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Fascia: What it is and Why it Matters
Abstract
As the title suggests, Fascia: What it is and why it matters presents a clear and easy to understand overview of what the fascia is, the role it plays in the body, and how it interacts with the other systems in the body. As the importance of fascia in overall health is becoming increasingly recognized it became obvious that there was a need for a book that clearly and concisely presents the facts. This is that book.
Written with a strong storyline that carries the reader along, and logically connects each chapter to the next (rather like the fascia itself!), it is both informative and satisfying to read. This book serves as an essential primer for all professionals be they physicians, osteopaths, physical therapist, massage therapists, movement professionals, and orthopedists, giving them a solid grasp of what fascia is and what it does in the body. It explains fascia as a tissue, a system, and it's clinical significance.
Chapters
1) Fascia: the living tissue and system
2) Fascia, tensegrity and the cell
3) Fascia and anatomy
4) Fascia and the nervous system
5) Fascia and the brain
6) Fascia and the organs
7) Diagnosing fascial conditions
8) Fascia-oriented therapies
Here's a link to Chapter 1 . http://fliphtml5.com/naip/hjwe
... Canada. Lesondak, D. (2018). Fascia: what it is and why it matters. ...
156 Kultura Ukrainy, випуск 76, 2022 А А. Паладійчук, Н. В. Цигановська. Удо-сконалення виконавської майстерності в народ-но-сценічному танці засобами міофасціального релізу Розглядається метод міофасціального релізу (МФР) в хореографії, зокрема в народно-сценіч-ному танці, як один із засобів удосконалення ви-конавської майстерності здобувачів-хореографів на всіх етапах професійної освіти. Спостережено та проаналізовано, що систематичне використан-ня вправ МФР на заняттях з народно-сценічного танцю позитивно впливає на зв'язково-суглобо-вий апарат танцівників, поліпшує еластичність сполученої тканини, збільшує рухомість суглобів, допомагає швидше відновлюватися після фізич-них навантажень, тим самим покращуючи рівень танцювальної майстерності та технічної підготов-ки під час виконання ускладнених рухів у народ-но-сценічному танці. Запропоновано комплекс вправ із МФР, за допомогою якого удосконалю-ється чоловіча стрибкова віртуозна техніка, чоло-віча стрибкова техніка, що виконується по колу, жіноча та чоловіча техніка обертів. Ключові слова: міофасціальний реліз, народ-но-сценічний танець, засоби відновлення, здобу-вачі-хореографи, виконавська майстерність, вір-туозні рухи. A. A. Paladiichuk, N. V. Tsyhanovska. Improvement of performance skills in folk stage dance by the means of myofascial release The purpose is to highlight the issues of improving the performance skills of higher education applicants-choreographers at all stages of professional education in folk stage dance using the method of myofascial release. The methodology. To achieve this goal, a number of general scientific methods were used, in particular: the method of pedagogical observation, the method of analysis and synthesis, methods of generalization and systematization, historical and genetic method, method of questionnaire and polling. The results. Myofascial release training is an integral part of maintaining the health of applicants-choreographers. Purposeful use of MFR techniques throughout the the whole period of study at stage folk dance classes has a compensatory function, helps dancers to recover faster after high loads, improves the elasticity of muscle and connective tissue, increases the amplitude of movement in the joints, which, in its turn, leads to better results of performance skills. The scientific topicality lies in the consideration of the issues of higher education applicants' performance skills improvement when making complex movements at all stages of training in stage folk dance by the method of myofascial release. The influence of MFR on the performance skills of applicants-choreographers in stage folk dance is considered. Series of exercises on myofascial release with the help of various techniques are suggested: rolling, rocking, resting, raking and releasing. The practical significance lies in the use of MFR exercises by higher education applicants at folk dance classes, which improves the quality of performance skills. Systematic use of the MFR method by higher education applicants at all stages of training not only helps to avoid future occupational injuries of articular-ligamentous apparatus, but also improves the quality of functional and aesthetic movement when performing complex virtuoso movements.
