The Forgotten Tissue: A Tale of Discovery and Redemption
For centuries, anatomists meticulously dissected the human body in search of structures they deemed important—muscles, bones, organs, and nerves. Yet, an essential component of human physiology was routinely discarded. A seemingly inconsequential web-like tissue, fascia, was peeled away and tossed aside, deemed nothing more than an unimportant wrapping.
But what if this overlooked tissue held the key to understanding pain, movement, and even neurological function? What if it was, in fact, the missing link in optimizing human health?
This is the story of fascia—a forgotten connective tissue, now at the forefront of scientific inquiry thanks to the pioneering work of researchers like Carla Stecco, Robert Schleip, and the Fascia Research Society.
What is Fascia?
Fascia is the continuous, three-dimensional connective tissue matrix that envelops and interconnects muscles, organs, bones, and nerves. Once dismissed as mere packing material, it is now recognized as a dynamic and sensory-rich network that plays a crucial role in proprioception, movement efficiency, and even pain modulation.
Carla Stecco, a leading anatomist and fascia researcher, has mapped out the intricate structure of fascia, revealing its role as a mechanosensitive and highly innervated tissue. In her work, she describes fascia as an “interconnected network” that influences musculoskeletal dynamics in ways previously unimagined. Robert Schleip, a renowned fascia researcher and director of the Fascia Research Society, has further advanced our understanding by exploring its viscoelastic properties, its neurophysiological role, and its relationship to movement and chronic pain.
Fascia is composed primarily of collagen and elastin fibers, making it both strong and flexible. It has three primary layers: superficial fascia, deep fascia, and visceral fascia. The superficial fascia lies just beneath the skin and plays a crucial role in fluid dynamics and thermoregulation. Deep fascia surrounds and penetrates muscles, providing structural support and transmitting forces throughout the body. Visceral fascia encases internal organs, securing them in place while allowing for necessary mobility.
The History of Fascia: From Disregard to Discovery
Historically, fascia was treated as an obstacle rather than an essential structure. Early anatomists, constrained by the tools and perspectives of their time, were interested in isolating distinct organs and muscles, and fascia was perceived as a hindrance to their investigations.
During the Renaissance period, when human dissection became more commonplace, anatomists focused primarily on the musculoskeletal and vascular systems. Fascia was cut away and discarded in the pursuit of “more important” structures. Even in the 20th century, medical students were taught that fascia had no significant function, reinforcing a deep-rooted misunderstanding of its role in human health.
By the late 20th century, however, advancements in imaging technology and interdisciplinary research sparked a paradigm shift. Fascia was no longer viewed as passive connective tissue but as a critical player in musculoskeletal and neurological health. The Fascia Research Society, established to facilitate global research efforts, has been instrumental in changing how medical and therapeutic fields understand and approach human movement, pain, and rehabilitation.
Today, fascia research is influencing numerous fields, from sports science and rehabilitation to chronic pain management and neurology. This once-ignored tissue is now recognized as a key element in human function, thanks to the dedicated work of researchers like Stecco and Schleip.
Why Fascia Matters: Sensory Receptors and Neurological Implications
One of the most compelling reasons for fascia’s newfound importance is its immense density of sensory receptors. In fact, fascia contains six to ten times more mechanoreceptors than muscle tissue itself. These receptors—Ruffini endings, Pacinian corpuscles, Golgi receptors, and free nerve endings—provide crucial feedback to the central nervous system, influencing movement coordination, balance, and pain perception.
From a chiropractic neurology perspective, this is groundbreaking. The central nervous system relies on precise sensory input to regulate movement and posture. Dysfunctional fascia—whether due to trauma, poor posture, or lack of movement—can lead to faulty proprioception, chronic pain syndromes, and even neuroplastic maladaptations.
Schleip’s research has demonstrated that fascial mechanoreceptors directly influence the autonomic nervous system. Certain forms of manual therapy, myofascial release, and movement-based interventions can alter vagal tone and impact stress responses, further emphasizing fascia’s central role in health and disease.
Additionally, fascia’s role in fluid dynamics is crucial. The interstitial spaces within fascia allow for the transport of water, nutrients, and waste products, influencing cellular health and systemic inflammation. This further underscores the importance of maintaining healthy fascia through movement, hydration, and therapeutic interventions.
Tensegrity: The Key to Understanding Fascia’s Function
To truly grasp fascia’s importance, one must understand the concept of tensegrity—a structural principle that explains how forces are distributed throughout the body.
Tensegrity, short for “tensional integrity,” describes how structures maintain stability not through rigid compression (like a traditional building) but through a balance of tension and compression. This principle applies directly to the fascial system, where interconnected fascial lines distribute mechanical forces efficiently throughout the body.
When fascia is healthy, it maintains an optimal state of tension, allowing for efficient movement, force absorption, and resilience against injury. However, restrictions in one area of the fascial system can create compensatory patterns, leading to dysfunction and pain elsewhere—a concept well-recognized in the field of chiropractic neurology.
Tensegrity also explains why localized pain or injury can have far-reaching effects. If a restriction occurs in the plantar fascia of the foot, for example, it may influence gait mechanics, leading to compensations in the knees, hips, and spine. Addressing fascial dysfunction from a whole-body perspective is essential for long-term health and function.
The Future of Fascia Research and Its Clinical Implications
Thanks to researchers like Stecco and Schleip, the scientific community now acknowledges fascia as a vital organ of communication and structural support. Continued research is uncovering how fascia plays a role in conditions such as chronic pain, fibromyalgia, and neurodegenerative diseases. Dr. Marc Ellis is a founding member of the Fascia Research Society and continues to contribute to the community through dissections, lecturing on the topic internationally and teaching his own technique called MyoSynaptics, which is a combination of myofascial techniques and neurological rehabilitation.
From a clinical perspective, understanding fascia’s role in neurology opens new avenues for intervention. By optimizing fascial health through movement-based therapies, manual techniques, and neuromuscular re-education, practitioners can influence the nervous system in ways previously unexplored.
As the Fascia Research Society continues to advance the field, one thing is clear—fascia is not just an inert wrapping. It is a fundamental component of human health, worthy of the attention it is finally receiving.
If you or someone you love could be benefitting from myofascial work or you have any questions on the topic, contact the team at Georgia Chiropractic Neurology Center today. We look forward to hearing from you.
Written by Sophie Hose, DC, MS, DACNB, CCSP
Peer-Reviewed Sources:
- Stecco, C., Macchi, V., Porzionato, A., Duparc, F., & De Caro, R. (2011). The fascia: the forgotten structure. Italian Journal of Anatomy and Embryology, 116(3), 127-138.
- Schleip, R., Jäger, H., & Klingler, W. (2012). What is ‘fascia’? A review of different nomenclatures. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 16(4), 496-502.
- Findley, T. W., & Schleip, R. (2007). Fascia research: a new paradigm of understanding the role of fascia in movement and pathology. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 11(2), 87-90.
- Panjabi, M. M. (2006). A hypothesis of chronic back pain: ligament subfailure injuries lead to muscle control dysfunction. European Spine Journal, 15(5), 668-676.