Fasciais a system of connective tissue that encases our body parts and binds them together.
Primarily of collagen, fascia can be thought of as a sausage casing for your body’s tissues.
It surrounds muscles, nerves,tendons, andligamentsand gives them shape.
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Fascia also connects your skin to the tissue that is directly beneath it.
The collagen that makes up fascia is organized in a wavy pattern.
Specialized cells called fibroblasts produce the collagen that becomes fascia.
Among the layers of fascia is a liquid calledhyaluronan, also known as hyaluronic acid.
Hyaluronan is important in controlling inflammation, cell growth, and cell migration.
Imagine fascia as an intertwined web of gooey tissue between structures in your body.
Types of fascia include:
Fascia may be innervated by nerves and send pain signals to your brain.
Microcapillaries supply blood and nutrients to the fascia.
Fascia also helps support proper movement and function in your body.
What Does Fascia Do?
The fascia supports structures in the body.
It surrounds tissues and provides shape for muscles, tendons, and joints.
However, it can also help with functional movement by reducing friction between structures.
Fascia provides moveable wrappings around muscles, tendons, and nerves.
Sometimes, bundles of muscles with different lines of pull are contained in one fascial compartment.
Plantar Fascia
One well-known piece of fascia is called theplantar fascia, also known as the plantaraponeurosis.
It is located on the bottom of your foot and stretches from your heel bone to your toes.
This thick fascia band supports your medial arch and gives shape to the bottom of your foot.
But it also serves a very functional purpose.
(Imagine a rubber band stretching from your heel to your toes.)
This fascia stretching stores energy, which is released as your foot comes up while stepping.
This energy puts a spring in your step and makes your foot more efficient while walking.
The storage and release of energy in the plantar fascia while stepping is known as the windlass mechanism.
Fascia Pain
Fascial pain is one of the most common reasons for muscle pain.
One cause of fascial pain is a lack of adequate hyaluronan.
Initiatives are underway to understand more about the function and dysfunction of the fascia.
What Are the Symptoms of Tight Fascia?
Whenever a muscle or tendon is torn, the fascia around it may also become injured and torn.
Sometimes,overuse and overstressof your body can also cause injury to the fascia.
Symptoms of injury to fascia mimic symptoms of a muscle or tendon strain.
Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar fasciitisoccurs when the fascia in your foot becomes irritated or inflamed.
Pain, swelling, and difficulty with walking and running may occur when this happens.
Compartment syndrome often occurs in the calf muscles of the lower leg.
MPS pain is usually dull, aching, and localized to a specific region.
Diagnosis
Diagnosing problems with fascia can be difficult.
Occasionally, diagnostic ultrasound is used to study fascial thickness and elasticity to diagnose problems.
Diagnosis of plantar fasciitis is often made by palpation of the heel and bottom of the foot.
Diagnosis of ITBS is made by clinical examination and palpation of the area near your knee.
Treatment
Fascia is like any other collagen-pop in tissue in the body.
It needs appropriate time to heal properly when it becomes torn or injured.
As it is healing, gentle motion can be started to ensure the collagen cells are properly aligned.
This is thought to eliminate the build-up of scar tissue in the body.
Most injury to fascia heals within six to eight weeks period.
Occasionally, chronic inflammation and pain affect fascia, causing problems such as painful movement or fibromyalgia.
When this occurs, a multi-thronged approach to care may be necessary.
This may include massage, exercise, and medication to help ease pain and improve movement.
While some people feel results from fascia blasting, there are not robust scientific studies that support its use.
Summary
Fascia is the collagen of stringy stuff that surrounds the tissues in your body.
It encases nerves, muscles, tendons, joints, and bones.
This energy is then used to improve efficiency when moving.
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