We Know What Muscle is, but What is Fascia?

Basically, fascia is a fibrous, wet band that separates, covers, and stabilizes/supports various tissues of the body. It is a connective matrix that aids in the structure and wellbeing of bone, muscles, organs, systems, blood vessels, and nerve fibers. When functioning properly, fascia and muscle work together to keep homeostasis throughout soft tissues.

When dysfunctional, the once fluid, supple fiber matrix will create havoc which often results in pain that does not feel as though it’s fixable. Once dysfunction sets in, (usually, but not always) our activity levels change as the muscle fibers and fascia are pushed and pulled into new patterns that lead to more pain and dysfunction.

Massage Vs. Myofascial Realignment

Have you been in pain for more than a few weeks? The kind of pain that NOTHING seems to alleviate completely? If you’ve had a massage (or chiropractic, PT, acupuncture, etc.) and the pain and the discomfort are still present, a Myofascial Realignment Treatment will help break the pain pattern.

Realigning fascial patterns will alleviate the pulling/pushing/compressing on the muscles and other soft tissue. Once that pattern is stopped and a new pattern is established, proper function returns and the soft tissue will no longer be dysfunctional. When the soft tissue (muscles, ligaments, tendons, fascia) are no longer in dysfunction, the body can repair itself and inflammation will no longer create pain.

Therapy in Motion, Wholistic Bodywork

More than a massage, wholistic bodywork utilizes different input from the patient to evaluate and manage the pain. Not only is the affected area looked at (e.g., sore, tired neck muscles), but also:

• Sleep patterns

• Postural distortions

• Posture during work-related hours

• Recreational activities

• Flexibility

• Work-out routines

• Additional factors taken into consideration while developing a treatment plan

Oftentimes, we will recreate the action or situation that triggers the pain so that we can manually manipulate the fascia/muscles in order to re-pattern them. The re-patterning sends messages to the brain signaling the changes. Once the changes in the biomechanics are corrected, dysfunction is no longer present in the way the body moves.