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This is not a massage applied by instinct. It is fascial manual therapy grounded in anatomy. It’s not a massage that’s pressed by instinct. It’s fascial manual therapy that reads anatomy.

Pain that doesn’t show up on an MRI may be caused by fascia. Obliv’s manual fascial therapy uses an oiling technique to gently reach deep fascia, and treats the source of the pain rather than just the painful area.

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This kind of pain may be caused by fascia.

There are many cases where the place pain is felt and its cause are different. This is called 'referred pain'.

Headache · neck pain

  • ·People whose neck is stiff and uncomfortable to turn
  • ·People who often have headaches and a stiff back of the neck
  • ·People whose neck does not turn after waking up
  • ·People with persistent tension in the upper back

Shoulder pain

  • ·People whose arm won’t lift or is stiff
  • ·People whose shoulder aches and the pain is severe at night
  • ·People who are in so much pain that washing their hair is difficult
  • ·People whose shoulders feel heavy and stiff

Lower back · pelvic pain

  • ·People who feel a sharp pain when bending their waist
  • ·People who find it difficult to straighten their back
  • ·People with pelvic pain after childbirth
  • ·People whose lower back feels stiff after sitting for a long time

Arm · Knee · Foot Pain

  • ·Those with pain on the inside or outside of the elbow
  • ·Those whose fingers often go numb
  • ·Those with pain in the soles of the feet and knees
  • ·Those with numbness in the thighs, calves and toes

Why fascia?

What is fascia, the hidden cause of pain

Fascia is a three-dimensional connective tissue network that surrounds and connects muscles, bones, organs, nerves and blood vessels. Between the layers, there is a lubricating substance called hyaluronic acid, which allows the fascia to glide smoothly. When this lubricating function declines, 'adhesions' occur, in which the fascia sticks together, causing pain and restricted movement.

~250 million items

The number of nerve endings in the fascia. More than the skin (~200 million), it is not just a simple wrapping material, but the body’s largest sensory organ.

— Robert Schleip, Technical University of Munich Fascia Research Project

The fascia is densely populated with nociceptors. When adhesions form, nerve endings are compressed, causing chronic pain.
This pain is characterised by an unclear location (referred pain), and the painful area is often different from the cause.

3rd floor

Superficial · deep · visceral fascia

Episode 16

Evidence from peer-reviewed papers

The truth about unexplained pain

The hospital says there’s nothing wrong so why does it hurt?

"They said the MRI was normal" — if you've heard this, you should have your fascia checked.

01

The fascia cannot be seen with MRI or CT.

Bones, cartilage, and discs are clearly visible, but fascial adhesions are functional changes, so they are not detected on standard imaging tests.

02

Conventional treatment is "structure"-focused.

Orthopaedics focuses on abnormalities in bone and joint structure. If imaging shows no abnormality, it is judged "normal", but functional problems in the fascia can only be confirmed through palpation and range-of-motion (ROM) assessment.

03

The painful area ≠ the source area (referred pain)

Pain carried by C fibres in the fascia is difficult to localise. If your shoulder hurts and you only treat the shoulder, you miss the cause. Oblive traces the root cause of pain.

Obliv's myofascial manual therapy

The science of a deeper, gentler approach, because it isn’t too strong

The fascia becomes firmer as more pressure is applied, as a defence mechanism. Obliv uses a gentle, science-based approach to reach the deep fascia.

🫳

Oiling technique — reaching the deep fascia

Oil is used not for comfort, but for precision. By removing friction on the skin, the therapist’s force is delivered directly to the deep fascial layers rather than the surface. After confirming the target through a preliminary assessment, we gently release along the grain of the fascia.

Stecco Fascial Manipulation — tangential vibration increases HA fluid pressure (Roman et al., JAOA, 2013)

🔍

Referred pain tracing — treatment that finds the cause

We look for the place that is causing the pain, not the place that hurts. Rather than simply pressing on the painful area, we trace the true cause along the entire myofascial chain based on anatomical structures.

