Fascia - a neglected structure

fascia

Fascia - a neglected structure. An overview of the 2nd International Fascia Congress in Amsterdam

Fascia is called the enveloping and connective connective tissue in the body. If you eat a piece of meat, then the fascia is the thin skin around the meat, or in a cross section, the white area that separates the individual muscles.

Only recently has been interested in medicine for these structures, as there are more and more complaints that can not be explained with the previous anatomy and physiology models. In the past, the fasciae were rather neglected: they were rather annoying structures to be cut off on the way to the vessels, organs, muscles and bones.

As a result, research and new insights into the fascia have increased in recent years. So it was found that these are not purely passive structures, but there are some muscle fibers in the fascia.
The fascia does not end like a muscle, but they run over very long distances through our body. This also explains how pain can possibly continue in our body.

Fasciae are provided with many receptors, smooth muscle fibers and nerve fibers of the involuntary sympathetic nervous system. These structures can absorb or react to stimuli. Pressure or tension, temperature changes, changes in the environment of the tissue, all these are perceived by these structures and can influence their functions. Since the fascia hold our body, support it in its structure and also have a shock absorber function, they can have far-reaching consequences.

The fasciae that lie in the depths of our body have special cells that resemble those of smooth muscle cells - called myofibroblasts. The more myofibroblasts you have, the more immobile your fascia is. At the first International Fascia Congress in Boston in 2007, a video by the French surgeon Dr. Ing. Jean-Claude Guimberteau. He was the first to bring a miniature camera under the skin and to show the fascial structures in motion.

The three-dimensional network is very well visible in his photographs: blood vessels are pushed back and forth by movements, structures give way under tension and return to their original position, and it is always evident that fluids are involved, the hydraulic capabilities and properties of this system suggest.

On the „Second International Fascia Research Congress“ From 27 to 31 October 2009 at the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam, the hand surgeon Guimberteau will continue „ The Skin Passage“ his first sensational video will be presented. It will be interesting to see what happens here for new insights.

The Congress will feature speakers such as anatomist Jaap van der Wal, Rolfer and zealous fascination researcher Robert Schleip, co-initiator Thomas W. Findley, executive director of the Ida P. Rolf Research Foundation, Walter Herzog of the University of Calgary's Human Performance Lab, and others and certainly come up with innovations on the subject. Next to them research will be presented and live demonstrations of techniques will take place. Workshops will be offered during the weekend. Among others, the Italian Carla Stecco will be present with a model developed by him and eagerly awaited by many participants.

It can be said that adequate attention is paid to the neglected structures of the fascia, which opens up completely new opportunities for the future treatment of persistent and inadequately researched symptoms such as Dupuytren's disease or fibromyalgia. (Tf)