Myofascial therapy represents a philosophy of care in which the therapist facilitates the patient's own inherent ability to correct soft tissue dysfunction. Myofascial models were described in the Osteopathic literature of the 1950's. Many other contemporary treatment approaches such as connective tissue massage, Rolfing, strain and counterstrain, and soft tissue mobilization use the same myofascial models. Outside of the Osteopathic literature, few articles about Myofascial Release or other myofascial therapies have appeared in peer reviewed journals. This paucity of research has kept Myofascial Release out of the mainstream. Unlike Cranial Sacral Therapy, which is based on the premise that cranial bones can be moved by the therapist, the effects of Myofascial Release can be explained using known neurophysiologic phenomena.

Myofascial Release is a highly interactive stretching technique that requires feedback from the patient's body to determine the direction, force and duration of the stretch and to facilitate maximum relaxation of the tight or restricted tissues. Myofascial Release recognizes that a muscle cannot be isolated from the other structures of the body. All stretching is actually stretching of myofascial units.

When using Myofascial Release techniques, the physical therapist monitors tissue tightness by developing a kinesthetic link with the patient through touch. This link senses the patient's inherent tissue movement, underlying neurophysiologic tissue tone and the more overt muscle tone. As the therapist becomes more adept at sensing the patient's tone and tightness, the therapist is able to detect subtle restrictions to efficient movement. While treating the patient's current problem with gentle localized stretching, all malalignments that may predispose the patient to future injury are eliminated.

The therapist using Myofascial Release works with the patient, not on the patient. The therapist acts as a facilitator. Rather than planning a step-by-step treatment session, the therapist using Myofascial Release waits for guidance from the patient's body. Myofascial Release helps the patient to achieve the most efficient movement patterns that the patient's body can maintain with the least amount of effort.