Myofascial Release - part of our Wellness Care Program

– created by Guy Voyer, DO from Marseilles, France. 

The fascia is one continuous tissue that encases the entire body.  It forms a sleeve around the muscles, bones, tendons and ligaments.  This stretching system, which includes E.L.D.O.A., focuses on the quality and flexibility of the body’s soft tissue where they connect:  the connections between muscles and tendons, tendons and bones, bones and ligaments, and organs and the skeletal system.  Maintaining healthy connections at all of these points is the key to proper and pain-free movement.  

E.L.D.O.A. - for Spinal Health is the French acronym for Etirements Longitunaux avec Decoaptation Osteo- Articulaire which translates to  LOADS (Longitudinal Osteo Articular Decoaptation Stretching) in English.  The ELDOA were developed by  Guy Voyer, DO  and a group of therapists in France over 20 years ago.  There is an ELDOA for all levels of the spine and sacroilliac joint.  Dr. Guy Voyer states, “The strength of the myofascia is only as strong as the weakest link.”

E.L.D.O.A. works to provide decompression at the Lumbar 5 and Sacrum 1 level. This is accomplished by fixing the inferior segment, L5, and mobilizing the superior segment, S1. The position is created to place the myofascial chains under tension.  Once these tensions are maintained with proper awareness, the specific level undergoes decompression. The effects of the decompression results in reabsorption of the intervertebral disc, postural normalization, increased proprioception of the specific area, and improved kinesthetic awareness of the myofascial chain.

For all of the above reasons this becomes an excellent restorative exercise to be performed at the end of a training session and most importantly within 1 hour of bedtime. The only equipment needed is an empty wall and some floor space to lie down.  All ELDOA are performed for at least 60 seconds to achieve desired effect.