Until recently, the role and significance of fascia was poorly understood, if not completely disregarded. In fact, in cadaver labs used for research, fascia is often cast aside as unnecessary waste. But over the past decade, volumes of research have emerged that recognize the critical role of fascia in human movement.
Fascia is fundamental to human mobility and stability:
- Fascia encases the muscle, providing a nourishing environment for muscle performance
- Fascia covers the abdominal and urogenital viscera and anchors them in place
- Fascia covers and protects the bones and blood vessels
When fascia is overworked or depleted due to trauma, mechanical stress, or lack of fluids and nutrients, it can become dehydrated and fibrous. Trigger points can form in fascia and muscle tissue, causing pain and interfering with muscle function. Damaged fascia can become dense and sticky, creating friction and impeding the ability of nerves and blood vessels to glide among other structures. Densified fascia disrupts muscle coordination patterns, causing reduced performance and increased risk of injury.
Fascia is generously embedded with mechanoreceptors that inform your brain of your body’s position as you move. When fascia is injured, proprioception becomes impaired, reducing movement efficiency and increasing your risk of injury. There is a strong relationship between fascial integrity and internal disease that is often overlooked by medical doctors and fascial therapists.
During physical activity, fascia works together with muscle to provide tensile integrity – aka biotensegrity – to guide and control movement, hold organs and other structures in place, and mediate and distribute outside forces. When muscles, fascia or both are damaged, biotensegrity is compromised and mobility is impaired.
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