Fascia, What is it and Why Does it Matter?

We often talk about fascia to our clients, but have you ever wondered what it really is and why it is so important for our health and recovery, especially after having surgery or undergoing a trauma or a fall?

Most surgeons treat fascia as nothing more than something that they have to cut through to get to where they are going to work on you. Unfortunately, it is rarely discussed with patients as part as their aftercare as to its improtance, or why it can lead to problems potentially for the rest of their lives post surgically if not addressed appropriately.

Fascia is a superhighway, it is the largest organ in your body, it is a dense network of fibrous tissue that wraps and supports every organ, muscle, bone, nerve, and blood vessel in the body, made of collagen and water.

Here are some of it's key functions:

• It provides the scaffolding that gives the body its shape and maintains structural integrity. 
• Key functions: Support and structure: It wraps, cushions, and supports all the internal organs and structures. 
• Movement: It lubricates the body, allowing for smooth movement and preventing wear and tear. 
• Communication: It acts as a major internal communication network, as it is highly enervated and helps all cells communicate with each other. 

When your fascia is disrupted (think surgery or an acute injury), it's like putting a pothole in the middle of your body's super highway. It can gum up the works, create bottlenecks, and allow disease or dysfunction to take hold.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine:

fascial restrictions are believed to disrupt the flow of energy (Qi) and can lead to disease. This is because fascial tissue is seen as the physical structure that corresponds to the body's meridians, and restrictions can cause pain, inflammation, and dysfunction that impacts overall health. 

Fascia is made up of many different cells with a variety of functions including:

Primary cells:

• Fibroblasts: These are the most abundant cells in fascia and are responsible for creating the extracellular matrix, including collagen and elastin fibers. They play a key role in maintaining structural integrity and responding to mechanical signals. 
• Fasciacytes: These cells produce hyaluronan, a major component of the ground substance in the extracellular matrix. 

Other cells in fascia:

• Immune cells: Fascia is populated by immune cells like macrophages, mast cells, and lymphocytes that are involved in inflammation and repair. 
• Telocytes: These are specialized cells with long extensions that form a three-dimensional network within the fascia. They are thought to play a role in cell repair, regeneration, and communication. 
• Adipocytes: Fat cells are also found within the fascial layers, particularly in superficial fascia. 
• Myofibroblasts: These cells, which are a type of fibroblast, can increase in pathological conditions, potentially leading to tissue contractures.

This is why it is so important to work with a provider who understands how to reduce fascial restrictions and restore normal glide and slide to your tissue to prevent pain, improve range of motion and allow the body to communicate effectively with the injured area. This can be a gamechanger for anyone who is post surgical, including post C-section, joint replacement or even carpel tunnel surgery. Very often we see clients that have never had any manual therapy post surgically which can lead to a host of problems. It is essential that clients are taught how to manage their fascia effectively, either at home or with the help of a skilled provider.

Normal glide and slide can be restored with a variety of tools including a therapist who performs myofascial release, cupping, SASTM or Graston tools, use of a foam roller, or a vibrating tool including Theragun and the vibrating peanut which can be purchased and used for home use.

The difference between stretching and using a foam roller