Understanding what fascia is to help you look and move better

“Mirror, mirror on the wall, who has the most gorgeous fascia of them all?” Wait a minute! What is fascia exactly? Don’t worry if you had to ask – it’s a common question and one that has a most intriguing answer!

What is fascia exactly and why is it important?

Fascia is a sheet of connective tissue, mainly collagen, located beneath the skin like an extra layer that encloses and separates all of our muscles and organs. Optimizing fascia through acupuncture, soft tissue techniques and facial release can drastically improve how we workout, how we approach injury prevention and how we address pain management.

Understanding fascia in functional medicine

Although fascia remains invisible to the naked eye, it is a pretty incredible part of the human body that when regarded from a functional medicine approach can increase mobility, strength, relieve stress and eliminate pain and discomfort.

It’s not magic, it’s mechanics and here at TMB our treatments involve a thorough understanding of fascia and fascia release to address root causes of pain.

Let’s get into some fun stuff though! Here are seven fun facts about fascia!

1. FASCIA IS LIKE THE BODY’S FRAMEWORK

Fascia is the system of connective, fibrous tissue fibers that lay just under the surface of our skin and is wrapped around every structure throughout our whole body. It’s role is to act as a framework of protection and support and to create a barrier between our deeper soft tissue and skin.

2. FASCIA MAKES FOAM ROLLING FEEL GOOD

We bet you’ve used a foam roller before, right? And we bet you know how good foam rolling feels. Foam rolling is actually a fascial release tool that helps keep you mobile and release any built up tension or “stickiness” in the body.

3. FASCIA IS LIKE AN ORANGE’S INSIDES

You heard us! Take a moment and think of an orange: the white, stringy rind that you see underneath the peel is like our fascia. The white layer surrounds the fruit, dividing it into various segments, just as your fascia encases your bones, muscles, nerves, blood vessels and organs.

4. FASCIA CONNECTS EVERYTHING

Fascia is connected to everything in our body – everything! This is why we always address the root cause when it comes to injury and dysfunction. You might feel pain in your knee, but the underlying issue could actually be somewhere in your shoulder! Fascia connects everything so pain can be felt in areas beyond where it originates.

5. KEEPING FASCIA HEALTHY IS IMPORTANT

Unaddressed injuries can create a domino effect in the body, which means that you can have subtle pain in your lower back that years later can spiral into your shoulder, your neck, even down to your feet! Wild, right? Myofascial release techniques and acupuncture help ensure your fascia stays healthy, so that you reduce your risk of an injury snowballing into something more severe.

6. FASCIA IS YOUR LARGEST ORGAN

Not only is fascia your largest organ, but it’s also the richest sensory organ in your body, with between six to ten times higher quantity of sensory nerve receptors than the muscles. Understanding this is important, because it goes to show why well-hydrated and supple fascia is essential to movement, alignment, proper function and injury prevention.

7. MAINTAINING FASCIA MAKES A DIFFERENCE

Ongoing support of your fascia through regular treatments will go a long way in preventing small problems and dysfunction from becoming chronic and decreasing your quality of life in the future. In short, making your fascia care a priority can help prevent other issues from developing.

GOOD HEALTH AND GREAT MOVEMENT IS LINKED TO YOUR FASCIA

And there you have it! Seven fun facts about fascia to help you move and feel better!

Visit TMB to talk in more detail about your fascia care and see all of our treatment options! We provide tailored health improvement services that fit you better than designer couture!

About The Movement Boutique in Toronto – Pilates, Chiropractic, Functional Medicine

Located on Yonge Street in Toronto, The Movement Boutique serves the areas of Summerhill, Rosedale and Yorkdale with Pilates classes and much more. Our philosophy is centred on a holistic, multimodal approach to health, grounded in the latest therapeutic techniques and clinical research. Our approach: Optimal health cannot be attained through a single therapeutic lens; injuries are often the result of a constellation of lifestyle issues, including dysfunctional movement patterns, trauma, nutritional deficiencies or destructive habits of mind.

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