Testimonials

Client who came for a 15 hour intensive from London 

I have suffered from TMJ problems and chronic myofascial pain in my neck, shoulders and face since I was sitting my "A" levels 20 years ago. Over the years I have tried every type of prescription and non-prescription painkiller and anti-inflammatory drug, as well as anti-depressants. I've been to see numerous dentists and a maxillofacial surgeon and had thousands of pounds worth of dental treatment to try and correct the problem. 

I have been to see physiotherapists, chiropractors, osteopaths, acupuncturists, a Chinese herbalist, a homeopath and a kinesiologist. I have tried using a TENS machine. I've tried pilates, yoga and meditation but none of these have provided lasting relief. Then a couple of months ago I read a book on trigger points and MFR therapy and thought I would give it a try. I found Ruth's website on the Internet and arranged a 5 day intensive course of treatment at the Natural Therapy Centre in Milngavie.  

Ruth is an excellent therapist and for the first time I feel I have found a treatment that can unravel the chronic tension in my muscles that causes me so much pain. It is quite a journey from Oxfordshire to Glasgow, but I'll be travelling up again as soon as I can get another week off work. I just wish that I had discovered MFR 20 years ago."

 A grateful client who has had a few 10 and 3 hour intensives from Glasgow

 For as long as I can remember my body has felt heavy and painful. As a child I assumed this was how bodies were- watching people dance and play sports filled me with puzzlement – how did they manage to get their bodies to move so freely? I was in my 20s before realising that not everyone felt the way I felt. Over the years I made many attempts to “get fit” but always met with failure as my body just seized up and became even more painful.

Now, at the age of 61, I have discovered Myofascial release and for the first time no longer feel barred from physical activity nor condemned to drag my body about to the end of my days. After only 10 hours treatment I felt huge relief not only physically but mentally and emotionally too. I was delighted but assumed this improvement would be short lived – not a bit of it. The release and relief I felt has been sustained and, with further treatment has been improved upon – and my long held dream of being a fit and active person is well within my grasp.

A recovered chronic pelvic pain syndrome patient who has had regular MFR treatment

I developed pelvic pain syndrome/chronic prostatitis early in 2006.  I couldn’t sit down, when I did it seemed to over stretch my pelvic muscles, which were incredibly tight and seemed to be in a fixed clench. The muscles felt literally stuck together in an impossibly tight grip. Another incredibly painful symptom was the periodic swelling of my prostate. I was off work and in a terrible state for two months whilst ineffective treatment under the NHS let me down. I visited several doctors and a urologist. The doctors and urologist seemed powerless to help me.

I found a web site for a Myofascial Release Practitioner (MFR) in Glasgow, Ruth Duncan. I decided to give this a go. Ruth practised a form of MFR, which involved the application of light pressure to muscles and soft tissue externally. I attended regular hour and a half sessions with Ruth and after several treatments over three months consider myself virtually 100% cured. The pain and discomfort are totally gone, the only symptom I have now is a small amount of spasm in my pelvis, which is not noticeable most of the time and can be partially released by focussed stretching. I think this last symptom will diminish over time.  

The first two MFR sessions did not seem to have any or little effect on my pelvis, I considered giving up, but stuck with the treatment. The third session was a turning point. Ruth began to concentrate on some muscles in my rear, which run into the pelvic floor. As soon as pressure was applied here I felt a painful sensation of muscle tissue, which was stuck together, ripping apart. This was a bit like pulling a sticky plaster away from your skin after it has been stuck there a few days. Although this was painful, it was a different pain to the pelvic pain I suffered routinely and was also strangely pleasurable. Probably because of the relief felt by stretching the muscle back into a more relaxed position. The most tangible change after the therapy was a lovely warm sensation in the pelvis, which lasted for a day afterwards. The muscle then felt it had been partially stretched back to a more normal position. I think the sensation of warmth I experienced in my pelvic muscles after MFR must have been the sensation of blood circulating into an area of muscle were it was previously restricted.

 Each time I returned, Ruth finished the session working on these muscles, often using a blunt ceramic tool to apply pressure. After each session, to a varying degree, I felt these muscles had been stretched a further step back to their normal resting position.MFR was the single most important factor in my recovery from Pelvic Pain Syndrome.

 Without it I think I may have not recovered, or not recovered so quickly. It would have certainly had a more damaging effect on my career and life. I am very grateful to Ruth, who has played a large part in curing me of this devastating condition.