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The fascial system is a complex network of fibrous tissues that envelops the body just beneath the skin all the way to the skeletal system. Fascia is the great organizer of the body and makes up 19.5% of the average male’s body weight. It is a three dimensional tensile web that surrounds every tissue in the body, it surrounds nerves, bones, arteries, and veins as well as muscles. Fascia does not have an origin and insertion as muscles do. It is also avascular meaning it does not have a blood supply, therefore, has no inherent healing properties.
Functions of Fascia
This connective tissue found throughout the body is inter-related to everything else, and connects all things in the body. This connective tissue prevents muscles from tearing, breaking, and herniating. It does this by providing and maintaining the shape of a muscle or group of muscles thus increasing the muscle’s tensile strength.
Fascia is also the primary component of the lymphatic pump which moves body fluids, including blood, around the body. It also provides a sliding and gliding environment for muscles to contract and relax. The connective tissue holds the body’s organs in place and transmits vital body movement from muscle to tendon to bone and from ligament to bone. Fascia also provides a supportive and movable environment for nerves, blood, and lymph vessels as they pass through and in between muscle.Fascia as it Relates to Injuries
When an individual suffers an injury the connective tissue shortens and twists. As stated earlier, the fascia has no blood supply and is quite tensile; therefore, when the fascia is injured or distorted it remains in that state unless it is manually corrected. In the case of repetitive/chronic strain injuries, that have muscle based symptoms, the fascia surrounding and traversing through muscle becomes tight and restricted. This tightening of the connective tissue inhibits the muscle’s ability to contract and relax in its fascial casing, therefore preventing the muscle from performing the function it was designed to perform. This will cause nearby muscles to compensate in an attempt help the restricted muscle do its job. However, these nearby muscles are not designed to function in the exact manner of the restricted muscle, resulting in an overloading of these nearby muscles to the point of breakdown and strain. This now results in having two muscles that are restricted with aberrant function and thus the downward spiral continues throughout the body until it is addressed.
Injuries to the fascia and the adjacent muscle will also inhibit venous return and lead to congestion and prolonged swelling/edema. The movement of venous blood and lymph depends largely on muscular activity that works both against and along the fascial planes. Thickening and/or shortening of the fascia combined with insufficient muscular activity will hinder the healing process and cause prolonged swelling.
As an injury heals, the contracted fascia rarely releases back to its pre-injured state, thereby molding itself into its new distorted position. Simply put, the muscle will heal but the fascia remembers.
