When they studied anatomy and physiology, they did so on dead bodies. If you've ever seen the fibrous, white, sometimes silvery tissue on a joint of meat, that is fascia, and we have it in our bodies too. Unlike muscles, which have a clear starting and stopping point, fascia runs in continuous lines. Our fascia binds our muscles together, allowing us to move in a coordinated and integrated manner. Think of a gymnast spinning through the air from one arm down to the opposite leg—no single muscle runs from one limb to the opposite end of the body, but fascia enables this seamless movement.

When they studied dead bodies, the fascia was often removed and disregarded as pointless connective tissue. In doing so, they were discarding one of the most important components of the human body!

Over the past 40 years, fascia studies have advanced, and the subject has been explored in microscopic detail.

When your fascia functions well, its many layers slide smoothly over one another. They achieve this by having an abundance of hyaluronic acid, which acts as a lubricant, enabling tissues to glide effortlessly. However, due to previous injuries, overuse, or poor biomechanics, this lubricant can become viscous, leading to a breakdown in the tissue gliding system. As a result, movement and muscle communication are affected.

In more severe cases, collagen fibers can lay down in an unorganized manner, creating scar tissue. This prevents muscles from stretching correctly and disrupts the communication between nerves and muscles.