UNDERSTANDING FASCIA

Does pain interfere with the active lifestyle you desire?  Many people suffering with chronic pain, headaches, and lack of joint mobility actually have myofascial restrictions. Myo=muscle. Fascia=connective tissue.

Fascia is an amazing system in your body. It is a tough three dimensional system of connective tissue. This dense connective tissue surrounds every anatomical structure in your body down to the cellular level. Fascia interfaces all the different surfaces within your body to create wet, stretchy, sliding surfaces. In the normal and healthy condition fascia is relaxed and stretches and glides with flexibility. It flows from the top of your head down through your fingers and down   to your toes CONNECTING. Yes, it is a completely uninterrupted system of connective tissue. This connective tissue, fascia, provides support and shock absorption for your body.
However, when injury, inflammation, disease, poor posture,stress, or physical and emotional trauma occur in the body, fascia can solidify. It becomes dehydrated and solid. Restriction of normal stretch and glide occur. It produces a tension and drag upon the entire, uninterrupted system. Imagine pulling a strand of yarn from a wool sweater. This distorts the shape of the sweater. When fascia tightens and solidifies, these restrictions distort the body. These restrictions pull the body out of its normal three dimensional alignment with vertical gravity. They then place tremendous pressure upon sensitive nerves, blood vessels, glands and organs. Pain! These pressures can be up to 2000 lbs. per square inch. Imagine that kind of pressure. No wonder my neck and shoulders hurt! No wonder I have that back ache!

As an additional note, I believe that our western medical approach to health has long ignored this amazing and vibrant system of fascia. It is a system that influences every other system and function within the body. Standard tests such as x-rays, CT scans, and MRI's do not show fascial restrictions. Chronic pain, headaches, and lack of joint motion may actually be caused by undiagnosed fascial restrictions.

So what can be done about this? This is exactly what myofascial release (MFR) therapy addresses.

Chronic Pain                                                    Women's Health Issues
Neck Pain                                                           Pelvic Pain/Dysfunction
Back Pain                                                           Mastectomy Scars
Shoulder Pain                                                  Breast Augmentation/Scar Release 
Headaches                                                        Sports Injuries                                                       
TMJ                                                                       Plantar Fasciitis
Scoliosis                                                              Restricted Motion
Fibromyalgia                                                   Chronic Fatigue
Sacro-iliac Pain                                              Adults and Pediatric

"In just a couple sessions, I have found relief from months of pregnancy related pains and years of back pain. Kathryn also helped me put together a simple program to maintain my progress from home. I highly recommend this to anyone suffering from chronic pain."
- Sarah Lyon