Fascial C fibres → convergence onto spinal dorsal horn WDR neurons → the brain misidentifies the source of pain (Schilder et al., Pain, 2014)

👩‍⚕️

Dedicated state-certified physiotherapist

100% of our treatment is handled by nationally certified physiotherapists. Specialists who understand anatomy assess the patient’s body and provide treatment. A female therapist can also be assigned. Rather than spending part of the 50 minutes on hot packs or equipment, we focus on pure manual therapy time.

22 individual treatment rooms, 200 pyeong in size — complete privacy protection

Concurrent treatment

If necessary, extracorporeal shock wave therapy is used alongside it.

If myofascial manual therapy is a treatment that relaxes fascial adhesions, extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) is a treatment that promotes the regeneration of damaged tissue. The medical team determines whether the treatments are used together depending on the condition.

⚡

Micromechanical stimulation → self-healing activation

1,000 to 1,500 shockwaves stimulate the secretion of growth factors (five types, including VEGF and PDGF) and promote the formation of new blood vessels, accelerating the regeneration of damaged tissue.

🎯

Effective for chronic pain

Reactivates the stalled recovery process in cases where healing has plateaued, such as chronic pain lasting more than 3 months, calcific tendinitis and plantar fasciitis.

💉

Non-surgical · Non-invasive

Treatment without skin incisions, injections or medication. Treatment time: 20–40 minutes. You can return to your daily routine immediately after treatment.

Detailed Information on Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy

When combining myofascial manual therapy + extracorporeal shock wave therapy

→ Use myofascial manual therapy to release adhesions and open blood flow pathways

→ Applying shock waves to relaxed tissue increases regeneration efficiency

→ Recovery is faster and the effect lasts longer than when used alone

Objective treatment validation

We prove it with numbers, not gut feeling

We measure range of motion (ROM) before and after treatment to objectively confirm changes. Rather than "How do you feel? Has it improved a bit?", we show it in degrees.

01

Pre-treatment measurement

It precisely measures the angle of joint movement. Example: "Currently 120 degrees. Normal is 180 degrees. Movement is restricted by 60 degrees."

02

Myofascial manual therapy in progress

Based on the measurement results, we identify areas of adhesion and gently release them along the fascia's lines.

03

Re-measure after treatment

Re-measure in the same way. E.g. "155 degrees! A 35-degree improvement. As the adhesions loosened, movement was restored."

treatment process

Obliv personalised treatment process

01

Detailed assessment · ROM evaluation

Through the head doctor’s examination and measurement of joint range of motion (ROM), we identify the root cause of pain. We confirm myofascial adhesions that do not appear on imaging through palpation.

02

Personalised treatment plan

Considering the level of pain, age, body type and lifestyle habits, we create a tailored solution centred on myofascial manual therapy. If necessary, we determine whether to combine it with extracorporeal shock wave therapy.

03

Myofascial manual therapy in progress

A nationally certified physiotherapist uses an oiling technique to reach the deep fascia and relieve adhesions. If necessary, extracorporeal shockwave therapy is used alongside it.

04

ROM re-measurement · aftercare

After treatment, ROM is remeasured to assess the degree of improvement, and guidance is provided on self-exercises and posture correction to help prevent recurrence.

Treatment duration · frequency · number of sessions

40–60 minutes

Duration of one treatment session

1–2 times a week

Recommended treatment cycle

5–10 times

Recommended number of treatments

* May vary depending on the treatment plan and individual condition.

Expected benefits of myofascial manual therapy

✦

Fundamental pain relief

By releasing adhesions in the deep fascia rather than at the surface, we address the root cause of pain

✦

Enable self-recovery

Promote the body's natural healing abilities without relying on injections or medication

✦

Restoration of joint range of motion

Restoring fascial sliding makes the movement of stiff joints smoother

✦

Non-surgical · non-invasive treatment

Treatment without skin incisions or injections. You can return to your daily routine immediately after treatment.

✦

Extend the recovery period

By addressing the root causes of fascial adhesions, treatment effects last longer and the recurrence rate decreases.

Myofascial Manual Therapy FAQ

We discuss your worries and concerns before the procedure.

＋ What effects can you expect if you receive extracorporeal shock wave therapy and myofascial manual therapy together?

