What is the Fascia:
Why Maintain the Health of the Soft Skeleton of the Human Body
Fascia is connective tissue that covers organs, nerves, blood vessels, muscles, and tendons, performing trophic, supportive, and various other functions in the human body. Not long ago, the definition of fascia was not as comprehensive. Scientists understood it as the connective tissue that surrounds muscle fibers and did not pay adequate attention to fascia health. The results of numerous fascia research studies have proven it to be a vital component of soft tissues found throughout the body, ensuring its normal functioning.
Let’s discuss what this tissue that surrounds every part of your body represents and why it is important to keep your fascia healthy.
Fascia as a Type of Connective Tissue in Human Body Anatomy
Fascia is made mostly of collagen and elastin. Although it may seem like a continuous tissue, it is not the case. Several fascial layers are separated by a fluid called hyaluronan or hyaluronic acid. This structure makes fascia highly elastic and can stretch during movement.
There are four types of fascia:
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Superficial fascia. This tissue is found directly under the skin and varies in thickness depending on the body part. For instance, superficial fascia is noticeably thicker in the chest and abdomen, whereas in the arms and legs, this fascial tissue is thinner.
This body fascia plays a significant role in the body, determining its shape, which affects our appearance. -
Deep fascia. This fascia wraps around bones, muscles (or their groups), nerves, and blood vessels. Fibrous deep fascia forms intermuscular septa, which serve as the beginning of muscles and their attachment points.
The peculiarity of these fascia is that they can be divided into two types.
The first is aponeurotic fascia, which is thicker and easily detachable from muscles. The second is epimysial fascia, which is thin and more strongly connected to muscle fibers. -
Visceral fascia. This fascial tissue covers organs within the body cavity, such as the heart, lungs, and abdominal cavity organs.
Its main function is to hold each organ within its cavity, thus determining its positions. - Parietal fascia. This term refers to the fascia that lines the body cavity. For example, there is parietal fascia of the abdomen, pelvis, and chest.
Note that each layer of fascia is permeated with receptors for movement, position, tension, pressure, and pain. Therefore, it is considered the largest sensory organ, covering even a larger area than the skin.
It is necessary to keep your fascia healthy because it performs important functions in the body:
- Supporting surrounding tissues.
- Reducing friction and facilitating muscle sliding.
- Transmitting nerve impulses from muscles to bones.
- Ensuring the proper position of internal organs.
- Water storage in the body.
- Participating in the water-salt balance.
- Protecting nerves and blood vessels in places where they pass between muscles or through them.
These functions are possible only if your fascia is healthy—uninjured, and free from inflammation. Next, we will discuss what can cause problems with these tissues.
Causes of Fascia Pain
In some situations, the hyaluronan located between fascia layers can dry out. This leads to the fascia adhesion – knots that cause discomfort. Due to such problems, fascia can no longer perform its functions fully, and a person experiences acute pain syndrome.
Among the contributing factors, we can identify:
- Low physical activity.
- Poor nutrition.
- Inadequate water intake.
- Regular stress on the same parts of the body.
- Injury to a specific part of the body due to trauma or surgical intervention.
Fascia pain is often confused with muscle pain or joint pain, leading to incorrect treatment. The main difference is that joint or muscle issues worsen pain during movement. If the pain arises from the fascia, physical activity can help alleviate it.
This characteristic helps determine the source of discomfort. Unfortunately, the fascial system has not received enough attention in medicine, making it difficult to detect issues promptly. This is partly due to the fact that no modern diagnostic methods, including CT and MRI scans, can define fascia pathology.
Issues with the fascia cause pain and lead to certain changes in a person’s appearance. For instance, we can say that fascia that is unhealthy may manifest in symptoms such as:
- The appearance of so-called "orange peel" cellulite;
- Postural deformities;
- Pronounced wrinkles;
- Restricted movement of the body.
Despite modern science being in the process of studying fascia anatomy, medical professionals are aware of numerous pathological conditions of fascial tissue, which we will explore further.
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Issues with Fascia Health that Can Diminish Quality of Life
Pathologies of the fascial system can manifest as back pain and discomfort in the neck, upper or lower extremities; in short, in any part of the body where the fascia is inflamed or damaged.
Problems with a specific tissue in your body may actually cause certain common conditions.
