09/26/2024
Getting Deep into your Fascia
January 20, 2019 Susie Maiorana
You might have heard your massage therapist talking about working on your fascia and connective tissues – ever wondered what they were talking about?
Fascia is another name for the fibrous connective tissues that you have all over your body. There are three main types of fascia; superficial fascia which is mostly found in the skin, deep fascia whichsurrounds your muscles, bones, nerves and blood vessels; and visceral fascia which is mostly associated with the internal organs.
For massage purposes, we’re dealing with your deep fascia – the connective tissue that surrounds your muscles and muscle groups. What does muscle fascia do?
It’s the connective tissue responsible for holding muscles together and keeping them where they should be. It also helps to separate individual muscles within their groups so that they can work independently, and it provides a lubricated surface which allows the muscles to move smoothly against each other.
If you’re inactive for a long time, because of a sedentary lifestyle or illness, your muscle fascia can start to stick together, stopping your muscles moving freely and giving you a tight, stiff feeling. In some cases, this can also limit your mobility.
