Myofascia – part 1
What is Myofasci?
Fascia is the main connective tissue of the body. Fascia surrounds every cell, muscle, bone, nerve, blood Bessel in the body, creating a three-dimensional web. This is one continuous network from head to toe. Myofascia is the fascia that surrounds all the muscle.
Why it is important?
In its normal state fascia is fluid and pliable, allowing full, pain-free movement. However, fascia is vulnerable to trauma from
- Accident
- Infection
- Injury
- Surgery
- Repetitive Movement
- Habitual Poor Posture
Such trauma causes fascia to tighten, solidify and develop restrictions. Over time these myofascial restrictions can lead to
- Poor biomechanics
- Altered structural alignment
- Compromised blood supply
- Pain
- Reduce flexibility and stability
Related Posts
A Guide to Sciatica
One of the most common questions I get asked, by my clients is "is my back pain sciatica?". So I would like take some time to explain what sciatica or piriformis syndrome is. Sciatica is the irritation of inflammation of the sciatic nerve, which runs from L3 down through your legs and feet to your toes, so its the longest (and widest) nerve in the human body. The reason sciatica is called piriformis syndrome is that the piriformis muscle (which is in your bum) can compress the sciatic nerve. Because in most people approximately 87% the sciatic nerve passes below the piriformis muscle, in approximately 13% people the sciatic nerve passes in part or entirely though the piriformis muscle. So tightness in the piriformis muscle is a major cause of sciatica and this tightness can be exasperated by prolonged sitting. Other notable causes are trauma to your lower back or your pelvis, a history of herniated disc in your lower back and some systemic diseases e.g. diabetes. So how can you tell if you have sciatica or lower back pain? Sciatic is characterised by the presence of one or more of the following symptoms:
- Constant pain in one side of the buttock or back of one leg.
- Sharp or burning pain or tingling radiating down the back of your thigh.
- Pain is worse when sitting for long periods of time.
- Pain may be aggravated by sneezing, stooping or straining.
- You feel that you want to slouch away from the effected side.
- Possible pins and needles or parasthesia (numbness) down leg.
Muscle Soreness after exercise
We all know that postural muscles get tired and that creates knots. But muscles also get tired after exercises, this is called DOMS - delayed onset muscle soreness. DOMS is characterised by a dull, aching pain in the affected muscle, often combined with tenderness and stiffness. The pain is typically felt only when the muscle is stretched, contracted or put under pressure, but otherwise the muscle feels fine. The soreness usually increases in intensity in the first 24 hours after exercise. It peaks from 24 to 72 hours, then subsides and disappears up to seven days after exercise. DOMS can be the reason why sporty people feel aches and pains when they are treated if they have recently been pushing themselves when exercising. Unfortunately stretching or warming up the muscles does not prevent DOMS but gradually increasing the intensity of the exercise does. If treatment is desired, any measure that increases blood flow to the muscle, such as hot baths, sauna or a massage may help.