Common afflictions of the fascia include:
- Myofascial pain syndrome.The cause is regular stress on the same muscle. For example, a trigger point can develop from intense sports activities or specific professional tasks. Symptoms include pain that worsens over time, painful muscle knots, and disrupted sleep.
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Plantar fasciitis. An inflammatory process resulting from microtrauma to the plantar fascia – the thick part of the fascia on the bottom of the foot. The main symptom is painful sensations in the foot.
Plantar fasciitis is common in elderly individuals who are overweight or those who strain their feet, like athletes or dancers.
Acupuncture for plantar fascia has shown positive effects, significantly improving patients' conditions after the procedure. Additionally, medical professionals recommend stretching plantar fascia and Achilles tendon and cortisone shot for plantar fascia. - Frozen shoulder or adhesive capsulitis. Frozen shoulder or adhesive capsulitis. This pathology affects the synovial membrane of the shoulder joint and its capsule. The fascia around the shoulder becomes inflamed and swollen, impairing its mobility. The inflammation is accompanied by a pain syndrome that is barely noticeable at first but worsens over time.
- Dupuytren’s contracture.This pathology causes gradual deformity of the hands, bending the fingers towards the palm due to the thickening and shortening of the fascia beneath the skin.
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Hernia.This condition arises when your fascia becomes insufficiently dense. Tight fascia holds tissues and organs in the correct body cavity. If its structure is compromised, tissue or organs protrude through its weak point.
Due to fascia structure and function disruptions, umbilical, inguinal, and femoral hernias can develop. - Marfan syndrome.This congenital condition is characterized by anomalies in connective tissue in your body. It results in tall stature, disproportionately long fingers and arms, and can also affect internal organs like the heart, blood vessels, and visual organs.
- Compartment syndrome, or muscle compression syndrome. Compartment syndrome is a dangerous condition in which pressure within a fascial compartment builds up, often in the leg or forearm. It can impair blood circulation and cause nerve and muscle damage.
- Peyronie’s disease.Contracture of the fascia around the erectile bodies causes penis curvature, dysfunction, and pain.
- Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.This condition weakens collagen structures and metabolism, causing weakened fascial tissue, joint hypermobility, skin hyperelasticity, weakened blood vessel walls, and bone fragility.
All these pathologies can significantly diminish the quality of your life by causing chronic myofascial pain. We recommend doing everything in your power to support fascia health.
Recommendations on How to Keep Your Fascia Healthy
Some hereditary conditions can’t be controlled by lifestyle changes. However, following certain recommendations may still help improve the patient’s condition.
Keeping your fascia healthy is completely within your control if there is no congenital pathology. Here are a few tips on how to alleviate chronic myofascial pain and disorders and rejuvenate your body:
- Yoga. You can stretch the fascia to relieve discomfort. Consult with an instructor before working out to learn poses that target specific areas of the body to relieve fascia.
- Heat therapy. To release tight fascia, take a warm bath or shower. You can also apply a heat source to the painful area of the body.
- Massage. There is a special massage called myofascial release, which helps alleviate myofascial pain disorder symptoms. Massage on scar tissue is also very effective in combating fascia adhesion.
- Consult an acupuncture specialist. We mentioned that this method helps with plantar fasciitis. However, acupuncture can also be used for inflammation of the fascia in other body parts.
- Cold therapy. Add ice or another cold source to the affected area to reduce inflammation.
- Fascia blasting. This technique uses a special tool to relieve fascia. The effect is achieved through physical manipulation and pressure on the affected tissue.
Fascia is connective tissue that’s present throughout the body. Its health impacts both your appearance and quality of life.
Addressing most problems with the soft skeleton of the human body is possible by applying various massage techniques. Turn to “Massage Bliss and Bodywork” and the “Kmit Method” – trust the professionals!
FAQ
Fascia is a connective tissue that permeates the entire human body. It acts as a sheath for internal organs, nerves, blood vessels, muscles, and tendons.
Pathological conditions of the fascial system cause pain syndrome, restricted movement, and visual changes to the body, significantly diminishing your quality of life. If your fascia is healthy, you can avoid many unpleasant sensations.
Acupuncture, heat and cold therapy, fascia blasting, cortisone shots, and yoga practice yield good results. Massage is highly effective for fascia issues. It helps relieve fascia and alleviate unpleasant symptoms.
