Fascia loads and unloads pressure
Join the Fascia Conversation Today!
What do we know about the function of the fascia and what affects its ability to regenerate and realign – and how can we use that knowledge in our everyday lives?
Recent research shows that fascia has a much greater significance for health, aches, and pains than we previously knew.
The fascia accounts for more than a third of the musculoskeletal system, and here we can find a rich presence of sensory nerve receptors. It contributes to almost all communication in the body and recent research suggests that the fascial network constitute our richest sensory organ.
Despite the thousands of research reports published in recent years, the understanding of fascia – and of the body as a whole – is still in its early stages.
Here we have gathered the traditional understanding of fascia and connective tissue, a selection of new research that explains its main functions – and above all, the simple and practical explanation of one of the most important functions – to load and unload pressure.
“The easiest way to explain body function is to load and unload pressure ” – Julian Baker, Fascia Research Congress 2015
The fascia is affected by basically everything we are exposed to
The fascia is affected by a variety of factors such as age, genotype, movements, gender, hormones, disease, medication, nutrition, physical stress, mental stress, sleep, pollution, etc, which causes it to reorganize.
Simply put, one of the most important functions of fascia is to load and unload pressure – that is, to handle everything we are exposed to daily.
What pressure are you putting on your fascia and what do you do to help your body to function properly?
Dr. Heike Jäger at Fascia Research Center in Ulm, Germany, lectures about Fascia in Stockholm, in May 2017
Functions of fascia: The traditional knowledge for many years
- Structural support (means attach, enclose and separate muscles and organs)
- Connection between body tissues and protection of organs
- Metabolic function and storage of energy
- Regulation of diffusion of different substances
- Formation of scar tissue (repairing injuries)
Functions of fascia: New research
- Signal transmission and pain conduction via free nerve endings that runs in the fascia. (Langevin et al, 2001, 2006; Schleip et al, 2010)
- Blood, lymphatic and nerve supply for neighbouring structures.
- Facilitation of sliding of the muscles across each other. (Stecco, 2015)
- Stabilization and balance of the body. (Barnes, 1997; Stecco, 2015; Elbrønd and Schultz, 2015)
- Ability to adapt to physiological stress (plasticity). (Schleip, 2003)
- Responsiveness to the mechanical stress and manipulation (Langevin et al, 2006; Elbrønd et al, 2015)
- Ability to modify the structure of the fascia through the release of hormones (Fede, 2018) and fluid flow through the tissue (Swartz, 2018)
How does the body handle the pressure it is exposed to?
How does the body load and unload pressure? From our experience, it is not that difficult to understand.
If someone gives you a push on the shoulder, this shoulder is pushed backwards, the other goes forward, and back, hips and legs also follow in a wave motion and in this way the push is distributed over the whole body.
In the same way, the pressure from a sprained foot will be distributed on the calf, knee, thigh, hip, back and neck.
The body’s system to relieve the pressure is rapid, flexible, strong, and global – the whole body is receiving, everything is in motion.
Theoretically, however, this is not entirely easy to understand – if you remain in old models.
One such model is the leverage model, which looks at the body as mechanical system with levers, biomechanics. Simply explained, this means that you are like, for example, the movement that lifts an arm, with the movement of an excavator.
The problem with this theoretical model is that it does not correspond to reality. It is not suitable for unicellular organisms, it is not suitable for animals – and nowadays we know that it is not suitable for humans either.
New discoveries evoke new insights
However, there is a model that explains the movement and function of all living organisms, from unicellular organisms, to quadrupeds and humans.
Biotensegrity was coined in the 70’s by the orthopedic surgeon Dr. Stephen Levin.
The term tensegrity is a contraction of the word tension and integrity. A tensegrity structures is recognized by its distinct set of compression elements (struts) that appear to float within a network of tensioned cables. It is strong, light in weight and resilient yet can change shape with the minimum of effort and automatically return to the same position of stable equilibrium. It is quite similar to biological structures.
When a body is deformed by an outside force, the strain is distributed over the whole body and not only the local place being deformed. The effect of load for a long time can have the same effect.
Simplified, it is a system where hard parts, such as skeletons, and soft parts, such as collagen threads (connective tissue), work together by absorbing, distributing, and releasing pressure and tension.
This model is both strong and flexible, mobile, and adaptable, as demonstrated by the film below.
Notice how the “ball” bounces and how the whole is affected when ONE thread is cut.
- Av Axel Bohlin Grundare & Redaktör, The Fascia Guide
Fascia in Horses – Danish veterinary exploring uncharted territory
In 2015 veterinary Vibeke S Elbrønd published the first report on Fascia and horses. Through autopsy she found that the horse has the same kind of chains and networks of connective tissue through the body, as found in humans.
