The human body consists of trillions of cells, all surrounded by a somewhat fluid network of connective tissue called fascia. Fascia is a sticky yet stretchy fabric that both holds us firmly together, yet constantly a adjusts to accommodate our every movement. Fascia consist of collagen, elastin fibers, fluid and proteins. This tissue is crystalline in nature, and formed into extremely tiny microtubules which carry fluid. This allows the microtubules to conduct energy and carry information throughout the body. The term myofascial refers to the unit composed of muscle and connective tissue.
The standard bio-mechanical theory is that the musculoskeletal system and its muscles attach to bones via tendons that cross the joints and pull bones toward each other. Ligaments connect bone to bone. However, all of these anatomical terms and the separations they imply, are somewhat false. No ligaments exist on their own. Instead they become part of the periosteum-vascular connective tissue that serves as wrapping around the bones, surrounding muscles and fascia trains.
There are 12 major fascial trains:
1) Superficial back line — starts at the bottom of the feet and continues up and over the top of the head and ends at the brow ridge
2) Superficial front line — starts on the top of the feet at the toes and ends behind the ear at the mastoid process (the area where the jaw connects to the skull)
3 & 4) Lateral line (2 sides) — runs along the lateral portion of the lower body, hips, and obliques
5) Spiral line — The Spiral Line (SL) winds through the three cardinal lines, looping around the trunk in a helix, with another loop in the legs from hip to arch and back again.
6) Deep front line — The Deep Front Line (DFL) forms a complex core volume from the inner arch of the foot, up the inseam of the leg, into the pelvis and up the front of the spine to the bottom of the skull and the jaw.
7 & 8) Superficial front & back arm line — The four Arm Lines run from the front and back of the axial torso to the tips of the fingers.
9 & 10) Deep front & back arm line — The four Arm Lines run from the front and back of the axial torso to the tips of the fingers.
11 & 12) Functional Lines — (front & back) The two Functional
The Superficial Back Line consists of a line of fascia that starts at the plantar surface (bottom) of the foot. It travels up the entire posterior (back) side of the body, moving up over the head and finishes at the brow bone. It is the longest of the 12 facial trains. They are also lines of “pull”. These lines transmit movement as well as strain through the body’s myofasciae within the body. Researchers have found evidence indicating that chronic low back pain may be radiating from the connective tissues, rather than musculature, bone or cartilage. The multitude of low back pain was found not to correlate with the multitude of disc displacement. Evidence indicating that low back pain may be due to inflammation in the lumbar fascia tissue. Further research has indicated perispinal ligamentous tissues and lumbar fascia as common causes of low back pain. There is the theory that the fascia might be the physical substrate referred to as the energy meridian network within Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). The anatomy of the fascial network within the human body, is somewhat consistent with the classic view of the meridian network. Acupuncture has been shown to rely on interactions with the fascia. It may be that neurogenic inflammation in fasciae may manifest into blockages of the energy (Qi) flow. If the fascia network within the body is the physical substrate of the energy meridians, there are important clinical and research connections. If evidence continues to prove in support of this theory, the fasciae should receive greater scrutiny in diagnostics and subsequent treatments. This view is a more holistic approach to health care, in which the whole body’s interrelationships, interconnections and interactions are to be examined.
Recent research has found links in form and function between the interactions of the fascial network and acupuncture. Research by health and fitness researchers have discovered that connective tissue, along with collagen fibers and fibroblasts wraps around the end of the acupuncture needle when it is rotated in place. There effects have been seen at up to 4cm away from the site of needle insertion. Researchers have surmised that acupuncture energy meridians may follow the intermuscular or intramuscular myofascial lines. The myofascial meridians do not follow the precise lines of the Chinese energy meridians, which are an energetic connection rather than physical. However, there is some definite overlap. The unrestricted movement, taught in the Chinese internal martial arts, involves free flow of Qi and aligning the myofascial lines.
The Tai Chi, Gigong and Yoga connection to the facial trains – Physical (and mental) training within Chinese internal martial arts, Qigong and Yoga focus on training the mind and body to move as a whole unit. The traditional Western understanding of muscles and bones functioning separately and mechanically is not very useful within these practices. However, understanding basic anatomy is useful when these known components are seen as encased by the connective tissue making the myofascial lines become apparent. When muscles are seen as floating in bundles or bands of connective tissue, all movements and all components are possible only through the interaction of the contracting muscles with the connecting tissue. Each bone, muscle and organ might exist independently, but the fascia spreads throughout the entire body connecting all of these body components in a network of webbing.
Another component of the fascial network is a gelatin-like web of mucus. All of the fluid circulation in your body has to pass through these fibrous and mucus webs. The denser the fibers and the drier the mucus, makes the fascial web less able to allow molecules to flow through it. Nourishment goes in one direction while waste comes out another. Tai Chi, Gigong and Yoga types of exercise helps stretch, ease and hydrate the fibrous webbing, making it more permeable.
Cells are never more than four-deep from your capillaries, which transport food, oxygen and more. Tension in your body, such as constantly rounding the back while sitting activates the fibroblasts to make more fibers that will arrange themselves along the line of stress. These accumulated fascial fibers form blockages that will impede capillary-sourced food from reaching the body’s cells. The mucus that completes your fluid fascial network also becomes denser impeding the flow to your cells. Within a denser fascial network, the exchange of nutrients and waste from capillaries to cells can trap toxins causing even more energy blockages.
Tai Chi, Gigong and Yoga types of exercise offer deep strengthening and stretching of the fascial network similar to the way you would wring out a wet towel. The nutrients, oxygen and waste products that were trapped in the mucus mesh, rush in to the capillaries and into the bloodstream. Often times practitioners of these exercise methods feel somewhat ill, after the release of the deeply held tension. The liver must work extra to process the toxins squeezed from the tissues. With consistent practice over time, fascial fibers blockages will slowly thin out and become un-adhered. The mucus webbing can change to a more liquid state in minutes, allowing more sliding, less resistance and therefore less pain.
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Control the body with the mind. Manage the mind by disciplining the body, through physical activity. Learn to be more active, eat healthier, sleep better, stress less – these are the key components to maintaining a strong mind, body, immune system, and outlook on life.
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Jim Moltzan
407-234-0119
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I write often about topics that affect our health and well-being. Additionally, I teach and offer lecture about qigong, tai chi, baguazhang, and yoga.
For more info, contact Jim Moltzan at [email protected], 407-234-0119 or through my site at http://www.mindandbodyexercises.com