Fascia - A Little Known Key To Pain Relief

Fascia is a structure in your body that is extremely abundant but chances are that you may have never heard about it and its importance. This is unfortunate, because fascia can often be the ignored and untreated link to solving pain in the body.

We have known for decades the importance of helping muscles, ligaments, and tendons heal to recover from injury and reduce pain. Fascia is a glistening, white, soft tissue meshwork that is located throughout the entire body and can be found connecting everything from the head to toe. It surrounds or is incorporated into muscles, ligaments, tendons, bones, organs, and nerves. Every living cell seems to be in contact with fascia. Fascia is important because it provides the body the following: structure, protection, efficient movement.

If you have had an injury from repetitive stress, chronic poor posture, sprains, or strains, and an array of other causes, you have most likely injured or disrupted the fascia of your body. Any of these stressors can cause the fascia to spasm, dehydrate, harden, form adhesions, and accumulate metabolic byproducts. The end results are poorly functioning fascia and pain.

Treating the Fascia

There are several techniques designed to address the fascia and facilitate increased healing and function of this important soft tissue. Chiropractors, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and medical doctors are increasingly using a form of treatment called the Graston Technique. The Graston Technique is a set of six stainless steel instruments combined with active strengthening and stretching exercises. The instruments are designed to treat different tissues and curves of the body through various strokes that facilitate a change at the cellular level in the fascia and surrounding tissues. The result is a release of scar tissue and revitalization of the dehydrated and hardened tissue. The actual process by which this happens is relatively complex, but in general it promotes new cellular remodeling through a natural inflammatory response. This is a welcome outcome for the soft tissues being treated because they will gain greater freedom of movement, increased strength, and a resultant decrease in pain.

What distinguishes Graston from other soft tissue techniques?

The Graston Technique allows the healthcare practitioner to not only treat problems with fascia and associated soft tissue structures, but this technique increases the ability to detect problems areas. The stainless steel acts like an amplifier for the hands of the clinician and allows for deeper or lighter treatment than what is possible with the hands. This usually means that patients experience quicker and better results because problem areas can be found and addressed sooner, more thoroughly, and more precisely. Numerous professional and amateur sports teams such as the Minnesota Timberwolves and the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, CA utilize Graston to give their athletes an edge in resolving injuries and competing at a higher level. One thing they all understand is that treating the fascia is a must.

Brad Zupancich, D.C. is the clinical director of Z Spine and Joint Center located within Solimar Wellness Spa in Eagan, MN -(651) 686-6686. Dr. Zupancich is a certified practitioner in the Graston Technique as well as a certified physician with the Motion Palpation Institute.

Any advice or opinions given in this article are not intended as a diagnosis or substitute for an examination from a healthcare practitioner. For more information visit www.ZSpineAndJoint.com or www.GrastonTechnique.com.