What is Fascia?
Fascia is a broad component of connective tissue that permeates the human body The more commonly known types of fascia are tendons, ligaments, and joint capsules. The Fascia Research Congress has offered a much more specific and scientific definition:
The fascial system consists of the three-dimensional continuum of soft, collagen containing, loose and dense fibrous connective tissues that permeate the body. It incorporates elements such as adipose tissue, adventitiae and neurovascular sheaths, aponeuroses, deep and superficial fasciae, epineurium, joint capsules, ligaments, membranes, meninges, myofascial expansions, periostea, retinacula, septa, tendons, visceral fasciae, and all the intramuscular and intermuscular connective tissues including endo-/peri-/epimysium.
The fascial system surrounds, interweaves between, and interpenetrates all organs, muscles, bones and nerve fibers, endowing the body with a functional structure, and providing an environment that enables all body systems to operate in an integrated manner.
Fascia Research Congress: via Stecco C, Adstrum S, Hedley G, Schleip R, Yucesoy CA. Update on fascial nomenclature. Fascia science and clinical applications: letter to the editor. 2018;22(2):354.
Why is Fascia important to you?
As explained in the definition above, fascia includes ALL of the connective tissue that has a role in your body’s structure and function. Without fascia, you would have neither structure nor function: your bones would not connect to each other, your muscles would not connect to your bones, and all other body systems would be directly affected without the existence of fascia.
In short, if your fascia is not healthy, you will more than likely experience issues with body structure and/or function (e.g. strength and mobility).