myoActivation®: A Powerful Approach to Pain, Scars & Movement
Have you ever wondered why pain keeps showing up in the same spot, no matter how much stretching, massage, or physio you do? Or why a small scar from years ago still feels tight, or maybe just… off? Our bodies hold onto tension in remarkable ways, and often, the key to unlocking chronic pain or stiffness isn’t where it hurts, it’s hidden deep in the fascial web that connects everything together.
Dr. Tara Sloan, ND
Naturopathic Doctor and Certified myoActoivation Provider at Continuum Wellness located in the Yonge & Lawrence Village Toronto.
Tara’s Story
Dr. Tara Sloan first encountered myoActivation® as a patient and it changed her life. After years of dealing with chronic tension and fatigue that resisted conventional treatment, she discovered the profound impact of this unique technique. The results inspired her to train directly under Dr. Greg Siren, MD, the founder of myoActivation® and the Anatomic Medicine Foundation in British Columbia, where the therapy was first developed and widely practiced.
Now certified in MyoActivation®, Tara brings this transformative method back to Ontario and to Continuum Wellness. Many long-time clients will remember her as one of our very first naturopathic doctors in the early days of the clinic, and we feel truly fortunate to have her returning to offer MyoActivation® here in Toronto. With nearly 20 years of clinical experience and a strong foundation in kinesiology, Tara’s integrative approach beautifully bridges science, experience, and compassion, making this therapy a perfect fit for our Continuum community.
If you’ve been living with pain, or unhappy with the way your scars have healed, you’re not alone.
If you’ve been living with persistent pain, stiffness, or post-surgical tightness that no one can quite explain or help with, you’re not alone. Maybe it’s an ache that keeps returning or a scar that doesn’t look or function optimally. What many people don’t realize is that these lingering issues often stem from fascial restrictions, areas of connective tissue that have become tight or “stuck,” quietly affecting how we move, heal, and feel in our own bodies.
These restrictions can form from surgery, injury, overuse, poor posture, inflammation, or even stress, tugging on joints and muscles until discomfort shows up somewhere completely unexpected.
myoActivation® is a precise, gentle needling therapy designed to find and release these hidden patterns of tension. The result? Less pain, better mobility, more aesthetic looking scars and a renewed sense of ease in your body..
Understanding the Hidden Impact of Fascial Restrictions
Our fascia, the intricate web of connective tissue that surrounds and links every muscle, bone, and organ, plays a crucial role in how we move and function. When it becomes restricted, it can limit movement, disrupt circulation and lymphatic flow, and even contribute to digestive or postural issues.
For example, roughly one in three women deliver by C-section, and many continue to experience lasting effects such as back pain, pelvic tightness, or digestive changes years later. As surgical procedures and joint replacements become more common, maintaining fascial health is increasingly important, both for preventing future pain and for enhancing recovery after injury or surgery.
By restoring fascial mobility, myoActivation® helps your body move, heal, and function the way it was designed to, offering lasting relief from pain and restriction rather than temporary fixes.
myoActivation offers a way to bridge the gap
between symptom management and true resolution. By addressing the fascial and neurological drivers behind pain, we’re able to create lasting change, not just temporary relief.
“So many people live with tension or pain that’s been there for years, thinking it’s just part of getting older or part of who they are. Once those hidden fascial patterns are released, it’s incredible how quickly the body remembers how to move freely again.”
What to Expect at Your First Visit
A myoActivation® session begins with a movement-based assessment. Tara observes posture, movement, and tension patterns throughout the body, then identifies the key areas, or “drivers”, that are holding restriction and contributing to pain elsewhere.
Once identified, Tara uses gentle, precise needling techniques to release those fascial restrictions. Clients may feel a mild “twitch” or release as the tissue lets go, followed by a sense of lightness or freedom in movement. The treatment is generally well tolerated, with most people describing it as intense but relieving rather than painful.
After the session, it’s normal to feel mild soreness or fatigue as the body recalibrates, but many clients notice immediate improvements in movement, posture, and pain levels.
