Myofascial Release Bodywork
Connective Tissue is Critical to Health, Mobility and Pain Relief
Jun 24, 2009
Connective tissue is a part of the human anatomy of which most people are quite unaware. Knowing about it can create a new and different understanding of health.
Connective tissue, or fascia, surrounds bones, muscles and organs of the body in one, more or less continuous sheet. Fascia is similar in consistency to plastic wrap and has the same sticky quality. If you have ever prepared raw chicken, you have seen the thin, translucent connective tissue between the skin and the meat.
The Importance of Connective Tissue
Connective tissue serves important functions. It not only holds the tissues in place, but also conducts bioelectrical impulses through the body. Dr. John Upledger, a osteopath, along with biophysicist, Dr. Zvi Carni at Michigan State University, established the conductive nature of fascia and noted that disruptions in energy flow could be corrected with therapy that released restrictions in the connective tissue. Dr. Upledger later developed CranioSacral Therapy, which relieves dysfunctions in the fascia.
This conduction of biological electricity is vital to the organism’s healthy functioning. Some scientists think the fascia may even conduct biological information, much like the nervous system, only much faster!
Why Healthcare Often Overlooks Connective Tissue Problems
The role of connective tissue in health is critical yet is often overlooked. Problems with fascia do not show up on x-rays, CAT scans or in MRI. When fascia is injured, it may exert pressure on tissues in other locations, so the resulting pain is mysterious and seems unrelated to known injuries. Most research on connective tissue has been performed on cadavers, which gives little clue to the nature of living fascia.
When healthy, connective tissues glide over other tissues to allow the body to move comfortably. Inflammation and dehydration can interfere with the fascia's ability to glide and move. Because the tissue is continuous throughout the body, a restriction in the fascia can pull on muscles that are distant from the injury.
When surgery, trauma or inflammation, disrupt it, the connective tissue can bind other tissues and exert a significant pressure on them. A surgical wound cuts through the fascia and can cause it to adhere to other tissues, which is why scars can be so uncomfortable. An abnormal restriction in the fascia can exert 2000 pounds of pressure per square inch on surrounding tissues. So, problems with connective tissues can cause severe pain or dysfunction, while diagnostic imaging does not reveal any problem, so nothing appears to be wrong with the body.
Because of connective tissue’s role in conducting bioelectricity, injuries to the fascia disrupt movement of the body’s energy. If electrical impulses are not being conducted properly, the health of nearby muscles and organs can be subtly compromised. James L. Oschman, PhD., author of Energy Medicine in Therapeutics and Human Performance, believes that all disease is the blockage of bioenergy in the body, so fascia may play a role in the general health of the body. Conversely, when the connective tissue is intact and able to function as it should, it conducts bioelectricity freely, promoting the health of the organism.
Promoting Healthy Connective Tissue
John F. Barnes, physical therapist, developed Myofascial Release Therapy, which, like CranioSacral Therapy, works to correct problems in the fascial system. Barnes maintains that Myofascial Release both structurally and energetically opens and rehydrates the fascial system, and allows the coherent flow and organization of energy necessary for health.
What can an individual do to maintain healthy connective tissue? Drink plenty of water to keep tissues hydrated. Avoid being immobile for long periods and take breaks from repetitive movements. Proper nutrition can help avoid inflammatory conditions that restrict the movement of fascia. Regular activity and exercise always help maintain healthy tissues.
