Myofascia… it’s like an orange

The words fascia or myofascia seems to be everywhere but what exactly do they mean? Fascia is complicated and not complicated - I know this is an oxymoron. The basic definition is not too complicated, fascia is a 3D continuum of soft collagen containing loose and dense fibrous connective tissues that permeate the body. The fascial system interpenetrates and surrounds all organs, muscles, joints and nerve fibers essentially joining our bodies into one structure. It’s basically why the “knee bone’s connected to the hip bone”. The tissue does more than provide internal structure though; it is rich in nerve endings that make it incredibly sensitive. When stressed, your fascia will tighten up on you. This is where it gets complicated - and interesting.

The ‘‘myo’ part of myofascial refers to your muscles. Muscles are contractile tissue with ends that thicken and attach to bones. This enables our muscles to guide our skeletal system. Put together myofacial encompasses both our fascial and muscular systems and in an indirect way our skeletal systems as well.

Let’s dissect an orange. The peel is your skin, the juicy fleshy parts are your muscles and your facia is the membrane surrounding each segment. The state of each of these parts determines how delicious your orange it. For example, a dried out tough orange is NOT good. Your myofascia is meant to glide easily when we move our bodies - even when we breathe. When this doesn’t happen things get sticky and we experience pain and dysfunction.

To dive deeper into this I need to write more articles and you need to read them!

Dr. Erin Policelli, DPT

Erin is the founder and owner of STRETCH Kinetics in Atlanta. After earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from LA College in 1998, she worked in the Pediatric Department at Woman's & Children's Hospital in Lafayette, LA and in the NICU at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, NC. In 2002, she graduated from Duke University with a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. She received her first certification in Stretch Therapy from the Stretch to Win Institute in 2004. With over 13 years of STRETCH experience, she is currently a Level 2 Fascial Stretch Therapist™ and has also studied Table Thai Massage. Erin is certified in NeuroCoreKinetics, a Pilates based exercise method utilizing flexibility, strength, neuro-motor control and proprioceptive training for the core muscular system . She has worked with high level executives as well as high level athletes, including former NBA player Charles Barkley, former Atlanta Falcons player Keith Brooking and former Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saint's player Curtis Lofton. 

http://www.STRETCHKinetics.com
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Your mouth... the overlooked culprit of pain