Fascia is the layer of tissue that surrounds and helps support muscles, vessels, bones and organs of your body.
It helps to reduce friction, provide a sliding and gliding environment for muscles, helps suspend organs in their proper place, transmit movement from muscles to the bones they are attached to and it provides a supportive and movable wrapping for nerves and blood vessels as they pass through and between muscles. It can become restricted due to overuse, trauma, infection, psychogenic disease or inactivity.
Common facial syndromes are myofascial pain syndrome (refers to pain and inflammation in the body’s soft tissue), plantar fascitis (inflammation on the bottom of the foot) and Dupuytren’s contracture (a fixed flexed contracture of the hand).
The myofasical release is the common form of sort tissue therapy. A therapist will commonly engage in the fascial layers, applies a line of tension of move the fascia across the surface while staying engaged in this layer. Rolfers, physiotherapists, osteopaths, occupational therapists of course massage therapists are taught myofasical release techniques.
Stretching is good for engaging this layer. Stretching in one area of the body can be felt in and will affect other body areas. The release of myofascial restrictions can affect other body organs through a release of tension in the whole facial system.