... Canada. Lesondak, D. (2018). Fascia: what it is and why it matters. ...
... The concept of the fascial system as a distinct functional entity is an aspect of anatomy that has traditionally received relatively little attention but is now becoming more widely appreciated [7,43,[48][49][50]. Routinely dismissed as a packing tissue of little consequence [51][52][53], the fascial tissues are now recognized for their involvement in structural stability and motion control [24,[52][53][54]. ...
The improvement of the human condition is the driver behind a vast amount of ongoing research and naturally employs the most up-to-date methods in its endeavours. It has contributed greatly to our understanding of the body and benefitted our healthcare systems in remarkable ways, but there is a problem. The mapping of anatomy to its physiological functions is essentially derived from the work of Vesalius and traditionally favoured mobility over stability, and as a consequence has allowed the entrenched and simplifying assumptions of the musculoskeletal duality to persist to the present day, despite advances in technology.
The lever model of motion, for example, assumes that the body is an intrinsically unstable system that requires an external controller (e.g. neural) to provide the necessary ‘catch-up’ stability for transient muscular latencies, and it is likely that the vulnerabilities inherent within such a mechanism would severely compromise living tissues. The foundational biomechanical assumptions of steady-state forces and kinematics has meant that the disproportionate and potentially damaging consequences of transient peak loadings have been largely overlooked, and which added to the long healing times required for post-traumatic recovery, suggests that such a mechanism would lead to material fatigue and destructive tissue failure.
The musculoskeletal duality, however, was not always so dominant but conceptually rivalled in the 17th and 18th centuries by Hooke’s ‘cells’ and Malpighi’s ‘cellular tissues’, both of which have been largely forgotten but now deserve a re-evaluation. The definition of the term ‘cell’ as a small compartment within a larger structure had quite different connotations then than it does today, but this compartmental aspect of connective tissue anatomy gradually faded and is now only recognized for its pathological significance.
This paper examines musculoskeletal anatomy from both historical and more recent viewpoints and highlights the concept of the fascial system as a distinct and intrinsically stable functional entity. It is a perspective that enables every anatomical ‘part’ to be included within a ‘cellular’ framework that differs substantially from the mobility-driven machine model: a tensioned fibrous network encompassing a complex heterarchy of regionally specialized compartments under compression, each of which has its own physical and parenchyma-driven characteristics that contribute to the functional whole. In other words, an updated fascia-centric interpretation of architectural anatomy that maps muscles and bones in a substantially different way from traditional models, renders the term musculoskeletal obsolete and greatly expands the meaning of compartment syndrome.
... From these concepts, the need arises to frame the fascial system in a model that can represent the living being and understand, prevent and possibly cure the dysfunctions that can result from the fascia (Malfliet et al., 2017). It was indicated that the importance of fascia in human movement (both motion and emotion), shock absorption, metabolic and physiological processes, proprioception, healing and repair the fascia in a broadest sense may be the literal representation of our inner being (Lesondak, 2017). ...
