You might have heard that all your body parts are linked up to one another other. That might seem like a reasonable statement when you think about your right knee and right ankle together. What if it was your right ankle and left shoulder? How does that all link up? The answer to that question lies within the wonderful world of Fascia. Read to the end to find out how I utilize bodywork to create more "Freedom" in the fascia...
But what is Fascia? Think of a spider web and its a complex mesh-like structure. If you pull one end of the web, its many interwoven connections will cause a pull on the other end of the web. Now imagine that web going through your entire body, around every organ, bloody vessel, nerve and muscle. This goes all the way from your head to your toes. This is Fascia, it is effectively the stocking of the body. That does the Fascia actually do? Fascia is a complex system which has many functions. It is an incredible feat of engineering, creating a balance between stressors and counter-stressors. As a result it helps create a mobile, flexible and resilient body. Its slippery and wet nature helps muscles move along each other without too much friction, allowing your muscles to work more efficiently. Fascia also acts as your body’s emergency break system due to its strong structure. If Fascia is so useful, where does it go wrong? Just like any other structure in your body, Fascia has the potential for injury or dysfunction. This can occur as a result of trauma, repetitive movements, prolonged sitting or even poor posture. A common issue is when the fascia is conditioned to work in one particular way. It will tighten up or creates adhesions which will cause a decrease in the mobility to allow muscles to slide along each other. If this occurs, tension is placed on the surrounding structures such as muscles and ligaments. This causes issues such as muscle strains, poor muscle control. It also causes the use of muscles for actions they are not designed for leading overactive muscles. What does that mean to me? To help you understand the nature of your injuries and its complexities, it is important to understand what Fascia is, its function and dysfunctions. Have you ever had pain or discomfort that seems to move around, felt in the shoulder one day then the back the next day? It is highly possible that the Fascia is highly involved in causing this. Ever have a reoccurring injury that no matter how much you stretch or strengthen the area it seems to always come back and haunt you? It might be time to look at other areas of the body and see how they can be contributing to your issue. We know that Fascia wraps around certain muscles and structures which spread through the body in recognizable patterns. These recognizable patterns are called Fascial Slings. Understanding the slings and how they connect different body parts together helps guide you in resolving your aches/pains. Understanding how different body parts might be having an influence on your issue is a game changer in overcoming reoccurring or pesky injuries.
What this means for you AS A CLIENT- NO two massage sessions are exactly alike. I customize my therapy routine for your specific body and help open up restrictions in your movement by gentle rocking, long active partner stretching, and working on freeing up the tension so often felt around joints, and large muscle groups when there is muscle imbalances are present.
In Essence- This Bodywork feels amazing. Your hands and legs will feel longer and feel like they can finally get the full blood flow they need to really feel relaxed and primed for proper function.
If you have any questions or wondering if you have an issue in your tissues, call me today at 310-463-7225. My office hours are M-F 9am-3:30pm and am happy to help.
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