Do you know what fascia is and how important it is?

Jesse James Retherford explains it as a continuous web of connective tissue that wraps around muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones, and organs. Fascia, which acts kind of like plastic wrap, binds these structures together creating a three-dimensional matrix connecting everything inside of you from the top of your head to the tips of your toes. Your muscles are wrapped tightly in fascia and it plays a fundamental role in your movement, as well as in your circulatory and neurological systems. Your whole body is totally interconnected by your fascia. Movements ruled by poor postural habits cause adhesion's or tightness to develop in the fascia. Adhesion's lead to loss of or reduction in range of motion, poor tissue health, inflammation, joint friction, and ultimately pain and injury. Due to the interconnected nature of fascia, tightness in one area of your body is likely the direct cause of pain in a completely different area. As the fascia tissue tightens, it pulls throughout the body causing pain somewhere else. This is called referred pain.

As we know when we have pain, we adjust our movements and overcompensate in other ways.  When we do that it throws our natural postural alignment off and then its like a domino, one part affects another and so on.  What can we do about it you ask?  Everything goes back to a healthy, well rounded exercise program that includes, strength, cardiovascular, flexibility, balance, stabilty and mobility training.  When we have a wellness program that includes all aspects we get to know our body and be more proactive when something feels out of whack.  Most people don't know their body other than always being in pain and that is a hard way to live day in and day out.

I go to a massage therapist every other week and she also does reflexology and mixes in essentials oils into her sessions.  She has recently started to manipulate the fascia surrounding my spine.  I had been noticing I was tighter at the upper portion of my spine and she has only done two sessions and I have noticed a tremendous difference.  It hurts a little while she is doing it, because she is actually grabbing the fascia like she is pinching it and then moving it in what feels like a twisting motion.

There are other methods such as self massage, increasing your flexibility and functional training which helps improve your posture.  Give it a try.  If you need any help with improving your posture or functional training don't hesitate to contact me and we can set up an appointment to discuss your needs.