What is FASCIA?
To explain it in simple terms, fascia is the connective tissue that surrounds every part of your body, bringing together and supporting your bones, joints, organs, muscles, and nerves. It is a string of fibrous proteins the binds everything in place. When healthy, fascia is flexible and stretches with you. When it tightens or binds, it can restrict movement and cause pain.
Much of the body's connective tissue - including tendons and ligaments - is included in the fascial system. Some fasciae are thin (like the pericardium which surrounds the heart) and some are thick and tough, such as the iliotibial (IT) band on the side of the thigh.
Fascia has many more sensory receptors than muscles do, causing pain and irritation if not kept supple and pliable. Scar tissue can be bound up in the fascia, which can can pain and restrictions. Fascia work can help alleviate this kind of pain and much more, such as lower back pain, pelvic pain, and even headaches.
Fascia requires healthy habits to function well. Hydration, exercise, and foam rolling. The collagen in your facia needs hydration so that friction can be eliminated, allowing for smoother movement. With exercise, fascia becomes more lengthened and elastic. Rolling body parts over foam rollers, or working with fascia experts like Jennifer, can relieve tension in the fascia.
Watch this video to learn more about the "Fascia Suit".
Erin felt such severe stiffness in her left arm that she couldn't reach for a glass in the cabinet or put her coat on. Frustrated, Erin finally turned to a different kind of practitioner, one who specialized in working the fascia. During her monthly one-hour treatments, Erin's therapist applied pressure not just to her shoulder but also to her leg, her lower back, and other seemingly unrelated spots. Soon after the first session, Erin had more range of motion in her shoulder, and after a few more she could move her arm freely again. "More than a year of other treatments gave me only incremental improvements, but this worked really fast," Erin said.