The word Fascia has long been used by gross anatomists to embrace a spectrum of undifferentiated mesenchymal tissues that wrap organs and tissues of the body, or form a packing material between them. The inherent implication of this traditional view is that fasciae are inconsequential residues that are less important than the tissues with which they are associated. The errors of this assumption are being exposed and undoubtedly fascia is becoming more and more of considerable importance to many professionals working in health-related disciplines. Encouragingly, there has been a strong resurgence of interest into both basic and applied research in fasciae in recent years, also thanks to new fascia related findings. Knowledge of the fascial system’s characteristics and functions is spreading from primary medical researchers to professionals in many health fields throughout the world. Nowadays is well known that the Fascia is a mechanically active tissue with a proprioceptive and nociceptive properties. The Fascial continuum complexity is the result of perfect synergy evolution among different tissues made up of solid and fluid portions, which interpenetrate and interact with each other, forming a polymorphic three-dimensional network. Normal movement of the body is allowed because of the presence of the fascial tissues and their inseparable interconnection, one of the fundamental characteristics of the fascia is the ability to adapt to mechanical stress, remodeling the cellular/tissue structure and mirroring the functional necessity of the environment where the tissue lays. So, Fascia can transmit tension and in view of its proprioceptive and nociceptive functions could be responsible for disorders and pain radiating to remote anatomical structures. Dysfunction of the fascial system that is perpetuated in everyday movements can also cause an emotional alteration of the person. So, the fascial unity could influence not only movement but also emotions. Because the importance of fascia in human movement (both motion and emotion), shock absorption, metabolic and physiological processes, proprioception, healing and repair, the fascia in a broadest sense may be the literal representation of our inner being. Theoretically, Fascia probably hold many of the keys for understanding muscle action and musculoskeletal pain, and maybe it is of pivotal importance in understanding the basis of the body functioning. Further intensive research is essential to understand the function of the Fascia. The proposed article is a reflection to better understand the anatomy and main characteristics of the human fascial system. Keywords: Fascia; Facial system; Myofascial chains
PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the relationships among appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM), physical performance, and the mechanical properties of lower-extremity muscles in older women, with the goal of preventing physical functional decline due to aging and providing foundational data for sarcopenia management.METHODS: This study included 34 women aged ≥70 years. Physical performance was assessed using grip strength and the Short Physical Performance Battery, while the mechanical properties of the lower extremity muscles were measured using a soft tissue measurement device (Myoton Pro, Estonia) to assess the elasticity, tone and stiffness of the tibialis anterior (TA) and gastrocnemius medialis (GM) muscles. Correlation analysis was conducted between ASM and all variables; multiple regression analysis was performed on the variables that showed significant correlations.RESULTS: ASM was positively correlated with body weight (r=0.821, p =.001), BMI (r=0.784, p =.001), calf circumference (r=0.765, p =.001), and TA elasticity (r=0.393, p =.021). ASM correlated negatively with TA tone (r=-0.478, p =.004), GM tone (r=-0.368, p =.032) and GM stiffness (r=-0.404, p =.018). Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that ASM was positively influenced by body weight (78.7%) and negatively influenced by GM stiffness (32.1%). Specifically, a 1-unit increase in body weight led to a 0.047 increase in ASM, while a 1-unit increase in GM stiffness was associated with a 0.004 decrease in ASM.CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that excessive weight loss in older women may decrease ASM and increase gastrocnemius muscle stiffness, negatively impacting walking ability.
The aim of this research is to analyze the implementation of the Anti-Drug Family Resilience Policy at the National Narcotics Board of the Republic of Indonesia. This research uses qualitative methods by conducting interviews, observation and documentation. The data source in this research uses secondary data and primary data. The informants in this research are policy makers in the field of prevention and prevention practitioners who implement family resilience programs with the BNN at both the central and district/city levels. According to the findings of the analysis, the anti-drug family resilience at BNN RI was the issue that was prioritized. This was done as an activity program that adapted evidence-based prevention that had been tested internationally. Therefore, it was very appropriate if this was supported by optimizing the anti-drug family resilience policy. The National Narcotics Board of the Republic of Indonesia's anti-drug family resilience policy isn't yet perfect. One of the reasons is that there is not any statutory or policy regulations issued by BNN as the leading sector in efforts to prevent drugs through strengthening families.
This contribution takes the Interculturality Programme of the city of Barcelona as a starting point for exploring self-awareness and deeper self-environment relations as important aspects of urban sustainability education and transformative learning. Building on how anti-discrimination workshops evidence that enriching self-other relations starts with ‘self’, the article explores how this is related to a different interconnected understanding of ‘body’, involving also fascia, our bodily connective tissue. In particular, the both/and quality of the fascia tissue-system challenges to re-think the relations of wholes and parts and how this impacts sustainability concepts and practices. Training teachers and students in body awareness and developing process- and verb-oriented vocabularies such as bodying are suggested as impactful tools. Drawing together neurophysiology, systems thinking and transition theory in this way, inspires to play with how knowledge of bodily complexity can help shift sustainability education towards more transdisciplinary awareness and action.