Who Can Benefit
Because myoActivation® works at the level of muscle, fascia, and scar tissue, it can support a wide range of conditions and concerns. It is especially suited for people who:
Have chronic pain that hasn’t fully responded to other treatments
Experience back or neck pain
Have been told they have tight or restrictive fascia
Are looking to support lymphatic health, as fascial restrictions can compromise lymph flow and drainage
Struggle with scar tissue issues such as post-surgical and C-section scars, abdominal or joint-replacement scars, and adhesions
Want to improve the appearance and function of scars, including keloids and thickened or discolored tissue
Experience persistent joint or tendon pain, including golfer’s elbow or tennis elbow, frozen shoulder
Seek improved mobility, range of motion, and overall movement symmetry
Healthcare Professionals
For healthcare professionals, ideal referrals include patients whose pain or limited mobility may be linked to fascial tension, scar tissue, or lymphatic compromise, as well as those with post-surgical scars seeking to improve both aesthetic appearance and functional mobility, particularly when traditional treatments have reached a plateau..
myoActivation is not acupuncture or dry needling
What Makes myoActivation® Different
Although it may look similar to acupuncture or dry needling at first glance, it is not. What sets it apart are several key differences:
Assessment-Driven: Begins with movement and palpation to locate the true source of restriction, not just the site of pain
Fascial Focus: Targets the fascia — the connective tissue network that integrates muscles, organs, and nerves — which can tighten through scars, injuries, or repetitive stress
Scar Integration: Incorporates dedicated scar-release protocols, making it highly effective for post-surgical or traumatic scars that limit function
Lymphatic Support: Improves fascial mobility and enhances lymphatic flow, helping reduce fluid stagnation and support tissue healing
Whole-Body Impact: Addresses both structural and neurological factors, leading to improvements in energy, coordination, and overall sense of well-being
So many people live with tension or pain
that’s been there for years, thinking it’s just part of getting older or part of who they are. Once those hidden fascial patterns are released, it’s incredible how quickly the body remembers how to move freely again.
FAQ
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FAQ 〰️
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Low back pain
Plantar fasciitis and shin splints
Tendonitis
Shoulder pain, including frozen shoulder
Rotator cuff injuries
Sciatica and nerve pain
Joint stiffness and mobility issues
Reduced range of motion
Balance impairments
Headaches and migraines
Pelvic pain
Neck pain and whiplash
Post-surgical pain and scar-related discomfort
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)
Fibromyalgia
Vertigo and tinnitus
TMJ (jaw) pain
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Keloid scarring
Hip, knee, and ankle pain
Restless leg syndrome
Bursitis
Arthritis
Other medically unexplained chronic pain conditions
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No. As a Naturopathic Doctor, referrals from other healthcare providers are not required before seeking treatment, unless otherwise specified by your insurance coverage provider.
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Each person’s response to treatment will be different. Many patients experience positive changes and improvements after each session. Typically, patients will require between 3-6 treatments to get sustained resolution.
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Pain is a very subjective experience, and many people have some uneasiness when it comes to needles. That said, we work with you to make the experience as comfortable and reassuring as possible.
Most patients are often surprised that the treatment is not as uncomfortable as they had imagined, and that the benefit of having treatment far outweighs any discomfort experienced during treatment.
Curious about the science behind myoActivation®? Click here to visit The Anatomical Medicine Foundation for Scientific Support and Research on myoActivation®.
Ready to Experience the Difference?
If you’ve tried multiple therapies for chronic pain, post-surgical scars, or stubborn movement issues without lasting results, myoActivation® may be the missing link.
Book a myoActivation® session with Dr. Tara Sloan, ND at Continuum Wellness and discover how releasing fascial restrictions can restore mobility, relieve pain, and help your body heal the way it’s meant to.
“I’ve started referring some of my chronic pain patients to Tara for myoActivation®, especially those with post-surgical scarring or movement restrictions. The results have been impressive, clients report better range of motion and less pain even after one or two sessions. It’s a great complement to the work we do in physiotherapy.”
“I’d been dealing with golfer’s elbow and a friend told me about Tara’s work with myoActivation®, so I figured I’d give it a try. The session felt different, more specific, like she was finding the exact spots that were causing the pull. Within a few days, the deep ache was gone, and I’ve been able to swing again without pain. It’s made a huge difference.”