The fascia is the connective tissue that surrounds, infuses with and interacts with every bone, ligament, muscle, nerve, blood vessel, gland and organ down to the cellular level.
Long overlooked by anatomists, we are only beginning to understand its role in the body.
The fascia provides biological infrastructure, strength, and support, ensuring structure and integrity to the body while facilitating freedom of movement.
The fascia is an intelligent, self-regulating system that responds to the body’s needs. Nerves and blood vessels travel within the fascia, allowing connectivity of the nervous and circulatory systems, ensuring communication between all the systems of the body. As well as the removal of cellular waste through the lymphatic system.
Fascia is the largest sensory organ, rich in sensory fibres called mechanoreceptors. Considered by some to be the sixth sense, contributing to interoception (internal perception or sense).
Myo (muscle) fascial (connective tissue) Release
Stress, repetitive strain, trauma, injury and postural misalignment can cause the fascia to become denser, tighter, shorter and constricted, causing tension and inflammation along the fascial planes. A restriction in one area can refer pain and tension to other areas. Compromising circulatory systems and affecting the muscles and physiology. Over time this can lead to skeletal misalignment and structural imbalances as well as referred discomfort and pain.
For example, a lower back injury may develop into upper back and neck pain and headaches. Visualise a fascial sweater being pulled in one direction causing postural distortion in another.
Myofascial Release is a whole-body approach. Slow sustained pressure is applied to restricted areas, lengthening and softening the fascia. Releasing adhesions, rehydrating tissues, restoring fluidity and postural balance. Improving nerve signalling (muscle coordination and proprioception (perception of movement and position of the body)). Realigning tissue fibres and stimulating tissue repair.
The fascia is rich in parasympathetic nerve fibres. Myofascial release increases parasympathetic activity (rest and digest) supporting the body’s innate healing process. Regulating blood pressure, reducing heart rate and increasing vagal tone (rest and digest). While decreasing sympathetic tone (fight or flight).
Fascia’s ground substance can become dehydrated due to injury, immobility etc. Myofascial Release applies slow sustained pressure improving fascial continuity, ensuring stability and freedom of movement while reducing fascial and muscle tension.
Myofascial release can support chronic pain related to recurring injuries, poor posture as well as neurologic and movement dysfunction and help with the following conditions:
– Sciatica
– Hip and knee pain
– Lower back and pelvic pain
– Headaches and migraines
– Neck and shoulder pain
– Repetitive strain injury
– Poor posture
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