The immune system: How it works & how to boost it
You probably know that the immune system is our defensive wall protecting us from the threats from the outside world – but do you know how it works and how to boost it?
The Fascia Movie – The Body’s Network Without Beginning or End
“Fascia – The Body’s Network Without Beginning or End” is a documentary about how new research profoundly changes the way we look at the living human body.
Why is resistance to vitamin C still so great?
Why do all “experts” on TV say that we don’t need or that it’s harmful to take extra vitamin C?
Understanding Fascia in 10 minutes – the must see German documentary
In early 2013, a German documentary was broadcast based on the latest research on the Fascia. It provides a very basic introduction for newcomers. To help you get a quick overview of Fascia, we have cut together a 10 minute version.
Fascia Research Database
Fascia research has sparked an ongoing global revolution in the anatomical research field. In The Fascia Guide Research Database we have gathered hundreds of research articles about fascia.
Fascia does not only envelope the whole body, it turns the way we look at the body upside down
At the 2015 Fascia Research Congress in Washington DC, Tom Myers, the author of Anatomy Trains, gives a short introduction to Fascia and how new research changes the way we look at pain and discomfort.
We have been preparing our whole lives to NOT be able to understand the importance of fascia
To truly understand Fascia, you must understand the whole. But how do you do that if you have trained all your life to divide and separate?
The Fascia Guide Method
During the last couple of years we have developed a simple but powerful method of communication, used by hundreds of health professionals, to inspire their customers & improve relations.
7 things you should now about Vitamin C
Vitamin C is good for the immune system, but did you know that it also supports tissue regeneration or that we use up 7 times more Vitamin C during stress?
9 tips: How to keep your Fascia healthy and balanced
One of the best ways to keep yourself healthy, free from pain and injuries is to take care of your Fascia. Here are 9 tips on how to take care of your Fascia.
Fascia Lines are the intersections of the body
The concept of Fascia Lines is a great way to understand how the body functions and how treatment can be optimized to increase mobility and functionality. The main principle is that muscles, no matter what they do individually, also affect tissues throughout the entire body.
The discovery of a new cell at the 2018 Fascia Research Congress in Berlin
Fascia research has sparked a wildfire of new insights that are challenging conventional belief about how the body works – and the latest insights are presented at the 2018 Fascia Research Congress in Berlin.
Therefore, the researchers believe that the nervous system resides in Fascia
The fascial network exists in various compositions, structures, and configurations throughout the entire body and is a crucial and essential part of the body’s function…
Problems linked to Fascia
Fascia is a system of flexible connective tissue encapsulating everything in the body. If the system is running smoothly, all is fine, but when some parts become stiff, tense or inflamed, there will be consequences.
Growing interest in Fascia treatment: “Fascia problems are often under diagnosed”
David Lesondak is a structural integrator and a myofascial specialist who has been working for many years trying to explain what fascia is, as well as the benefits you get from treating different problems with fascia treatment. In an interview at the Fascia Research Congress in Berlin 2018, he describes the basics of what fascia is and what challenges it is facing in the strive for recognition in the medical field.
Disease is excess oxidation
Diseases are an excess of oxidation – Redox physiology is an excess of oxidation greater than reduction.
Fascia loads and unloads pressure
What do we know about the Fascias function and what affects the Fascias ability to rebuild – and how can we use that knowledge in our everyday lives?
Why do so many female football players suffer from cruciate ligament injuries?
A lot of injuries after a long break might not be that unusual – but why do so many female athletes suffer from cruciate ligament injuries?
Is cancer fascia related? New insights presented in Boston 2015
New research leads to insights and by looking at the body in a completely new way we get new perspectives and explanations to symptoms and diseases. At the 2015 Joint Conference on Acupuncture, Oncology and Fascia in Boston, research was presented regarding Fascia and Cancer
Fluid flow in the fascia & how it is affected by treatment & vibrations
Recently, a German researcher showed that the connective tissue in a human transports 15 l of water in 48 hours, which is a relatively large amount compared to for example the amount of blood and the lymphatic system.
Get the lymph flow!
Keep the flow of lymph alive! What can I do to increase the lymph flow?
Fascia helps us understand the body as a whole
Look at a ballet dancer, a gymnast or a drummer and study their movement, feeling, timing, it is easy to be fascinated by how fast it is. Fascia helps us understand how the body is able to function in such an incredible way.
Anatomy Trains by Tom Myers helps us understand functions of movement
Tom Myers is perhaps best known for his book Anatomy Trains, where he describes the Myofascial lines which help us understand movement and functions of the body
What is Fascia? Connective tissue in a system with no beginning & no end
What is Fascia? New research shows that it is more than the layer around the muscles. It is a network without beginning or end, from the skin, through the entire body, to the smallest cell.
What is fascia and in what way does fascia change the whole way of looking at the body?
