofascial unwinding, also known as fascial unwinding, involves the therapist stimulating mechanoreceptors in the fascia by applying gentle touch and stretching. Touch and stretching induce relaxation and activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which is involved in the modulation of muscle tone and movement. As a result, the central nervous system is aroused and responds by encouraging muscles to find a more relaxed position and by introducing ideomotor action.
Ideomotor action refers to involuntary muscle movement, which is directed at the central nervous system. These reflexes occur unconsciously, indicating a dissociation between voluntary action and conscious experience. In clinical situations, the client is unaware of the unconscious movement and believes it is generated by the therapist. This movement stimulates a response in the tissue, providing feedback to the central nervous system.
The process of myofascial unwinding can be accompanied by emotions or memories and is believed to be a way for the body to heal itself through involuntary movement. It is a gentle and effective treatment that works with the body, mind, and emotions, rather than against them. The process is guided by the practitioner, who supports the body and holds it during the release.
While myofascial unwinding has been criticised for lacking scientific validity, it is a recognised therapy with many practitioners who understand the power of this light-touch approach.
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