An interesting subject that I am asked about often is ‘how can fascia restrictions in one area of the body affect the range of motion of my joints’? To understand how fascia affects the range of motion of joints in the body, we first need to learn what fascia is. Fascia is connective tissue that runs in overlaying sheets whose function is to surround and support the entire body structure by enveloping organs, bones, blood vessels, joints and muscles. Healthy fascia is strong and elastic, allowing fluid movement during exercise, walking, breathing etc.
Let’s look at the shirt example to better understand how fascia restrictions affect the body as a whole. You will need to be wearing a shirt that is not sleeveless for this experiment. Try to bring your straight right or left arm, away from your body in a half circle to rest near your ear (keep the arm straight); how does the shoulder joint feel as you move? Take note of it. Now, scrunch the opposite side of the bottom of the shirt (if you raised your right arm scrunch the left bottom of the shirt) and hold that ball of shirt tightly in your non moving hand. Try and raise the same hand as you did in the first part up. Do you feel the restrictive difference? It is hard if not impossible to go through the entire range of motion of the shoulder joint while having that restriction above the hip on the other side of the body holding it back?
This analogy is helpful in understanding how an adhesion/restriction in one part of the fascia can create enough tension that will prevent or decrease range of motion of joints elsewhere in the body. It makes sense then that fascia adhesions/restrictions affect the range of motion of joints due to restrictive movement of the connective tissue. Adhesions in the connective tissue can be a source of pain, reduced range of motion of joints and reduce the ability of many individuals to be as active as they could be pain free.
Pain is not something you need to just accept and live with; it is your body’s way of bringing your attention to a dysfunction or restriction that needs to be addressed. If you are ready to embrace change and become active, pain free and find your inner happiness then call Active Balance Healing now and book your initial consultation. We can help!
