So What is the Fascial System?

Simply put, it’s what holds us together.  Fascia is a web of connective tissue composed mainly of collagen that envelopes, binds or separates muscles, organs or other soft structures in the body.  It creates mobility by allowing muscle to freely glide and stretch alongside neighbouring structures and provides shape to the body from head to toe. Fascia processes 10 times more sensory nerves receptors than muscle therefore can transmit more force throughout the body, providing dexterity and stabilisation (Van de Wal 2007)

So how does Fascia system’s influence on movement?

In movement, fascial tissue intermediates between the muscle and skeletal structure working together as one system called the Myofascial system. When healthy, fascia is supple and smooth, but when we put fascia under stress due to emotional trauma, poor posture, overload or injury the fascial tissue becomes thickened, twisted, squeezed and hardened. This leads to pain, adhesions and reduction in strength, elasticity and mobility

Stress to any part of a myofascial meridian can affect movement in the entire meridian as well as the myofascial interplay throughout the entire body.  It’s for this reason we often experience symptoms such as tension, pain, or a lack of flexibility somewhere other than the original source. For example, if the IT (iliotibial) band on the outside of the thigh and hip is tight then, you are likely to have poor flexibility in the either the middle of the back and rib cage.

What can you do to ensure that the fascial system is healthy?

A healthy lifestyle has important role in fascial health; a diet rich in protein, vitamins and minerals is essential for the repair and/or maintenance of healthy fascial tissue.  Intake of inflammatory foods (such as processed or sugar-rich foods) should be kept to a minimum.  

Fascia has a gel-like consistency when healthy and – like any other tissue – works better when hydrated, so it’s vital to ensure you are drinking enough water. Good sleep and relaxation can also help release tension in the fascial tissue improving drainage, circulation and regeneration.

Movement is vital for fascial health.  If we stop moving the fascia becomes sticky. This is the reason why we feel stiffer when we first get out of bed, or if we have been in a poor postural position for too long, causing tension or pain.  Postural misalignment or being too sedentary causes stress, distorting the fascia and bonding muscles together; this can potentially lead to adhesions, reduced sensory response, dehydration, poor circulation, impaired movement and loss of strength.

Research by Divo Mueller and Robert Schleip 2012 suggested that stretching, – alongside rhythmical contraction and relaxation of the fascia – encourages fluid to the fascial tissue helping it keep hydrated and supple. Positive postural alignment and balanced strengthening exercises, like Pilates, also have great benefits in preventing fascial adhesions.

So, what is Myofascial Focused Training? 

Tom Myers the world’s foremost expert on the Myofascial System and Karin Gurtner who based on Tom Myers Anatomy Trains concept developed, ‘Slings’, a holistic movement practice aiming for structural integration of the body through movement. Taking its name from the Myofascial Slings that modulate movement within the body, Slings recognises the importance of the fascia qualities such as elasticity, multidimensional movement and kinaesthesia and their relevance to motion and health. 

This particular newly science-based exercise practice provides a unique and varied series of movement sequences that works with myofascial system, rather than targeting only specific muscle groups. The aim is to promote overall structural integrity and movement functionality like never before both a short- and long-term basis. Because movement is a synergy of both muscles and fascia it is able to enhance the benefits of muscular focused regimes such as Pilates.