What is Fascia and Why it’s Important.

Drawing of Fascia and Muscles

Fascia is important because it is a connective tissue that is under your skin and wraps around your muscles, bones, organs and cells. It provides a three dimensional environment that enables all of your body systems to work together. When stressed, it tightens up and can cause pain and misalignments in your structure.

Fascia is a thin casing of connective tissue that is your organ of shape because of its three dimensional nature. Fascia provides structure and support through your body. It also provides a smooth surface for your muscles , joints, and organs to slide against each other with out creating friction or tears. Unlike muscles that have an origin and insertion, fascia does not have a beginning or an end, it is a continuous network of tissue throughout the body. In science, fascia is now seen as possibly our richest sensory organ, with approximately 250 million nerve endings that makes it almost as sensitive as skin.

Fascia is made mostly of collagen fibers and it responds to how we regularly use our bodies. When we do one thing repeatedly, like sitting at a desk for long periods, jogging or cycling the fascia will respond by taking that shape and get stuck.

Addressing issues in the fascia is important because it reduces pain, increases range of motion and nourishes muscles and nerves.

Rolfing is manual bodywork that acts on fascia to align the body in gravity, reduce and balance tensions as well as improve coordination. Body workers are able to address shortened tissues and thickened fascia.

We know ourselves as whole beings thanks to the sensory signals within our fascia. Healthy, fascia is a major factor in enduring youthfulness and grace of movement.

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