Myofascial manual therapy helps release adhesions and open up pathways for blood flow, while extracorporeal shock wave therapy promotes the regeneration of damaged tissue. When shock waves are applied to tissue that has been loosened by manual therapy, regeneration becomes more efficient, so recovery is faster and the effects last longer than with either treatment alone. Whether the two are used together is determined by the medical team based on the patient's condition.

＋ How long does the treatment take?

Each treatment session lasts approximately 40–60 minutes, and a course of 5–10 sessions at a frequency of 1–2 times per week is recommended. Changes are checked each session through ROM measurements, and adjustments are made according to the individual’s condition.

＋ Is myofascial manual therapy painful?

Because we approach with gentle pressure, there is almost no pain. Fascia has the characteristic of becoming firmer as it is pressed more strongly as a defence mechanism, so gentle pressure actually creates deeper relaxation. After treatment, you can immediately feel relief and an improved range of motion.

＋ Why do you use oil for manual therapy?

Oil is used for precision, not comfort. It is a therapeutic tool that reduces friction between the skin and the hands, allowing gentle contact to reach the deep fascial layers. If fascia is pressed too firmly, it actually becomes tighter as a defence response, so it must be approached gently with oil in order to relax the deeper layers.

＋ They say there’s nothing wrong on the MRI, so why am I in pain?

MRI and CT show bones, cartilage and discs well, but fascia is a thin, dynamic tissue, so it does not show up on standard imaging tests. This is because fascial adhesion (densification) is a functional change rather than a structural one. It can be confirmed through palpation and ROM assessment.

＋ How is myofascial manual therapy different from general manual therapy?

While conventional manual therapy mainly deals with muscles and joints, myofascial manual therapy focuses on the fascia, the three-dimensional connective tissue that surrounds and connects muscles, bones and organs. Obliv reaches the deep fascia using an oiling technique, and treats by tracing the root cause of pain (referred pain) rather than the painful area itself.

Introducing the Rehabilitation Medicine Centre medical staff.

Seoul Origin Doctors

Mun Ji-eun, Chief Director, Obliv Clinic Seoul Origin Branch

Mun Ji-eun

Chief Director

View details ›

Obliv Seoul Origin Doctors

Obliv Clinic Seoul Origin Branch Directions

Main phone number

02-6956-3438

Directions 5-minute walk from Jonggak Station · Euljiro 1-ga Station

Rehabilitation Medicine Clinic

B1, Pagoda Tower, 93 Cheonggyecheon-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Public transport

Line 2

How to get here from Euljiro 1-ga Station

① Exit via Exit 4 and go straight for 300m ② With IBK Bank behind you, turn left (towards Samil-daero) ③ Go straight for 150m towards Cheonggyecheon

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Line 2Line 3

How to get here from Euljiro 3(sam)-ga Station

① Exit from Exit 1 and go straight for 150 m ② With Starbucks behind you, turn right (towards Samil-daero) ③ Go straight for 150 m towards Cheonggyecheon

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Line 1Line 3Line 5

How to get here from Jongno 3-ga Station

① Come out of Exit 15 and go straight for 300m ② With Burger King behind you, turn left (towards Samil-daero) ③ Go straight for 150m towards Cheonggyecheon

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Line 1

How to get here from Jonggak Station

① Exit via Exit 4 and go straight for 300m ② With Daiso behind you, turn right (towards Samil-daero) ③ Go straight for 150m towards Cheonggyecheon

See more ›

Clinic hours

Skin

Mon – Fri

10:00 - 21:00

Saturday

10:00 - 19:00

Problem Nails • Rehabilitation Medicine

Mon – Fri

10:00 - 21:00

Saturday

10:00 - 19:00

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Map showing the location of Obliv Clinic Seoul Origin Branch

Business name

Obliv Clinic Seoul Origin Branch

Representative

Park Young-jin

Main number

02-6956-3438

Address

B1 to 5th Floor, Pagoda Tower, 93 Cheonggyecheon-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul Metropolitan City

Business Registration Number

457-23-00938

Email

official@oblivseoul.kr

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