Entering the new millennium, nobody believed that there was the possibility of discovering a new cellular type. Nevertheless, telocytes (TCs) were described as a novel kind of interstitial cell. Ubiquitously distributed in the extracellular matrix of any tissue, TCs are regarded as cells with telopodes involved in intercellular communication by direct homo- and heterocellular junctions or by extracellular vesicle (EVs) release. Their discovery has aroused the interest of many research groups worldwide, and many researchers regard them as potentially regenerative cells. Given the experience of our laboratory, where these cells were first described, we review the evidence supporting the fact that TCs release EVs, and discuss alternative hypotheses about their future implications.
Background
The efficacy of fusion surgery in addition to decompression surgery in patients who have lumbar spinal stenosis, with or without degenerative spondylolisthesis, has not been substantiated in controlled trials.
Methods
We randomly assigned 247 patients between 50 and 80 years of age who had lumbar spinal stenosis at one or two adjacent vertebral levels to undergo either decompression surgery plus fusion surgery (fusion group) or decompression surgery alone (decompression-alone group). Randomization was stratified according to the presence of preoperative degenerative spondylolisthesis (in 135 patients) or its absence. Outcomes were assessed with the use of patient-reported outcome measures, a 6-minute walk test, and a health economic evaluation. The primary outcome was the score on the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI; which ranges from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more severe disability) 2 years after surgery. The primary analysis, which was a per-protocol analysis, did not include the 14 patients who did not receive the assigned treatment and the 5 who were lost to follow-up.
Results
There was no significant difference between the groups in the mean score on the ODI at 2 years (27 in the fusion group and 24 in the decompression-alone group, P=0.24) or in the results of the 6-minute walk test (397 m in the fusion group and 405 m in the decompression-alone group, P=0.72). Results were similar between patients with and those without spondylolisthesis. Among the patients who had 5 years of follow-up and were eligible for inclusion in the 5-year analysis, there were no significant differences between the groups in clinical outcomes at 5 years. The mean length of hospitalization was 7.4 days in the fusion group and 4.1 days in the decompression-alone group (P<0.001). Operating time was longer, the amount of bleeding was greater, and surgical costs were higher in the fusion group than in the decompression-alone group. During a mean follow-up of 6.5 years, additional lumbar spine surgery was performed in 22% of the patients in the fusion group and in 21% of those in the decompression-alone group.
Conclusions
Among patients with lumbar spinal stenosis, with or without degenerative spondylolisthesis, decompression surgery plus fusion surgery did not result in better clinical outcomes at 2 years and 5 years than did decompression surgery alone. (Funded by an Uppsala institutional Avtal om Läkarutbildning och Forskning [Agreement concerning Cooperation on Medical Education and Research] and others; Swedish Spinal Stenosis Study ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01994512.)
Telocytes (TCs) are a distinct type of interstitial cells characterized by a small cell body and extremely long and thin telopodes (Tps). The presence of TCs has been documented in many tissues and organs (go to http://www.telocytes.com). Functionally, TCs form a three-dimensional (3D) interstitial network by homocellular and heterocellular communication and are involved in the maintenance of tissue homeostasis. As important interstitial cells to guide or nurse putative stem and progenitor cells in stem cell niches in a spectrum of tissues and organs, TCs contribute to tissue repair and regeneration. This review focuses on the latest progresses regarding TCs in the repair and regeneration of different tissues and organs, including heart, lung, skeletal muscle, skin, meninges and choroid plexus, eye, liver, uterus and urinary system. By targeting TCs alone or in tandem with stem cells, we might promote regeneration and prevent the evolution to irreversible tissue damage. Exploring pharmacological or non-pharmacological methods to enhance the growth of TCs would be a novel therapeutic strategy besides exogenous transplantation for many diseased disorders.
© 2015 The Authors. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd and Foundation for Cellular and Molecular Medicine.
