- Fascia is the broad term for the soft tissue net of the body. Fascia is ubiquitous and holds the body together. It wraps around all muscle fibres, muscles, and organs. It maintains the form of the body and its organs and provides cohesion and structural support.
- Fascia permits the diffusion of oxygen and nutrients from small vessels to the cells. It also permits the diffusion of metabolites back to the vessels.
- Fascia fills the spaces between various organs and holds them in place while cushioning and protecting them. It also surrounds and supports blood vessels. Fascia allows gliding between the various muscles and organs.
- Because of injuries or lack of movement, scars and adhesions between fascia layers can form and prevent normal slide or glide between muscles. This can result in overstimulation of free nerve endings and joint proprioceptors, pains and restrictions.
- When the layers of fascia become dense there is less blood flow, poor adaptation to stretch, less muscle activation. All this can leading to tension and pain;
- Fascia is the organ of proprioception. This means it plays a lead role in knowing where the body is in space.
- Fascia can be a source of pain because it is well innervated.
- Fascia is the initial site where antigens, bacteria and other agents that have breached an epithelial surface can be destroyed.
- Dense connective tissue is characterised by large, robust collagen fibres that provide a considerable amount of strength. They comprise tendons and ligaments.
- The main roles of dense connective tissues are to transmit forces and to connect different organs and muscles. Source: Stecco, Carla (2014-11-05). Functional Atlas of the Human Fascial System
Click Here to see a video from Tom Myers about Fascia.