Fascia and the Effects on the Body
While there are health risks, fascia helps with the muscles flexibility because keeping fascia stretched and working well, keeps the body feeling good and moving like it should, the older we get the more likely it is to ignore stretching, and performance in athletics/workouts are better.
What is fascia?
Fascia means “band” or “bundle”. When it is stressed, it tightens up. Fascia is what surrounds the muscles, tendons and is just below the skin and is all over the human body. When you do not move your body very much, then fascia is effected by tightening up. It also is effected by overuse.
How is Fascia useful? Fascia helps with the mobility of the skin and muscles. It acts as a protector to the vessels and nerves. It controls coordination of muscular contraction. Fascia structures the body by adding support. It helps with the functional movement of the human body by reducing friction between structures.
Does fascia help with athletics? By keeping fascia healthy and working properly, it only makes sense that it helps with athletics. When the body is stretched and moving regularly, then performance will be better. The body feels better and is moving how it should, athletes will notice improvement in their activities and goals should be met. Fascia is responsible for about 30% of an individuals explosive power. It plays a huge part in speed development. By keeping the connective tissue soft and pliable helps with range of motion greatly. Plus, the overall athleticism and mobility.
What health risks are involved with fascia?
When fascia is affected and not working properly, many aspects are at risks. Poor posture will start to happen because the body is stiff and not able to stand up as straight as one should or move as well as one should. When an individual has poor posture, then the individual will start to become more sedentary and not want to move as much. Dehydration will also start to set in within the tissues of the body, from the muscles becoming congested and tight.
Treating fascia.
The treatment for fascia is determined by what the goals are for the individual who is affected. The simplest form of treatment is by moving the body or using the correct exercises to target the areas that are tight. Massage also works well, which is also a fast effective technique. Taping is less invasive; it is used more for injury prevention and to protect areas that are injured. It also holds good posture, reduces pain, reduces swelling, and increases range of motion and strength. For the more chronic problems related to fascia, deep fascial massaging is a great technique used.
Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar Fasciitis is the most common form of fascia which is an inflammation of a thick band of tissue that connects the heel bone to the toes. It is almost always a cause from overuse of the heel. It feels like a stabbing pain near the heel. A lot of distance runners are affected from this; all factors that may cause plantar fasciitis range from the type of shoe that is worn, foot structure, overuse and types of walking/running surfaces. Physical therapy is the best cure for it as well as rolling it out with a tennis ball or a roller. Shoe inserts are also a great way to help with plantar fasciitis.
Fascia can affect anyone. Individuals have daily living skills that need done on a regular basis and having a body that moves without pain is important. Ten minutes of stretching daily, going on a walk, focusing on moving the body are all ways to avoid the effects of fascia. When the body doesn’t feel just right, then it is easy to keep it from moving, then the results won’t get better but worse. Take care of the one body you have and make the most of keeping it moving and feeling good!