What is fascia?

Fascia, or connective tissue, is our body's largest organ and is made up of water, collagen and some cells. Fascia is very densely woven, covering and penetrating every bone, muscle, nerve, artery and vein, as well as all of our internal organs including the heart, lungs, brain and spinal cord.  It wraps, cushions and supports everything inside our body; it connects our organs to our ribs to our muscles and all of our bones to each other.

Until recently, fascia was considered 'packing material' that didn't serve any significant purpose. It was discarded so the most important parts of the body – the bones, muscles and organs – could be reached, studied and worked on. In fact, it wasn't until 2012 that fascia became recognized as the body's largest organ, with our skin coming in a close second.

We now know, however, that the health of our fascia fundamentally contributes to our wellbeing. Healthy fascia is springy and resilient when it is hydrated, which allows muscles, joints, organs, nerves, etc. to function properly.  Hydrated fascia helps our body move smoothly and easily without restriction. The most superficial layer of fascia is directly underneath the skin. Picture a bodysuit, a webbing that our body is literally suspended in, creating our structure, shape and posture. 

Problems arise when our fascia becomes dry and brittle.  Unhealthy fascia holds onto cellular waste, trauma and emotional stress and can create an incredibly toxic environment inside our body.  Disease, stiffness, inflammation, and cancer are just a few of the many side effects that can take their toll on our entire body, inside and out. Age, chronic movement patterns, trauma and lack of movement are a few examples of things that cause fascia to become brittle and dehydrated.

I have been teaching and coaching in the fitness industry for almost thirty years and commonly hear people saying "I feel great BUT, my knee, my hip, my shoulder..."  We seem to think that it is normal to feel aches and pains because we are "just getting older,” that it is normal to have restrictions in our bodies as we age. 

The more I learn about fascia, the importance of keeping it healthy, and what actually happens when it isn't, the more I understand that a lot, if not all, aches and pains do not need to be simply accepted as a natural part of life.  Fascia doesn't show up on CAT scans, X-Rays or MRI's, so many people may not recognize the need to keep their fascia hydrated and healthy in order to eliminate soreness and/or discomfort. 

The good news is that some of the nagging aches and pains that most people deal with on a regular basis can be completely changed or reversed, and you can actually live a pain-free, restriction-free life without surgery or pills.

What can you do to keep your fascia healthy?

1. Move your body: Lack of movement causes fascia to become dry and sticky, which over time will create adhesions to inhibit mobility and range of motion.

2. Stretch: Stretch your body in all different directions.  When your muscles are chronically tight the fascia surrounding them becomes tight too.  This can have a major effect on everything inside your body, including muscles, veins, arteries, and organs, making it so that blood flow and oxygen cannot flow properly.

3. Drink water: Water is the 'transport system' that flushes toxins and cellular waste out of your body.  It can hold up to 4 gallons of water, so drink lots of water every day! (1/2 of your body weight = minimum # ounces of water you need to drink on a daily basis for proper internal body function).

4. Myofascial release – the Fascination Method of SMR: A special roller called the Fascianator is used to roll the entire body from the bottom of the feet to the base of the skull.  The roller is designed with a specific density to reach the deepest layers of fascia, and a specific diameter to reach areas of the body where larger rollers cannot reach.

To learn more about fascia or the Fascination Method of myofascial release, feel free to visit this site. You can also join us at Movement Counseling and Wellness for our weekly self myofascial release class on Sunday afternoons from 1:30-2:45pm! 

Gotta roll,

Kate