Blog Post

1. What is fascia?

In the simplest terms, fascia refers to the soft connective-tissue network that envelops muscles, organs, nerves, blood vessels — in short, just about everything except bone. Historically described as “sheets or bands of fibrous connective tissue,” the term fascia has evolved significantly in how it's conceptualised.

According to modern definitions, fascia is “the three-dimensional continuum of soft, collagen-containing, loose and dense fibrous connective tissues that permeate the body.”

What this means practically is that fascia is not just passive wrapping-material; it may play active and integrative roles in force transmission, proprioception, movement coordination, and even pain and chronic dysfunction.

2. A brief history: Where we started, where we are now

Early views:

The concept of fascia goes back a long way. References to membranous connective tissue appear in ancient Egyptian and Greek texts (as early as ~3000 BC) where such membranes were noted, though not necessarily named “fascia.”

By the Renaissance period, anatomists like Andreas Vesalius (1543) illustrated membranes and connective tissues, including what we now interpret as fascia—but still as passive structures.

19th & early 20th century:

The terminology began to solidify: anatomists distinguished superficial vs deep fascia, aponeuroses, etc. For example, in 1851 as Wilson described the dermis as fascia (excluding epidermis).

Yet in many standard anatomy texts well into the twentieth century, fascia was still seen largely as “packing material”: inert, passive, supporting the muscles, organs, and vessels rather than participating dynamically.

The modern shift:

Over the last few decades — especially since about the 2000s — a new wave of research began to view fascia as a dynamic and functionally significant tissue. The journal article “A morphological description and classification system …” (2012) states that the literature now “supports defining fascia as an innervated, continuous, functional organ of stability and motion.”

In 2007 the first international Fascia Research Society-backed congress (the Fascia Research Congress) convened, bringing together anatomists, physiologists, therapists and movement scientists to rethink fascia.

Thus, what we “knew then” and what we “know now” are very different.

Then → fascia = passive wrapping.

Now → fascia = integral part of the movement system, responsive to mechanics, neural input, hydration, gliding, and possibly a “sensory-organ” of its own.

3. Role in chronic pain

One of the most compelling areas of fascia research is in how it may contribute to, or be a marker of, chronic musculoskeletal pain.

As far back as 2006, Helene M. Langevin proposed fascia as a body-wide signalling network and explored how connective tissue remodelling might influence pain and inflammation.

The 2013 review “The Role of Fascia in Myofascial Pain Syndrome” argues that what had been called myofascial pain may in large part be a dysfunction of the fascial continuum rather than isolated muscle pathology.

Researchers note that fascia is richly innervated, has free-nerve endings, mechanoreceptors and may transmit force, shear and tension across multiple regions — which means dysfunction (densification, reduced glide, adhesions) could alter proprioceptive input, pain perception, and movement patterns.

In practical terms: if fascia becomes less mobile, more fibrotic or “stuck,” then muscles and joints may compensate, trigger points might develop, load distribution changes, etc. So, chronic pain is increasingly being understood not just in terms of muscle/joint issues, but also in terms of the fascial network as a contributor or maybe even driver.

4. Role in sports performance & pre-hab

Fascia is also making waves in the worlds of athletic performance, movement optimization and prehabilitation (pre-hab).

Force transmission and fascial chains:

Recent reviews argue that fascia transmits more than 30 % of mechanical force in muscular systems and links muscles in “myofascial chains” rather than treating each muscle in isolation.

Training implications:

Because fascia is viscoelastic and responsive to load, movement, hydration, and shear, training strategies that emphasise “fascial fitness” (plyometrics, elasticity, gliding, multi-directional movement) are becoming more common.

Also, pre-hab strategies now frequently include fascial release (foam-rolling, myofascial stretch), glide training, and movement patterns that emphasise fascial lines. Because if the fascia is healthy and gliding, the muscle–tendon units can work more efficiently and the kinetic chain is more robust.

Injury prevention & rehab:

Because fascia connects and envelops many structures, dysfunction in one area may influence remote regions (think kinetic chains). So from a performance standpoint, awareness and training of fascia may enhance resilience, reduce injury risk, and aid recovery.

Pre-habilitation:

Pre-hab is about preparing tissues to handle load, work and stress before they break down. If fascia is tuned (good glide, healthy hydration, good shear characteristics), then the system is arguably more robust. For example, foam-rolling, dynamic movement, multi-planar loading, fascial mobility drills. These complement classic strength training.Key Advocates and Books to Read

Pioneers and Influencers in the Fascia Movement

Ida Rolf, PhD – Founder of Rolfing Structural Integration, Ida Rolf was among the first to recognise fascia as a dynamic, plastic tissue that could be manipulated to improve posture and movement. Her work in the mid-20th century laid the foundation for viewing the body as an interconnected myofascial system rather than a collection of isolated parts.

John F. Barnes, PT – Creator of the Myofascial Release (MFR) approach, Barnes has been instrumental in bringing fascia awareness into mainstream physiotherapy and bodywork. Through his clinical teaching and his book Healing Ancient Wounds: The Renegade’s Wisdom, he highlighted how fascial restrictions can influence chronic pain, trauma, and whole-body function.

Tom Myers – Author of Anatomy Trains, Myers built upon the structural concepts introduced by Rolf and further explored the body’s myofascial “meridians,” mapping out the interconnected chains of muscles and fascia that influence posture and movement efficiency.

Robert Schleip – Researcher and fascia scientist whose laboratory work helped validate the active, contractile, and sensory properties of fascia.

Carla Stecco – Orthopaedic surgeon and anatomist responsible for some of the most detailed fascial dissections and atlases, helping bridge research with clinical application.

Luigi and Antonio Stecco – Founders of the Fascial Manipulation method, focusing on restoring fascial glide and functional integration throughout the kinetic chain.

Recommended Books

Anatomy Trains – Tom Myers

Healing Ancient Wounds: The Renegade’s Wisdom – John F. Barnes

Fascia in Sport and Movement – Robert Schleip et al.

Fascia: The Tensional Network of the Human Body – Carla Stecco, Schleip, Findley et al.

Rolfing: Reestablishing the Natural Alignment and Structural Integration of the Human Body for Vitality and Well-Being – Ida Rolf