What Should Fascia mean to Me?

Typically, we think the role of our fascia is to support, stabilize and cushion our body, but its function is so much greater.  Fascia plays an important role in the support and function of our bodies, since it surrounds and attaches to all structures. In the normal healthy state, the fascia is relaxed and wavy in configuration. It has the ability to stretch and move without restriction.  Fascia surrounds and attaches to all of our structures.  Without the constant pull of our fascia, our skeletal structure would not be able to provide us with necessary stability.  John’s great analogy is this:  think of a tent, its poles and guide wires.  What keeps the tent or our body from crumbling?  Tent poles or our skeletal system alone will not prevent a tumble.  Adequate amount of tension from the guide wires or our fascia allows the tent or our body support, keeping it upright with proper equilibrium.    When one experiences physical trauma, emotional trauma, scarring, or inflammation, however, the fascia loses its pliability. It becomes tight, restricted, and a source of tension to the rest of the body.  . Fascial restrictions can exert excessive pressure causing all kinds of symptoms producing pain, headaches or restriction of motion. Fascial restrictions affect our flexibility and stability, and are a determining factor in our ability to withstand stress and perform daily activities.

What is the Make-Up of Fascia?
Fascia is made up of an Elasto-collagenous complex which has three parts: 

Elastin- The most elastic part of the complex, making up the core of the complex. 
Collagen- These extremely tough fibers give support to the structure, coiling around the elastic fibers in a relaxed, wavy configuration.
Ground Substance/Matrix- This gelatinous like component transports metabolic material through the body and also acts like a cushion.

 How does the Fascia Release?
Myofascial Release addresses these fascial restrictions using gentle, sustained pressure into the tissue over time, which helps to re-liquify the ground substance, restore elasticity, flexibility, strength and health to the tissues, or fascia....down to the cellular level!  Sustained pressure into the tissue helps to soften the ground substance (think how your hand would melt jello).  Sustained stretch of the tissue is gently applied to elongate collagen and elastin fibers (think of a rubber band stretched at it's maximum resistance for a prolonged period of time. When you let go of the rubber band, it's shape has changed).  At times, sustained compression is also used to facilitate more resistant areas to soften (think of the old wooden screen door...you could pull, pull, pull..and it would not open...but give it a little nudge, and it would spring open!).  The compression gives that little "nudge" to "stubborn" tissue.

What is Fascia?

Fascia is an amazing fluid “web” of highly specialized connective tissue that has an appearance similar to a spider's web or a sweater. Fascia is very densely woven, covering and interpenetrating every muscle, bone, nerve, artery and vein, as well as, all of our internal organs including the heart, lungs, brain and spinal cord.  Fascia is able to withstand tremendous internal and external forces, with the tensile strength to withstand 2000 pounds per square inch of pressure!  The most interesting aspect of the fascial system is that it is not just a system of separate coverings. It is actually one continuous structure that exists from head to toe without interruption. In this way you can begin to see that each part of the entire body is connected to every other part by the fascia, like the yarn in a sweater.  A great visual for fascia would be the white, glistening fibers you see when you slowly pull a piece of meat apart or you pull the skin away from the meat on a piece of chicken; that's fascia!