Fascial well-being: Mechanotransduction in manual and movement therapies
Leon Chaitow
Key takeaways
- 01Cells in fascia respond to mechanical forces
Manual and movement therapies may support fascial health by influencing how cells respond to mechanical forces like stretch and compression.
Mechanotransduction refers to the multiple ways in which mechanosensitive cells respond to different degrees, directions, frequency and duration of mechanical load, such as torsion, tension, shear, compression, stretch, bend and friction. Mechanotransduction in connective tissues, involves both physical and chemical communication processes that occur between specialized cells, such as fibroblasts and telocytes, and their immediate environment, - the soupy, mesh-like extracellular matrix (ECM) network, in which they operate. Unsurprisingly therefore, the solution to maintenance of collagen and therefore fascial) health, would seem to align with maintenance of an optimally balanced musculoskeletal status, potentially assisted by manual and movement therapeutic methods.
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