Physiotherapy: Seeing the Body Through Its Fascias

07/08/2022 Par Kevin Paquet

The anatomy of the human body is the basic science on which the practice of health care is based. Physiotherapy is no exception – quite the contrary. From the earliest days of the profession, the vast majority of physiotherapists had the musculoskeletal system in mind, defined by the muscles and their various attachments to the bones of the body. Their treatments were thus adapted to this vision of the body, which is still true today, but with a few more nuances. In fact, the currents of thought and approaches to myofascial treatment have changed the situation somewhat, especially in recent years.

1. What Is Fascia?

Fascia is the connective tissue that envelops muscles and all other tissues and organs in the human body. Basically, it’s a membrane that surrounds everything most of us know about the human body (muscles, ligaments, bones, nerves, viscera, etc.). To put a picture to the word, the little white membrane that’s visible when you cut into a steak is fascia.

Fascias are found everywhere in the body and are essential to its functioning. They obviously have a structural and protective role because of their links throughout the body, their tension and elasticity. Tension in the fascias ensures stability and facilitates muscle action, while their elasticity enables the body to move in space.

2. How Do Fascias Change the Way We See the Human Body?

Mechanism of Muscle Action

Muscles have a precise role, defined primarily by their insertions on different bone structures. In fact, each muscle, when contracted, will create a specific movement at one or more of the body’s joints. For example, contraction of the biceps will produce a flexion movement at the elbow and a flexion movement at the shoulder. An overuse injury to the attachment of this muscle (the tendon) will result in tendinopathy, which will eventually be treated by resting, strengthening and relaxing or stretching the muscle and those near the painful area.

Impact on Treatments

By seeing the body through its fascias, we realize that we can work further away from the painful area and have a treatment effect. In fact, the fascias that encompass the muscles continue and envelop other structures further down the body. Taking the biceps as an example, it attaches to the shoulder and inserts itself onto the forearm of the elbow. However, the fascias that enclose this muscle continue their journey to the hand and fingers. That said, relaxing the myofascial structures of the forearm, neck and back can have a beneficial effect on a person with shoulder pain.

3. Myofascial Treatment Approach

Several new treatment approaches have emerged from viewing the body through its fascias. These approaches can be used in many professions, including physiotherapy, osteopathy and massage therapy, among others. They can be likened to massage techniques with a few variations, always with the aim of releasing myofascial chains with a holistic vision of the body. It’s one more tool that enables therapists to treat their patients in a more optimal way, enabling full recovery more quickly.

Physiotherapy: Seeing the Body Through Its Fascias

1. What Is Fascia?

2. How Do Fascias Change the Way We See the Human Body?

3. Myofascial Treatment Approach

4. Pain, Tension Related to Injuries, What To Do?

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