During the last decade, the movement industry has advanced tremendously in its understanding of fascia. Many respected professional disciplines and researchers have laid the foundation for the next generation of interventions to treat fascia disorders. The knowledge includes structural composition, anatomical arrangement, tissue mobility during movement, and pathological changes. However, this research misses a key opportunity for authentic treatment, training, and healing—a global approach.
In this blog, we discuss fascia from a functional movement perspective. Keep reading to learn more.
What Is Fascia in the Body?
Fascia is a three-dimensional network of connective tissue that surrounds every soft tissue and bone, making the body an inter-connected functional system. Fascia’s complex network of somatosensory receptors make it extremely important for coordination of movement.
Lack of fascial mobility—whether due to inactivity, injury, disease, or surgical intervention—can result in impaired movement and pain. Movement experts have developed many techniques and devices to restore normal mobility to the fascia and other soft tissues. However, for these techniques to be effective and efficient, they must be functional.
Functional movements must consider the physical forces in the environment, the biological processes of the body, and the behavioral influences of the person. These principle-based movements can be adjusted (tweaked) for any individual, activity, and goal. These movements serve as the basis of the movement approach to fascia.
Functional movements must consider the physical forces in the environment, the biological processes of the body, and the behavioral influences of the person.
Understanding the Movement Approach to Fascia
Global movements increase flexibility, build strength and power, improve balance, and develop endurance. When movements are functional, a by-product is enhanced fascia mobility and function.
These six principles guide our approach to global movements and fascia:
- The Chain Reaction® principle encompasses the fascial connections throughout the human body.
- The same movements that lengthen and load the muscles will have the same effect on the fascia.
- Lengthening and loading the fascia will maintain or restore tissue mobility.
- Lengthening and loading the fascia will restore or improve structural integrity.
- Lengthening and loading the fascia will provide neuro-perceptual information from the mechanoreceptors in the fascia to assist in the coordination of functional movements.
- Global movements tweaked to work on the fascia can be combined with any local tissue techniques to reduce adhesions.
Fascia—like the skin, joint capsules, muscle, and tendons—is full of mechanoreceptors. Neuro-perceptual information from the mechanoreceptors in the soft tissues is generated during joint motion. The neuro-perceptual information from these sensors is the basis of proprioception.
The mechanoreceptors in the fascia may are an especially important source of proprioceptive information. The body uses this information to coordinate different parts during a functional movement. As a result, global functional movements involving all regions of the body become essential tools for all movement practitioners.
Gray Institute Takes a Wholistic Approach to Movement
The conventional approach to addressing fascia dysfunction is to do activities or movements that challenge the specific fascia tissue. At the Gray Institute, we take a more wholistic approach.
At Gray Institute, the starting point is global, three-dimensional movements. The body functions as an interconnected whole, so movement or stress in one area affects other parts of the body as well, not just that isolated region. So, movements driven by the leg, arms and head will involve a specific segment of fascia while connected with, and influenced by other segments of the body. These global movements produce accurate proprioceptive information.
The conventional approach to addressing fascia dysfunction is to do activities or movements that challenge the specific fascia tissue. At the Gray Institute, we take a more wholistic approach.
In our 3D Movement Analysis and Performance System (3DMAPS®), the six primary movements are called “chains”, and are named by the direction of the lunge. These movements will lengthen and load all the soft tissues with an emphasis on one of the three planes of movement. These primary movements can be tweaked using the variables in 3DMAPS.
By combining some of the performance variables, we can direct the emphasis at the fascia, while creating movements that assess and train both mobility and stability using the same principles. These movements provide a three-dimensional challenge to all the fascial segments and connections. The locations of any mobility restrictions will “feel” and respond to the tension created by the movement.
Enhance Fascia Healing With Local Soft Tissue Techniques
Normal functional movements address multiple fascial lines simultaneously, while providing a signal to help remodel and mature the tissue. Local soft tissue techniques can be combined with the global movements to focus and enhance the beneficial effects of the tensile forces. Gray Institute has been a pioneer in this area, combining global movements with local soft tissue work to promote healing that’s true to real life and effective.
Grow Your Knowledge With Gray Institute
If you’re ready to take a global approach to treatment, training, and fascia, you’re in the right place. For over 40 years, Gray Institute has led the movement industry in principles and strategies away from the textbooks, off the table, and into real life. If you’re ready to change your approach, career, and your life, don’t wait to enroll in our 3DMAPS course. Or, if you have questions about our approach and how our community can support you in your career, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
We love speaking with passionate movement professionals and look forward to speaking with you!