Fascia is a big deal. With out it, you wouldn't be able to, "human". Think about every structure in your body, the fascia is connected to it. In ballet, the dancer is performing the fascial dance to the extreme.
Under your skin, giving your body structure and support. Without it, you’d just be a pile of mush, inside your body!
Here's some imagery: a grapefruit has the pulp sections that hold the fruit, the pulp is the fascia and the fruit is, your muscles. Without the pulp, what would support the fruit into sections?
The fascia is under your skin is superficial and the deep, supports the integrity of your whole body; surrounding muscles, organs, nerves, cells, everything and connecting it all, hence the name, connective tissue. Wrapping/coating/supporting your muscles, bones, nerves, ligaments cells and organs to keep EVERYTHING supported for it's function.
To name a few of the fascial lines and motion
- Superficial Back Line: flexion and extension (supports forward and backward motion). ie. If our fascia was in full flexion, we would be in fetal position.
- Spiral Fascia: supports twisting body motion. ie. "Do the twist" dance!
- Lateral Fascia: supports side to side body motion, ie. ear to shoulder movement, down to your ribs, IT band.
The tissue is strong but flexible, think of it like cold coconut oil. It’s firm at first, but when warmed up, it softens and stretches. Think about the movement, you're in your car and you need reach behind to the back seat. That's the motion of many fascial lines.
Fascia can get tight or stuck from stress, injury, or even posture habits, causing pain and limiting movement. Since it’s also connected to your nervous system, releasing that tension helps your body relax and makes muscle work more effective.
Example:
Tightness in one area can pull on others, sometimes causing issues like plantar fasciitis (foot pain) which is your foot fascia. This is part of the superficial back line. The plantar fascia starts at the bottom of the foot and has a connection with the soleus muscle (calve muscle), that fascia moves on your hamstring, sacrum, up the spine, neck, back of the head, top of the head, forehead and eyebrows. It's all one line, what i just described comes from each leg.
What are your ergonomics like? Do you: slouch, cross your legs, wear shoes that don't support your feet?
With the treatment, I’ll help: release restrictions, improve your posture, and guide your body back to its natural alignment.
This isn't a quick fix, but rather a process that changes over time. Your progress is supported by your own work too, things like improving posture and staying hydrated at home help make the release even more effective.
Feel free to ask my any questions in treatment. Understatement: I'm very passionate about fascia!
