Fascia

 

Fascia have been treated as the virtual ‘cinderella tissue of orthopedic research’ during recent decades. Fascial tissue was thought to be an inert wrapping material and was largely ignored. New research findings and hypotheses as well as high resolution ultrasound suggest that the bodywide fascial network may play a more important role in musculoskeletal medicine than is commonly assumed.

Fascia is a biological fabric that surrounds every structure in the body and invests most of them. It comprises of several layers, from the superficial layer which is just below the skin, deep connective tissue membrane which surrounds muscles and bones, and the visceral fascia that suspends organ are within their cavities.  It consists of fibrous collagen and soft living tissue, including ligaments, tendons and joint capsules. Our fascial body suit adapts to the pressure that are placed on the body. By “moving” the fascia dynamically, it remodels the collagen network, which in turn moulds to the body and gives the body suit tone. And more importantly, there are at least 6 times as many sensory receptors in our fascial tissues than in the muscles.