Remember the scene from “The Lord of the Rings” when Frodo gets stuck in Shelob’s thick and sticky spider web? That’s like your fascia system. 

This is a specialized system of the body, interconnected with every other aspect of the body. It is a matrix of connective tissue resembling a dense and 3-dimensional spider web. This web surrounds and supports just about everything lying under our skin, including muscle, bone, nerve, blood vessel, lymphatic vessel, as well as our internal organs. 

In healthy tissue, this matrix is pliable and allows for multi-directional movement. Fluids, which carry oxygen and various nutrients to cells of the body and carry waste products out, are able to easily move throughout the matrix. 

When we experience emotional or physical stress, trauma, injury, or illness our fascia system is affected. Adhesions and restrictions form, inhibiting proper movement and communication throughout the tissue.  

This can result in increased pain and irritation to the nervous system, decreased muscle activation and strength, and even dysfunction of internal organs.