Fascia is a network of connective tissue, without beginning and end, which encloses everything in the whole body, from muscles and bones, to organs and cells. But what does that mean?
Fascia Expert: “An explosion of new research in the last 10 years”
In 2015 veterinary Vibeke S Elbrønd published the first report on Fascia and horses. To make that happen she had to learn all there was regarding fascia, she had to become a fascia expert.
Fascia and The Living Body
“Fascia and the Living Body” is a document about the scientific understanding of the body as a living whole.
How do we learn to understand Fascia?
Fascia is a new perspective, a completely new way of looking at the body, a new way of conducting research and a new way of understanding the world. So how do you learn to understand Fascia?
Can you heal osteoarthritis?
The function of the articular cartilage is to reduce friction between the two articular cartilage surfaces and facilitate sliding when the joint moves, and to absorb the load when the joint is exposed to pressure, compression
What is Biotensegrity? Interview with Dr. Stephen Levin
Exclusive interview with Dr Stephen Levin, the worlds leading expert on Biotensegrity, at the Fascia Research Congress 2015.
The mysterious world under the skin – German Fascia Documentary from 2018
Get a deeper introduction to new Fascia Research with the 2018 German documentary “The mysterious world under the skin”.
Inflammation in Fascia causes pain – new discoveries presented in Stockholm
Dr Heike Jäger, Professor Karl Arfors and innovator Hans Bohlin presented the latest research regarding Fascia, inflammation and Fascia treatment in Stockholm, May 2017.
To understand Fascia we need to cross the bridge & see things from another perspective
Exclusive interview with Gil Headly explaining how Fascia changes the perspective on how we look at the body at the 2015 Fascia Research Congress in Washington DC.
Strolling under the skin: How does it look inside a living body?
Strolling under the skin is a fascinating journey inside a living body. With small camcorders, Dr. Jean Claeude Guimberteau has managed to capture how Fasica actually looks in a living human body.
Stress and sugar harms fascia functions
What we do know for sure is that the abundance of sugar has a negative effect on the fascia and makes it less elastic. Stress also affects the fascia in a disadvantageous way
Frequently Asked Questions about Fascia
On the Fascia Guide FAQ we have gathered the most common questions and answers about Fascia. Is there anything you would like to know? Visit the page and submit your question.
Is fascia affected by sex hormones?
Banbrytande ny forskning visar hur kollagenproduktionen över hela kroppen påverkas av könshormoner, som t ex östrogen. Läs mer här
What causes back pain?
New research shows that low back pain is caused by inflammation in the Fascia. But why are we getting low back pain and what happens in our body when we get back pain?
Training for strengthened Fascia
Exercise increases collagen production in tendons, ligaments and all Fascia. To stimulate collagen formation in tendons and ligaments, it doesn’t matter if the exercise is eccentric (muscle contraction during extension) or concentric (muscle contraction during shortening).
Fascia: New research changes the way we look at pain
From Newton, to Einstein, to the new wildfire of Fascia Research. How do we understand things from a different perspective?
Fascia as a flow – a new way of explaining the body’s function
By beginning to see the body as something that is alive, and not something that is dead, we have been able to begin to notice other things.
Why Fascia is still relatively unknown
Here are three major reasons why the Fascia’s central importance to the body’s functionality is not nousehold knowledge. It might be helpful to bare these in mind when relating to current and previous research.
The influence of mechanical forces on Fascia?
Connective tissue / fascia is an incredibly adaptable and plastic tissue. It is transformed, remodeled and strengthened or weakened according to the mechanical stimulation (load) to which it is exposed. If we don’t move, the tissue will diminish.
New Fascia Research has taken us back to an observing stage
The new discoveries and knowledge about Fascia has taken us back to an observing stage – we have to investigate our surroundings to get an understanding for what to measure.
The importance of vitamin C in pregnancy, childbirth and jaundice in newborns.
Vitamin C has many different actions in the body. It is a coenzyme, which assist in various physiological processes in the body and it is a powerful antioxidant.
Fascia is the largest organ in the body
Fascia or interstitium? Two different terms for the body’s “newly discovered” largest organ.
Fascia – a New Anatomical Perspective
Recent research in recent years shows that Fascia has a much greater significance for health, aches, and pain than previously believed.
Are my problems related to Fascia?
Most of the questions we receive are about various issues and discomforts related to Fascia. How can Fascia represent a new way to treat and prevent problems?
Biotensegrity: How did the dinosaurs handle the pressure of gravity?
In the 70s when the orthopedic surgeon Dr. Stephen Levin was at a natural history museum and saw the wires holding up the neck of a dinosaur, he did not get the picture to go together. How could his neck have been held up originally?
Stretching the fascia is vital when recovering from injury
David Lesondak describes how stretching the fascia is vital for rehabilitation from injury at the 2018 Fascia Research Congress in Berlin