Fascia · What is it?

Connective tissue is made up mainly of collagen fibre. Collagen represents over one third of all protein in our body and is used to make anything which requires structure, bones, skin, ligaments, tendons, cartiledge and all the organs. The collagen gives the body tensile strength and the ability to realise and retain it's structure.

Connective tissue is the common denominator in the human body. As its name suggests, as well as giving form and structure, it connects. It becomes the link between muscles and bones, bones and joints, even wrapping each and every nerve and each individual organ. Anyone who has cooked with meat will recognize the tough white fluidic coating dividing the muscles and wrapping the sections of meat on an animal, this is connective tissue.

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  1. Click here to download the full "abdomen" QuickTime movie
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This image of the abdomen showing the superficial layer of fascia on the left, with the deeper layers (white sections) wrapping around the muscles of the abdomen, gives an idea of the amount of connective tissue present in us and how it wraps and touches most parts of the body. For lots more images and information please visit the links below.

Images used with kind permission of Jeff Linn. Original data produced by The Visible Human Project

Why do we work with it?

We work with connective tissue as it is the true organ of form and support in the body, it organizes muscles into groups, supports and orgainses the bodies tissues, fluids and systems. It is elastic, stable and moldable so it can be used as a medium for dramatic and far reaching change in the body.

Connective tissue is aptly named, as well as dividing compartments and systems in the body it also connects them “It (connective Tissue) binds every cell in the body to it’s neighbours and even connects...the inner network of each cell to the mechanical state of the entire body” (Myers 2001).

Through the connective tissue everything is actually linked to everything else. If there is a change in one part of the body, it will reverberate around the entire body. Therefore by working on the mechanical aspect of connective tissue we are interacting with every system in the body (nervous system, digestion system etc), every cell, and consequently the whole person.
“the connective tissue not only bind the various parts of the body, but in a broader sense, connects the numerous branches of medicine” (Snyder 1969).

“The fascial continuity implies that there are no truly local effects or events in the system” (Sultan 1988).

What happens when it is manipulated?

By manually working the connective tissue a practitioner can improve the hydration of the area and the ability of the surrounding cells to exchange nutrients and waste products. As the connective tissue is joining many systems and functions in the body there is a knock on effect resulting in improvement in the function of the cells in the general area.

The effect can be summed up as “turning up the temperature and humidity in a greenhouse that has been too dry and cold” (Deane Juhan)

More information on the properties of connective tissue and how it is affected during treatment can be found here:

  1. www.somatics.de/FascialPlasticity/Part1.pdf
  2. www.somatics.de/FascialPlasticity/Part2.pdf

References

  1. Juhan, D. 2003. Job’s Body: a handbook for bodywork. Station Hill Press New York.
  2. Myers, T. 2001. Anatomy Trains, Elsevier Science, London
  3. Snyder, G E, 1969. “fascia – Applied Anatomy and Physiology” in The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, 68: 675 – 685, in Juhan, D. 2003. Job’s Body: a handbook for bodywork. Station Hill Press New York.
  4. Still, A. T., from, Oschman, J.L. and N.H. Oschman, 1997. Readings on the scientific basis of bodywork, energetic, and movement therapies. A collection of 21 articles. N.O.R.A. Press, Dover, New Hampshire, 480 pps.
  5. Sultan, J. 1988.“ In and around the Pelvis”. Massage Therapy Journal, Spring Edition. In Maupin, E. 2005 A Dynamic Relation to Gravity. Dawn Eve Press.