You may hear the word "fascia" talked about in the realm of sports medicine and massage. You may have also heard of myofascial pain or a plantar fascia. Fascia is largely understudied but one of the most important organs in our body.
Fascia is essentially the gluey, wet, fibrous layer that covers your entire body and keeps things (organs, muscles, nerves, veins) where they need to be. It helps with your stability and movement. It is critical when recovering from an injury. From the second we are formed, it plays a very important role in our lives.
So what happens when your fascia is forced to work improperly? Pain. More specifically you'll start to feel stiff. This is a sign that your fascia is toughen up to support a lack of movement, injury, or a bad postural alignment. Once it builds up to support this new position or injury, is when it directly affects you.
How can you keep your fascia healthy?
Drink water, lots and lots of water. The primal piece of the fascia layer, is 70% water based. Staying hydrated will help the fascia move and adapt to you AND go back to place when you're done.
Massage. Massage will work to help you fascia release in spots where it's built up. It will also get blood flow to this layer allowing it to move and correct itself where needed.
MOVE! If you sit all day or find yourself stationary, get up and take a lap. The longer you stay in one position, the more likely it is for your body to tell the fascia to build up and support this new position.
Fascia is essentially the gluey, wet, fibrous layer that covers your entire body and keeps things (organs, muscles, nerves, veins) where they need to be. It helps with your stability and movement. It is critical when recovering from an injury. From the second we are formed, it plays a very important role in our lives.
So what happens when your fascia is forced to work improperly? Pain. More specifically you'll start to feel stiff. This is a sign that your fascia is toughen up to support a lack of movement, injury, or a bad postural alignment. Once it builds up to support this new position or injury, is when it directly affects you.
How can you keep your fascia healthy?
Drink water, lots and lots of water. The primal piece of the fascia layer, is 70% water based. Staying hydrated will help the fascia move and adapt to you AND go back to place when you're done.
Massage. Massage will work to help you fascia release in spots where it's built up. It will also get blood flow to this layer allowing it to move and correct itself where needed.
MOVE! If you sit all day or find yourself stationary, get up and take a lap. The longer you stay in one position, the more likely it is for your body to tell the fascia to build up and support this new position.