by Eric Winder, DC  

Fascia therapy, the collection of methods to treat pain caused by restricted fascia, is in the midst of an important transformation. New findings about fascia, or fibrous connective tissue, show that some old ideas about fascia are not entirely accurate. This creates space for some exciting new insights and advancements in treatment. As a result, relieving pain with fascia therapy is now possible with gentler, more focused treatment methods.  

No Adhesions 

A brilliant chemist named Ida Rolf gets credit for the modern focus of treating fascia to relieve pain. Her method was called Structural Integration (nicknamed ‘Rolfing’), which gained popularity in the 1960’s.  She believed that restricted fascia should be stretched, sometimes quite forcefully. However, research has shown this is impossible because fascia is too tough. 

High tensile strength does not allow fascia to stretch without damage caused to the surrounding tissue. Many fascia therapists have described ‘breaking up adhesions’ in the fascia to relieve restriction. But again, research has failed to show any kind of mechanical adhesion of these fascia fibers in restricted areas.   

So, what exactly occurs in the areas where fascia is restricted?  After all, to a trained therapists’ hands, these areas do feel thick, taut or gummy, and when treated, they seem to soften or “melt.”  The current answer is: We don’t know yet, but we do have clues.    

Software, Not Hardware 

In recent years, fascia researchers have begun to suspect that problems in fascia are caused by the nervous system. These restrictions are usually found in areas where there has been a physical trauma such as a muscle sprain, impact injury or repetitive muscular stress.  

Therefore, it is possible that restrictions are caused by some kind of “injury memory” reaction from the nervous system. In a small informal study, patients were assessed (but not treated) for fascia restriction, including motion assessments, just prior to undergoing medical anesthesia for unrelated issues. While under anesthesia, the patients were re-examined, and the restrictions had disappeared. However, when the patients woke up, they were assessed for restrictions a third time, and the former restrictions had returned.  

Interestingly, I have observed a similar effect in my practice. Some time ago, I was treating a patient for painful restrictions in her shoulder area. At one of her treatment visits, she had just received Botox injections to relax her shoulder muscle spasms caused by a previous stroke. All of the evidence of fascia restriction was suddenly gone, but returned weeks later as the Botox effects began to wear off.   

At that point, I was able to release the restrictions and give her better relief for her painful shoulder. If the restrictions had been an “adhesion” or other mechanical bind of the tissue, they would not have disappeared then come back again. Therefore, instead of a “hardware” problem, fascial tensions seem to be due to “software” of the nervous system.  

Less is More 

Most kinds of fascia therapy, including the system first developed by Ida Rolf, have made a shift toward gentler treatment methods. With an understanding that fascia problems are driven by the nervous system’s reaction to prior trauma, the goal of treatment is different. We want to help the nervous system release injury patterns. It is not necessary to break up an adhesion through physical pressure.  Gentle tissue manipulation can achieve more effective results.  

Removing ‘Kinks and Dents’ 

Fascia exists throughout the whole body, acting as the structural fabric to connect, protect and hold us together.  Restrictions in the fascia can occur deep within the body, around joints and organs. Fortunately, because the restrictions are more neurological than mechanical, even deep restrictions can often be relieved by manipulation from the surface of the body.   

These “kinks and dents” can be released to help problems near the surface of the body like tennis elbow or plantar fasciitis, but they can also help deeper issues like hip tension or restrictions in the pelvis that might contribute to irritable bowel syndrome. 

Effective fascia therapy is gentle—but also quite powerful. In our office, we see many patients with deep-seated chronic pain that has not been able to respond to other types of care. If an examination shows fascia restriction is involved, then we can help to deliver significant pain relief over 90 percent of the time.   

The new neurological focus of current fascia therapy methods is a boon for more than one reason. Treatment is much gentler for patients, and is often quite relaxing. It is also much easier on therapists’ hands, allowing them to have a longer and more productive career, we well as to help many more patients. Ultimately, it can offer a level of pain relief that is surprising to patients who are used to more forceful treatment methods.   

Dr. Eric Winder has been practicing chiropractic for 25 years. His practice emphasizes relieving pain and restoring alignment and motion with gentle fascia release therapies. For more information, call 941-957-8390 or visit Gentlebay.com.