WHAT IS FASCIA?
Fascia is connective tissue fibers – primarily collagen – that form sheaths or bands beneath the skin to attach, stabilize, enclose, and separate muscles and internal organs.
Fascia are similar to ligaments and tendons as they are largely made up of collagen. They differ in their location and function, though. Ligaments join one bone to another bone, while tendons join muscle to bone and fasciae surrounds muscles and other structures.
Fascia forms a whole-body, continuous three-dimensional matrix of structural support around our organs, muscles, joints, bones and nerve fibers. Fascia is directly related to movement, as it helps to support the muscles by transmitting force throughout the body. The fascial arrangement, similar to a spider web, also allows us to move in multiple directions.
But this connective tissue does much more than simply help transmit forces that drive movement. It also helps the nervous system with quick responses, and is a key component in supporting the body during repetitive tasks. A runner will have dense fascia in the calves to support running, a weightlifter may have dense fascia in the back to support weightlifting, and a sitter will have dehydrated and “sticky” fascia in their glutes to support sitting.
FAS•CI•A
Anatomy – Sheet or band of fibrous connective tissue enveloping, separating, or binding together muscles, organs and other soft structures of the body.
Keep reading to learn more about the importance of the Fascia.
CHRONIC TENSION- PIRIFORMIS
A chronically tense muscle can pull a joint out of proper alignment and result in other tissues becoming compressed. For example, a common problem in the lower body is known as Piriformis Syndrome. This is when a muscle in the hip known as the piriformis becomes tense and compresses the large sciatic nerve. This nerve runs from the low back all the way down to the foot and generally the pain is felt in the glutes or upper leg but can sometimes be felt down the back line as far away as the foot. This pain is usually the result of the muscle imbalance in the hips and the piriformis becoming “stuck” to the surrounding muscle. While this is the case for many people it is beneficial to speak with your doctor before simply assuming it is a muscle imbalance issue.
Every bone has muscle and fascia that surrounds it, and every joint has a muscle and a tendon that supports it. The fascia specific to our muscles is referred to as myofascia. By focusing on fascia, we can directly impact the muscles and ultimately our ability to move properly.
Myofascia is:
- Highly innervated by nerves and plays a significant role in joint stability and kinesthetic awareness
- Moves with the muscle and lacks extensibility, which ensures that muscles remain in proper alignment, and limits undue stress on our joints
- Composed of three sublayers of varying orientation and density of collagen
- Largely composed of water allowing each sublayer to glide over one another
- Contains cells that secrete an acidic substance that lubricates the interface between layers
COMMON ACHES & INJURIES
Unhealthy fascia leads to aches, pains, and even injury. In fact, many injuries seen today are caused by either overuse or underuse of the connective tissue system. In most cases this occurs in the tissue that receives less blood flow and is more supportive in nature, which is the fascia. If someone who has been sedentary for some time begins a training program that requires box jumps, it is likely that the connective tissue in the calves are not prepared to slide and support the movement adequately, which could easily lead to injury. A common theme in exercise today is to work out as hard as you can and that everybody can do it. Unfortunately, this is untrue. If the body is not prepared to or used to utilizing each muscle and joint the way it was intended, then something will break down.
What is a “strain”?
A strain is an injury that occurs in the muscles or connective tissues that attach to muscles (tendons). In most cases a strain results from overuse of a particular muscle. In fact, overuse injuries are some of the most common injuries seen today both in athletes and the general population. Overuse injuries occur because that particular area of the body has been overworked, likely due to improper movement somewhere else in the body.
Struggling with Plantar Fasciitis? These products may be help you recover.
