The Secrets Of Fascia

Fascia is a structure that is becoming more and more popular in medical circles. In recent years, a lot of research has been done that explains its amazing effect on the whole body and the possibilities offered by physiotherapy focusing on this structure. So let’s have a closer look at what it is.

Fascia is a soft tissue that surrounds building blocks of our body (e.g. muscles, organs, etc.) and its role is:

  • to protect them, but fascia also is:
  • a corridor for blood vessels and nerves (fascial tension can therefore cause symptoms related to circulatory or nervous problems, such as tingling or radiate
  • responsible to a large extent for proprioception, i.e. deep sensibility - there are many receptors on it (for instance thanks to this, without having to look, we know how we put our feet while walking. Disturbed proprioception may be a predisposition to frequent ankle sprains and knee injuries)
  • responsible for bringing the whole body together and giving it shape

Fascia’s features make it contract and stick together which leads to various types of ailments located throughout the body. This, in turn, creates a great field for physiotherapists to show off.

In my office I can notice that most common causes of fascial tension are:

  • Repetitive overloads
  • Previous injuries/traumas
  • Stress
  • Immobilization (e.g. plaster cast)
  •  Scars
  • Bad posture
  • Diseases of internal organs

How to take care of your fascia?

Regular physical activity, stretching, self-therapy on rollers as well as proper diet and hydration are recommended. Regular visits to physiotherapy offices may also do a lot of good.

So, speaking of physiotherapists - what can they do?

One of the best techniques for working on the fascia is fascial manipulation (FM). This is the main tool I use in my office. I have been broadening my knowledge about it since 2019. I can say that. I can say that from the very first course I got lost in this topic and with each subsequent one I was engaged even more! For this reason, I am impatient waiting for its next steps (which are coming soon!)

The main advantage of FM is a comprehensive interview and examination which allow to precisely determine the source of the problem. It often happens that the problem is located in a completely different place than the one which patients report to me. It makes patients surprised and they ask me:

- “Why are you massaging my hip when I came with a sprained ankle?!”

Do not worry, dear patients, as it is only for your own good.

Explanation for this situation is anatomy trains. They are actually the basis of this method. These tapes entwine and connect the whole body (e.g. the anatomy posterior train, which includes muscles and fascia located on the back of our bodies). As a result of various situations, such as injuries or operations, incorrect tension can be generated on these trains, which later provokes the occurrence of compensation, overloads and pain.

This is the moment where me and my detective skills come in! My task is to find these tensions and work them out, as well as guide you on how not to end up in a similar situation in the future.

See you in the office!