Dick Fancher

Nationally Certified in Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork

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I offer relief and recovery from chronic back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, sciatica, frozen shoulder, and other chronic soft tissue pains
I use Muscle Release Technique® to treat these kinds of problems.  The source of pain in many these and other chronic soft tissue complaints is simple:  
Injury to the muscle occurs, either from a sudden trauma or slowly from repetitive use;
Muscle tightens and remains tight.  Muscles that are short and tight cause a host of problems including: 
Restricting circulation causing inflammation and muscle pain
Squeezing nerves, such as the sciatica
Putting a constant tension on the tendons, which causes additional pain by pulling joints out of alignment (e.g., back pain), inflaming attachments of the tendon to bone (e.g., tennis elbow), or inflaming issue along the tendon's path (e.g., carpal tunnel)
Scar tissue grows into the tightened muscle, further inhibiting stretching of the muscle fibers.  Pain becomes chronic, and the muscles tighten further in response.
Unfortunately, conventional medical treatment actually feeds into this vicious cycle.  Compression, ice, and "support" that restricts movement encourage the already tight muscles to remain tightened.  Although temporary relief from symptoms may occur, blood flow to the area of pain is further reduced when movement is restricted, meaning that healing can't even begin to take place.   Meanwhile, anti-inflammatory drugs mask the stress being placed on the muscles, leading to overuse and furthering tightening.  
Ice serves two beneficial purposes, but is often over-prescribed and misused.  Ice is highly beneficial during the time when there may be internal bleeding due to small tears in the muscle tissues, typically no longer than the first 24 hours.  After that time, ice is a natural anaesthetic, and is often a good way to reduce pain.  However, ice also restricts blood flow to the area, with the same consequences as reduced movement.  For chronic injuries, I may recommend a combination of alternating ice and heat, to help stimulate blood flow in while providing the anaesthetic effects of ice.
Using a combination of massage techniques and stretching of tendons and attachments, I can help you break this cycle so that true healing can occur.  Read more about how I use Muscle Release Technique® by clicking here.
Active Isolated Stretching is a key component of my approach, and is also the basis of the Muscle Release Technique®.  Stretching the muscles, both during our session and at home on your own, helps ensure the muscle relaxes and stays relaxed.  Especially in working to relax muscles that may have been shortened and tightened for years, it is important to stretch in an effective way.  Click here for more information on the benefits of Active Isolated Stretching.
You can find out more about Muscle Release Technique® in these articles about Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Plantar Fasciitis, (also known as heel spurs), and Patella Tracking Syndrome.  Although these articles are about specific issues, the discussion is also generally applicable to many soft-tissue chronic muscle problems.

Directions to Palo Alto Office

Contact me at 650-814-6077 or email dickfancher@gmail.com

 

Serving the San Francisco Bay Area (California) communities of Atherton, Cupertino, Los Altos, Los Gatos, Menlo Park, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Portola Valley, Redwood City, San Jose, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Saratoga, Sunnyvale, and Woodside.

 

Copyright 2007 Fancher Massage.  All rights reserved.

Revised: January 11, 2007