When we hear trigger words like fascia, what does that mean?

Is it the long line on the outside of our thighs we see fitness fanatics trying desperately to roll out?

Is it the layer of tissue surrounding all organs and muscles in the body?

Is it the ligaments suspending organs in our abdomen?

Can it be the dura layers in our skull that suspend our brain and keep it safe from injury?

What if I told you ALL them are correct?

fascia, superficial, deep, myofascial release, mfr, therapy — Notice the layers of tissue and the superficial and deep fascia.

Fascial is deeply ingrained within our bodies that it can be experienced in the iliotibial band (IT Band) or it can be appreciated down to the individual cellular level.

fascia, cellular, level, deep, superficial, myofascial release, mfr — Fascia can be appreciated around each muscle cell (myofibril) helping to form multiple cells called sarcomeres. Adding more sarcomeres side by side together in a sack is called “fiber”; interconnected to the blood, nerve, and lymph supply. Fibers held together by fascia form the muscles we can visualize (and generally refer to as “muscles”. Muscles do not exist in nature unless they are formed by fascia.

Diagrammatic-representation-of-the-small-bowel-mesentery_Q320 fascia.jpg

If we then zoom out, we can see the ligaments suspending the organs in the abdomen and pelvis are fascia!

Further zooming out, we can appreciate the powerful forces that can be utilized from muscles, ligaments, and tendons to move and groove us through space. Notice the ITB is a combination of multiple hip muscles that travel down past the knee- acting on both joints. Injury to the fascial in your hip can have an impact on your big toe, just by these fascial lines!

What does any of this mean!?

On a cellular level as well as a global level, we can have restrictions from injury, surgery, or trauma that pull and press on extremely sensitive structures. These being arteries, nerves, and lymph tissue.

These restrictions can bundle and bunch up on such a grand scale that mirror scar tissue underneath the surface that span 3 feet, while just on the surface can be as big as one inch!

fascia, web, compression, pain, chronic, myofascial release, mfr

When we can relieve pressure on one part of the fascial system, it can make room and relieve pain on another part of the system. It can improve tensile strength, resiliency from future injuries, increase range of motion, improve lymph and blood flow, as well as increase nutrition to individual cells allowing whole-body enhancement.

Myofascial Release Therapy paired with Physical Therapy is a comprehensive approach to relieving chronic pain, muscle dis-function, weakness, fatigue, concussions, and joint dis-functions without forcing or causing further injury. Working on a shoulder can translate to helping relieve plantar fasciitis!

It is tailored to your individual needs, and can be performed directly at your home, office, or gym!

If you are interested in learning how this kind of treatment can benefit you, reach out! I would love to hear your takes on this as well as an comments or stories relating to it.

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