Demystifying Myofascial Facilitation
An up close look at the connective tissue known as fascia
What Is Myofascial Facilitation?
Myofascial bodywork can vary widely between methods and traditions. The basic methods all include manipulating the network of connective tissue (fascia) that surrounds the muscles (myo) and mobilizing layers of fascia that have become “stuck” or adhered due to dehydration, injury, or lack of movement.
Read on for a deep-dive into what fascia is, and how Halcyon Massage and Bodywork addresses the impacts it can have on the body.
What is Fascia?
Fascia is a continuous sheet of connective tissue that covers us from head to toe, front to back, and envelops everything in between. Fascia plays several important roles in the body.
Why is Fascia Important?
First, it provides scaffolding, helping us maintain our upright posture and helping preserve the shape of our organs and internal structures. To illustrate this, think of a backpack with several compartments. There’s a separate laptop pocket with extra fortification for protecting sensitive equipment, and a place for pens with extra straps to hold them in place. Zippered pockets (and pockets within pockets) allow us to organize items large and small, and the shape of the bag with padded shoulder straps and chest clips provides overall structural support while distributing load comfortably.
Second, fascia is the first bodily structure to react to injury. It helps our body transmit the force of any movement originating from within, like walking or throwing a ball, and the force from external sources, like a hit or fall. Fascial tissues absorb shock, helping to minimize damage by dispersing the shock wave in all directions. To accomplish this, fascia is arranged in layers oriented in different directions: vertical, horizontal, and diagonal.
When continuous stress is applied to the fascia, it responds by modifying its structure. Think of a body bent over a computer screen. Collagen fibers in the fascia multiply to provide support and structure for the new sustained force of the head held forward. The fibers can appear thickened and adhered to the surrounding muscle tissue. Because everyone has a unique bodily experience, some people will be able to adapt and withstand this suboptimal situation while others develop marked dysfunction.
When the fascial chains become dysfunctional, tension increases along the path and can open the door to secondary injuries. These can occur sometimes months or years after the original traumatic event and may not appear to be related to the original injury at all. As we age, the weaker links in our fascial chains become more susceptible to accelerated degeneration.
Through myofascial facilitation, we aim to discover areas of restricted or dysfunctional fascial tissues by listening to the body. Listening involves gentle hand placement over an area of the body and paying attention to the motility of the tissue. Motility is an internal movement that originates from embryological development. It is scientifically detectable and due to the sensitivity of our hands’ proprioceptors, can be felt without any special equipment.
Once the motility has been assessed, gentle pressure or load is placed on the tissue to engage the fascial net. From here, we mobilize the fascial chains and convergence zones, inviting space into congested structures, decompressing adhered tissue, and working to further dissipate energy that may have become stagnant. All of this is done slowly and gently, so as not to cause the body to tense and guard the area. Although the work is gentle, we often reach structures quite deep in the body, but only when the body is ready and has invited us in.
It is important to note that while myofascial treatment works on the level of the physical body, it can also be useful for moving stagnant emotional imprints that have manifested as physical pain. Many clients share with me the long-lasting results and profound shifts they’ve achieved from receiving this work.
If it sounds like something that might be right for you, I recommend 90 minutes for the first session. Book your appointment now at halcyonmb.com.
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