Ligamentous & Fascial Release
Understanding Ligamentous and Fascial Strain
Ligamentous and Fascial Strain, or ligamentous articular strain, is a somatic dysfunction occurring within the ligamentous structure around the joint. These ligaments are essential to maintaining the stability and functioning of joints because they connect bones and make joint movements easier. This balanced pressure helps the adjacent bones stay within their spaces smoothly and coordinatedly.
This is necessary to prevent the bones from dislocating, jamming, falling apart, or twisting abnormally. When you get injured, the balance gets disturbed as one bone in the joint becomes jammed or displaced from its original position, straining all the ligaments around it.
Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment, or OMT, is a hands-on method used by our osteopathic physicians to diagnose, treat, and prevent injuries and issues by adjusting a patient’s muscles and joints using non-surgical techniques like stretching, gentle pressure, and resistance. OMT can be categorised into two methods: direct and indirect. Each method has techniques and usage that focus on various somatic dysfunctions, especially in musculoskeletal structures.
What Do Opposing Ligaments Do in Joint Stability?
Each joint is supported by different pairs of opposing ligaments that work one after the other to maintain the joint equilibrium. When you injure your joint, the ligaments on one side can get strained too much, but the opposite side may get tightened as a reaction to the altered bone positions. The more strained ligament in this pair is the one that looks more stretched beyond its average level. The tighter ligament is generally closer to its normal tension but is responding to the shifted joint position.
This irregular and imbalanced ligament tension can increase pain, restrict movement, and cause uncomfortable changes in your body. The body’s natural reaction is to protect the joint by making specific muscles tight, straining them more.
Ligamentous and Fascial Release Method
Ligamentous and Fascial Release is an indirect method of Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment used to treat ligamentous strain by meticulously balancing the strain and tension in the affected area. The direct method applies force directly into the restrictive barrier. However, in this indirect method, joint positioning allows the ligaments to relax naturally.
This approach is gentle and effective, ideal for treating acute injuries, sensitive areas, and those who cannot handle aggressive healing methods. When the joints are held where balanced tension happens, it slowly brings the ligaments to normal. Ligamentous and fascial release is a valuable tool in osteopathic care, offering a safe and non-surgical option for patients suffering from joint injuries and ligamentous strain. This technique eliminates discomfort and enhances the movement and stability of the strained joints.
