Fascial Unwinding

Fascial or myofascial unwinding is a type of manual therapy that can be used to “release” fascia restriction by encouraging the body or parts of the body to move to area of ease.

Unwinding usually involves a therapist that induced the process to the client, and this is followed by spontaneous reaction by the client: bending & twisting maneuvers of the upper or lower limbs, or the whole body.

This technique is used and taught in craniosacral therapy (also called Sometoemotional release) (Upledger, 1987; Milne) and indirect osteopathic and myofascial release (John Barnes).  In some cases, emotional release can occur or induced, but here we discuss only physical unwinding.

The term "unwinding" is also used in many of the indirect techniques such as myofascial relase, positional release or strain-counterstrain. In this case muscle or joints are placed in some position and therapist can feel the muscle or joint unwind. The unwinding technique (with particular on fascial unwinding) is discussed in several articles. Blum (2002) mentioned that fascial unwinding is necessary with patients with scoliosis. However this technique cannot be found in any mainstream research publication database such as Pubmed, ISI Web of Science, and Scopus.

According to Philip Greenman the osteopathic origins are unclear; however the procedures have been described for decades by many osteopathic practitioners. Most indirect manipulative techniques are based on a common concept that the role of the practitioner is to encourage the activity of inherent corrective or homeostatic physiological mechanisms.

According to most alternative therapy theories, the explanation is:  “Traumatic events can distort the connective tissue matrix or fascia. These 'energy cysts' (Upledger 1987) are areas in which kinetic energy is now stored as potential energy in the connective tissue matrix. Unwinding attempts to free these stored energy.”

Another attempt with a physical explanation is given as: “Unwinding is an exothermic process in which the kinetic energy originally imprinted in the tissue is released as heat” (Alexander 1998).  It is also added that when the unwinding is taking place, the client's may re-experience thoughts and feelings that they had when the tissue was originally injured.

Inducing unwinding

The techniques for unwinding can be found in books by John Upledger and Hugh Milne.

In the unwinding process the therapist act as a catalyst, by placing the tissue in certain configurations, helps it to unwind and release.

Therapist initially induces motion in the body, usually by compressing main joints in the area, or holding part of a body in certain relaxed position. The practitioner then senses and follows the inherent motion of the body. It is important that the movement is not directed by practitioner, but rather is followed as the body is said to 'unwind'. 

This process can be carried out on any part of the body, on an arm, on a leg, on the abdomen, or on the trunk, etc.

When unwinding arms, legs, or the neck, the whole limb or neck may unravel itself as it slowly moves through the air, tracing the patterns through which it has become twisted.

After a period of time, the movement ceases and the unwinding is said to have reached a still point. The unwinding process can be carried out on any part of the body or the whole body.

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