Myofascial Integration is a certificate program for working or aspiring body work therapists. It trains the student in assessment of musculoskeletal dysfunction and its associated myofascial components. Dr. Woodruff developed this approach over many years in private practice and teaches the courses on demand. There are seven courses totaling 121 contact hours, a practical exam and a written exam. Each course has an assignment to be completed within one month of taking the course. Students who do not complete the assignment within that time may repeat the course. Look for details of course offerings under Courses and Classes on the website.

Myofascial Integration Curriculum
• Anatomy of the body-in-motion 30 hours
• Introduction to Bartenieff Fundamentals℠ 14 hours
• Bartenieff Fundamentals℠ in Rehabilitation 14 hours
• Optimal Stretching Techniques (formerly Postural Muscle Assessment and Stretching) 14 hours
• Working with Fascia 21 hours
• Essential Movement Patterns 14 hours
• Clinical Applications 14 hours

How Myofascial Integration works

My hands-on treatment approach uses fascia release and integrates it with movement—thus the title: Myofascial Integration. This short article is about the integration part and was inspired by a note from colleague, Karen Bradley, and by Norman Doige’s writing on the plasticity of the brain.

While my clients do not have the huge sensory deficits as relayed in Doige’s book they do have what Janda called “minimal brain dysfunction.” We all have it in some measure and it is reflected in inefficient movement habits, problems with coordination and such. The fact is the brain knows nothing of muscle, only of movement (Bernstein) so it is movement we must address.

Here’s how the integration part works: after releasing the fascia, I guide the client through movement sequences that use the repaired tissue. The movement itself sends a message to the brain that there is new information to work with in creating that movement. Here’s the kicker: Without the movement input, no information gets to the brain. It’s about saving (or forgetting to save) your work on your hard drive. It is the movement experience that tells the brain there is something new with which to work. No movement = no change.

If there was pain in that tissue (the typical situation), the movement trial must be done at least three times. Three times is the minimum number for new learning. By the third movement trial, the pain is gone or has changed. The movement execution is easier and smoother. The brain, stimulated only by movement, has recalculated the available resources—the now unlocked fascia and muscle fibers. The motoric template in the CNS has been changed and the movement will continue to be easier, smoother and more effective.

The CNS stores information but does not judge it. Put a poor pattern in and you get a poor pattern out. Every time we take ourselves through Bartenieff Fundamentals (BF) sequences, we are restoring the brain pattern that has been eroded by the asymmetries of daily life, sedentary inactivity and poor habits. That’s why doing BF feels good. The body’s patterns are refreshed and coordination improves. BF also teaches Intentionality in movement which further contributes to the fine tuning of the motoric template.

Myofascial Integration provides more than pain relief. It offers improved and lasting function.

© Dianne L. Woodruff 2011
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