The Body’s Hidden Web
“Everything is interwoven,
And the web is holy.”
-Marcus Aurelius
Fascia is like a spiderweb within the body, a delicate yet strong matrix, connecting everything together inside your body from head to toe. This thin layer of connective tissue weaves throughout the body surrounding muscles, nerves and organs. When each strand tightens, the whole web feels the pull, allowing coordinated motion. Every movement reverberates across this intricate, resilient and interconnected web. Once thought to be a passive wrapping, new science reveals its important dynamic role in its response to tension, stress and prevention of injury. For instance, with efficient running and jumping, the fascia enveloping tendons provides energy through elastic recoil.
Healthy fascia is pliable, allowing muscles and tendons to optimally glide smoothly and efficiently. In contrast, restricted fascia hinders movement patterns, creates stiffness and pain. Due to the elaborate expanse of the body’s hidden network, fascial restrictions may create tension far from the source of dysfunction, e.g., tightness in hip fascia commonly contributes to back and knee pain. Loaded with sensory receptors that provide proprioception and coordination, the fascial matrix is enhanced through multi-directional, functional movement training to restore balance, stability and reduce restrictions throughout the kinetic chain.
The great news is that fascia is a living, adaptable structure rich in collagen and elastic fibers that responds well with training to play an important role in storing and releasing energy for movement. Lifestyle factors such as hydration, nutrition, posture and repetitive stress all influence fascial health. Empower yourself by engaging in varied movement patterns through diversification of training. Varied athletic activities helps prevent adhesions and stiffness to alleviate pain, optimize mobility and support peak performance. Caring for your fascia keeps the web of your body balanced, flexible, strong and agile to stay fit and healthy, adding years to your life and life to your years.