Fascia can be considered part of the connective tissues that permeates the human body. However, in medical training its definition is not clear, and even among specialists its role is not completely understood. Physiatrists have a unique opportunity to add to the growing scientific and clinical knowledge about fascia, particularly about how this connective tissue network may apply clinically to musculoskeletal disorders. In this narrative review, the structure and function of fascia is discussed from the perspective of physiatry.
Using information from the deep dissection, microobservation, and measurement of acupoints in the upper and lower limbs of the human body, we developed a three-dimensional porous medium model to simulate the flow field using FLUENT software and to study the shear stress on the surface of interstitial cells (mast cells) caused by interstitial fluid flow. The numerical simulation results show the following: (i) the parallel nature of capillaries will lead to directional interstitial fluid flow, which may explain the long interstitial tissue channels or meridians observed in some experiments; (ii) when the distribution of capillaries is staggered, increases in the velocity alternate, and the velocity tends to be uniform, which is beneficial for substance exchange; (iii) interstitial fluid flow induces a shear stress, with magnitude of several Pa, on interstitial cell membranes, which will activate cells and lead to a biological response; (iv) capillary and interstitial parameters, such as capillary density, blood pressure, capillary permeability, interstitial pressure, and interstitial porosity, affect the shear stress on cell surfaces. The numerical simulation results suggest that in vivo interstitial fluid flow constitutes the mechanical environment of cells and plays a key role in guiding cell activities, which may explain the meridian phenomena and the acupuncture effects observed in experiments.
Abstract. The commonly accepted ‘tower of blocks’ model for vertebrate spine mechanics is only useful when modeling a perfectly balanced, upright, immobile spine. Using that model, in any other position than perfectly upright, the forces generated will tear muscle, crush bone and exhaust energy. A new model of the spine uses a tensegrity-truss system that will model the spine right side up, upside-down or in any position, static or dynamic. In a tensegrity-truss model, the loads distribute through the system only in tension or compression. As in all truss systems, there are no levers and no moments at the joints. The model behaves non-linearly and is energy efficient. Unlike a tower of blocks, it is independent of gravity and functions equally well on land, at sea, in the air or in space and models the spines of fish and fowl, bird and beast.
I
Present concepts of engineering, as applied to biologic structures are based on a cubic system. These structures are conceived as columnar loaded, with lever-torque angular relationships and moment joints. Tensional forces merely act as the glue to hold the structure together. Such a structure is inherently unstable and has unidirectional orientation with rigid joints and poor strength-to-weight ratios. If we follow the natural laws of close packing of structures, triangulation, and the natural creation of forms and structures according to the requirements of minimal energy, we are led to the icosahedron, a structure that is omnidirectional, symmetrically compressible and expandable and local load distributing. This structure is omnipresent in nature and is the basis for the supporting framework of all viable structures from viruses to vertebrates, including humans.
The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes of classic massage to massage based on the tensegrity principle for patients with chronic idiopathic shoulder pain.
Thirty subjects with chronic shoulder pain symptoms were divided into 2 groups, 15 subjects received classic (Swedish) massage to tissues surrounding the glenohumeral joint and 15 subjects received the massage using techniques based on the tensegrity principle. The tensegrity principle is based on directing treatment to the painful area and the tissues (muscles, fascia, and ligaments) that structurally support the painful area, thus treating tissues that have direct and indirect influence on the motion segment. Both treatment groups received 10 sessions over 2 weeks, each session lasted 20 minutes. The McGill Pain Questionnaire and glenohumeral ranges of motion were measured immediately before the first massage session, on the day the therapy ended 2 weeks after therapy started, and 1 month after the last massage.
Subjects receiving massage based on the tensegrity principle demonstrated statistically significance improvement in the passive and active ranges of flexion and abduction of the glenohumeral joint. Pain decreased in both massage groups.
This study showed increases in passive and active ranges of motion for flexion and abduction in patients who had massage based on the tensegrity principle. For pain outcomes, both classic and tensegrity massage groups demonstrated improvement.