The Endless Web

Did You Know?

Your body has approximately 100-trillion cells (so be mindful and listen to what messages you are communicating between those 100,000,000,000,000 cells - your body literally believes every word YOU say), over 600 muscles and over 200 bones. These are carefully encased by another layer of specialized 'skin' which is termed fascia. This connective tissue has no beginning and no end from the top of the head to bottom of your feet. However, anytime that a person receives a surgical incision through the fascia system it will compromise the way the system communicates and holds the structures below it. In this case it is very important to have a skilled therapist address adhesion's to the local skin as well as the underlying fascia and related structures (muscle, tendon, ligament & nerve).

 Image 1: Illustrating the abdominal fascia a common area cut during surgical removal of an organ (e.g. appendix).

 Image 2: Illustrating the posterior fascia of the spinal muscles.

Still images taken from Acland's Anatomy, DVD 3 - The Trunk

Your neck bone is connected to your...

So this is the fascinating nature of my work in that I have many patients that come in with what appears to be the same symptom (e.g. pain in the shoulder) but the origins and causes can be completely unique. It is partly due to the behavior of the fascia. With any injury, trauma and surgery there is disruption to the way that fascia is trying to fulfill its role. Imagine that you are part of a team of 20 people in an office that work collectively to fulfill a bigger role. Next day, only 3 show up for work because the other 17 get a freak illness. Suddenly, the job of 20 people is placed upon a team of only 3. Now realistically, the team of 3 may be able to take this responsibility on for a few days but any longer and dis-ease will set in! If they continue they will become ill themselves and eventually some may quit and others may just refuse to work until the team reassembles. The same happens in the human body, especially in the nature of a chronic injury that seems to be sticking around and never fully healing!

Putting it all together

If your body is communicating pain to you I highly recommend your first step to be the treatment and release of the fascia connective tissue. Always remember by releasing the fascia tension you can indirectly release tension to the related structures it envelops including muscle, tendon and bone. This can be achieved through the following techniques:

- Fascia rolling using a foam roller or Travel Roller 

- Stretching programs such as Yoga

- Self-massage techniques (look out for future Blog posts from me!)

- Deep tissue massage from a skilled therapist

- Myofascia release techniques such as Rolfing

- Relaxation techniques such as Tai Chi & Meditation

Listen to your body

If you try some of the above methods and your pain increases the more you do it, stop immediately. Always listen to what your body is telling you! Seek out a skilled therapist and have a complete muscle testing evaluation to determine which muscles are short-tight (needing lots of stretching) and which muscles are long-weak (needing lots of strenthening).

Be Healthy,

Jason.

E: jason@endyourmuslcepain.com 

W: www.endyourmusclepain.com