
What is Fascia?
The Top 10 Facts You NEED to Know About Fascia
You may have heard the term “fascia” on social media as everyone seems to be proclaiming the benefits of this technique or that technique to deal with fascia.
And, you may have even started to wonder why you have never heard of this structure before that everyone seems to be talking about!
If you have found yourself wondering what is fascia, what does fascia do, and is fascia something that I should be concerned about you are in the right place. Today we are going to dive into the the top 10 facts you need to know about fascia.
1. What is Fascia? Fascia is a connective tissue network that surrounds your muscles, bones, and even forms slings to support your organs. It is found from the very top of your head to the tip of your toes. And, although it is not all directly connected all the fascia in your body is connected to the other fascia.
2. It’s Everywhere In Your Body! Fascia connects every part of the body, forming a unified system. Think of it like a wetsuit under your skin that is holding you together.
3. Fascia Provides Structure and Support. Fascia is helpful in maintaining your posture while also being flexible enough for all those movement patterns you do every dingle minute. Full body activities such as running, yoga, swimming, and all sports involve your entire fascial system.
4. Fascia Can Get Tight or Stuck. You may have noticed fascial tension after a busy day doing full body activities. Or if you have been stuck in one position for a long period of time such as a long car ride or plane trip. Stress, poor posture, injuries, and dehydration can all play a role in fascial tension.
5. Fascia is Highly Sensitive. Here’s a fun fact – fascia has more nerve endings than muscles, making it crucial for feeling and awareness of where your body is in space.
6. Hydration is Key for Healthy Fascia. Fascia needs to be well hydrated in order to remain flexible and provide the movement your daily life needs. Combine hydration with full body active stretching for even better results.
7. Fascia Responds to Movement. Fascia lives dynamic movement to keep it pliable. Activities that involve your full body such as yoga and swimming are particularly good for helping fascia remain supple and movement to stay pain free.
8. Myofascial Release Can Relieve Tension. Using a tennis ball or racquetball to release fascial adhesions can help improve mobility and decrease pain. Use caution with foam rollers as these can cause a large amount of pain and put too much tension on the fascia.
9. Stress and Emotions Affect Fascia. Emotional tension ca lead to physical tightness in the muscles and fascia. Spend time performing some deep breathing exercises or meditation to relax the fascia. Need help with your breathing? Check out this video to get started:
10. Fascia Healing Takes Time. Recovery and changes in fascia require consistent effort over weeks or months. Although you should notice slight improvement after each session it takes time to fully recover a fascial injury. Consistent effort on a daily basis is what is going to heal your fascial pain. Be patient and trust the process.
Wondering where to get started with healing your fascia? The best thing that you can do right now to start healing your fascia is start drinking a minimum of 64 ounces of water per day. For some people that will sound that a huge task. If that’s you then add 8 ounces of water per day until you reach 64 ounces.
Now, if you already drink 64 ounces but still feel like your fascia is tight this next tip is for you. Drink enough water that your pee is clear and then drink enough water to keep your pee clear throughout the day.
How do you know if you are dealing with a fascial issue? Most people don’t initially know that what they are struggling with is a fascial issue. I recently had a patient who had suffered a physical injury years ago followed by a huge emotional trauma. She had never recovered from the physical injury and her world continued to become smaller as she eliminated activities that she “wasn’t able to do”. Simple things like going for a walk, which she knew was supposed to be healthy for her, became so painful that she stopped her daily walks.
After the evaluation, I discussed with her how her physical injury years ago had been compounded by the trauma that occurred shortly after. Her body had responded by tightening the fascial so she was living in a wetsuit that was 2 sizes too small for her. This resonated with her and we have begun the process of unwinding all those fascial adhesions. She has even returned to her daily walks which she loves so much.
If this sounds like you, then I encourage you to reach out for one of our Free Discovery Visits. During this visit we will discuss your journey and see if you are a good fit to move onto a full evaluation.
Or, if you have been to see every doctor, physical therapist, and chiropractor in town only to find you are still struggling with your issues and no one seems to be able to put the pieces of the puzzle together, then I would encourage you to sign up for a Free Discovery Visit. We have helped hundreds of people unwind their pain and dysfunction and get back to all the activities that make life worth living.