I came across this simple and powerful visual posted by Assess, Treat and Condition on Facebook which helps to understand what’s happening in your body.
“Fascia is like Saran-Wrap. For years, researchers thought it was merely something to help hold the body together. More research is coming out that discusses how it is an extension of the central nervous system and helps coordinate movements. Saran-wrap has a high tendency to stick to itself; once it is stuck, it becomes difficult to open back up. Similarly, through injury and overuse, fascia develops adhesions: it becomes sticky (thanks to its extracellular matrix) and adheres to itself as well as the muscles deep and the skin superficially. When this occurs, the tissues lose their ability to slide over one another. This greatly restricts movement. Any movement that does occur creates shearing of the tissues and subsequent pain.
Manual therapy techniques are not designed to ‘deform’ the fascia but merely restore the gliding properties.”
Yep, my Saran Wrap is a hot mess, but fortunately I had a great MELT session with Amanda last night and am feeling much better.