The fascia system surrounds, infuses with, and has the potential to profoundly influence every muscle, bone, nerve, blood vessel, organ, and cell of the body. Fascia also separates, supports, connects, and protects everything. This three-dimensional web of connective tissue is alive and ever changing as the body demands. Thus it is a network for information exchange, influencing and influenced by every structure, system, and cell in the organism. Like gravity and other natural forces, its influence is so all-pervasive that we have tended to take it for granted.
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According to physical therapists specializing in myofascial release, there is no such thing as a muscle. This concept is based on the fact that every muscle of the body is surrounded by a smooth fascial sheath, every muscular fascicle is surrounded by fascia, every fibril is surrounded by fascia, and every microfibril down to the cellular level is surrounded by fascia. Therefore, it is the fascia that utimately determines the length and function of its muscular component.
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The fascia is a tough connective tissue that spreads throughout the body in a three-dimensional web from head to foot functionally without interruption. It has been speculated that if every structure of the body except the fascia were removed, the body would still retain its shape. Fascia serves to permit the body to retain its normal shape and thus maintain the vital organs in their correct positions. It also allows the body to resist mechanical stresses, both internally and externally. These functions are evident in the earliest stages of multicelled organisms, in which two or more cells are able to stay in contact, communicate, and resist forces of the environment through the connective tissue.
The fascia covers the muscles, bones, nerves, organs, and vessels down to the cellular level. Therefore, malfunction of the system due to trauma, poor posture, or inflammation can bind down the fascia, resulting in abnormal pressure on any or all of these components.
Restrictions of the fascia can create pain or malfunction throughout the body, many times with bizarre side effects and seemingly unrelated symptoms. It is believed that an extremely large percentage of people suffering with pain, lack of motion, or both may have fascial problems. Most of these conditions go undiagnosed, although, many of the standardized tests, such as radiographs, myelograms, computerized tomographic scans and electromyograms, do not show the fascia.
The fascia is classified as:
At the cellular level, fascia creates the interstitial spaces - placed or lying between the cells. It serves extremely important functions in support, protection, separation, cellular respiration, elimination, metabolism, and fluid and lymphatic flow. It can have a profound influence on cellular health and the immune system. Therefore, trauma or malfunction of the fascia can set up the environment for poor cellular efficiency, necrosis, disease, pain, and overall dysfunction throughout the body.
The fascia covers the muscles, bones, nerves, organs, and vessels down to the cellular level. Therefore, malfunction of the system due to trauma, poor posture, or inflammation can bind down the fascia, resulting in abnormal pressure on any or all of these components.
Restrictions of the fascia can create pain or malfunction throughout the body, many times with bizarre side effects and seemingly unrelated symptoms. It is believed that an extremely large percentage of people suffering with pain, lack of motion, or both may have fascial problems. Most of these conditions go undiagnosed, although, many of the standardized tests, such as radiographs, myelograms, computerized tomographic scans and electromyograms, do not show the fascia.
The fascia is classified as:
- superficial - lying directly below the dermis;
- deep - surrounding and infusing with muscle, bone, nerves, blood vessels, and organs to the cellular level;
- deepest - the dura of the craniosavral system, encasing the central nervous system and the brain
At the cellular level, fascia creates the interstitial spaces - placed or lying between the cells. It serves extremely important functions in support, protection, separation, cellular respiration, elimination, metabolism, and fluid and lymphatic flow. It can have a profound influence on cellular health and the immune system. Therefore, trauma or malfunction of the fascia can set up the environment for poor cellular efficiency, necrosis, disease, pain, and overall dysfunction throughout the body.
Molecular Structure
Connective tissue is composed of collagen, elastin, and a polysaccharide gel-like matrix. Together, these form a three-dimensional, interdependent system of strength, support, elasticity, and cushion.
Collagen is a protein consisting of three polypeptide chains that line up to form fibrils. Thus, collagen fibers contribute strength to fascial tissue and guard against overextension.
Elastin, an intrinsic rubber-like protein fiber, is laid down in parallel with collagen fibers in places where elasticity is required, such as skin or arteries; this combination of fibers absorbs tensile forces.
The polysaccharide gel-like matrix fills the spaces between the fibers. It is mainly composed of hyaluronic acid and proteoglycans. Hyaluronic acid is a highly viscous substance that lubricates the collagen, elastin, and muscle fibers, allowing them to slide over each other with minimal friction. Proteoglycans are peptide chains that form the gel-like substance. This gel is extremely hydrophilic, or water-soluble, allowing it to absorb the compressive forces of movement. The gel is designed to absorb shock and disperse it throughout the body. If the fascia is restricted at the time of trauma, the forces cannot be dispersed properly and areas of the body are then subjected to intolerable impact, resulting in injury.
This phenomena begins to explain injuries that reoccur despite extensive therapy, strengthening and flexibility programs. Inidividuals with fascial restrictions will not efficiently absorb the shocks of continued activity. The body will then absorb too much pressure in too small of an area, causing the body to continue breaking down.
Collagen is a protein consisting of three polypeptide chains that line up to form fibrils. Thus, collagen fibers contribute strength to fascial tissue and guard against overextension.
Elastin, an intrinsic rubber-like protein fiber, is laid down in parallel with collagen fibers in places where elasticity is required, such as skin or arteries; this combination of fibers absorbs tensile forces.
The polysaccharide gel-like matrix fills the spaces between the fibers. It is mainly composed of hyaluronic acid and proteoglycans. Hyaluronic acid is a highly viscous substance that lubricates the collagen, elastin, and muscle fibers, allowing them to slide over each other with minimal friction. Proteoglycans are peptide chains that form the gel-like substance. This gel is extremely hydrophilic, or water-soluble, allowing it to absorb the compressive forces of movement. The gel is designed to absorb shock and disperse it throughout the body. If the fascia is restricted at the time of trauma, the forces cannot be dispersed properly and areas of the body are then subjected to intolerable impact, resulting in injury.
This phenomena begins to explain injuries that reoccur despite extensive therapy, strengthening and flexibility programs. Inidividuals with fascial restrictions will not efficiently absorb the shocks of continued activity. The body will then absorb too much pressure in too small of an area, causing the body to continue breaking down.
Functions of Fascia
As aforementioned, fascia is significant in supporting and providing cohesion to the body structures. It's functions are varied and complex. Functional, biomechanical efficient movements depend on intact, properly distributed fascia. Fascia creates a plexus, a network, to support and stabilize, thus enhancing the body's postural balance. Loose fascia permits movement between adjacent structures.
References
Barnes, J. (1990). Myofascial release. Rehabilitation Services.