Impaired flow and mobility

Fascia that has thickened will become stiff and will get impaired flow and gliding ability. This can causes a lot of symptoms. The body feels heavy and sluggish, it causes pain, you get edema, have poor balance and so on. The flow in the fascia will be impaired and gets slower. Then the collagen fibers come closer and can “stick together”. Nerve receptors are subjected to higher pressure and hence, signal pain, while other signals will be impeded due to the pressure. Muscles can go into convulsions as they constantly get a signal to contract. Inflammation may occur when transport and communication throughout the tissue are disturbed and the immune system tries to solve the problem. A tight connective tissue chain can distort the skeleton so that the balance is disturbed and joints wear.

The entire locomotion system is affected by poor coordination and endurance as a result. The causes may be many, overload, damage by external trauma, inflammation due to lifestyle, poor diet, nutritional deficiencies, anxiety, depression or other issues.

It is clear that our bodies need motion to maintain optimal metabolism and circulation to the tissues. If we stop moving the flow will decrease and the fascia sticks together. It is a good way to pandiculate after rest or sedentary. Yawning with a deep inhalation and then a slow exhalation also stretch the lungs. If it hurts and the movement is obtuse, however, it is easy to avoid to move which instead leads to stagnation in the flow.

Studies have shown that after a stroke in which the central nervous system is damaged, the tissues slow down. It does not happen immediately, but as body parts affected by the stroke are not consciously moved, muscles enter a spastic state. Passively getting help to move the body can help a lot and treatment with soft vibrations may help the spasm to relax.

Hyaluronan, which is found in the ground substance of the fascia, binds a lot of water and it can quickly change viscosity (‘thickness’ of a liquid) and is therefore an important component to control the flow. It has many functions in the body and is one of the most important components of the fascia (if one can say that something is more important than the other since everything isa whole). Read more about hyaluronan on the Fascia Anatomy page.

Thus it is important to regularly maintain the entire locomotion system, both training strength, mobility and flexibility. Muscles must be strong to sustain, but they also have to be able to stretch and follow a movement.

Psychological aspects also affect our patterns of movement. A person who is nervous and tense keeps their movements tight and builds up tension. The person who gesticulates and flaps is more mobile and relaxed.