In my work as an Active Release Techniques® Provider and Instructor I had the chance to hear Dr. Mike Leahy, the creator of Active Release Techniques (ART) speak recently at our Instructor Symposium in Las Vegas about some new exciting research on fascia. ART® Providers have been treating and releasing fascia (connective tissue) for over two decades. So what is fascia? Fascia is a layer of fibrous tissue that permeates the human body. It is considered an organ as it surrounds all the muscles, bones, organs, blood vessels, nerves, and other structures in a web-like fashion. Fascia is what gives the body its “structure”. It is a three dimensional communicative system of tissues that extends from the head to the toes in many directions and planes.
The exciting discovery is that the fascia of the human body have cells called myofibroblasts which have the ability to contract and respond to mechanical stimulation. To practitioners and medical researchers it gives new light to the understanding of pathology in the musculoskeletal system. The new fact that fascia undergoes tonus changes that affect structure allows for a new understanding for practitioners as well as patients with innovations and applications manual therapy techniques. Traditionally in our schooling as physical therapists, we were trained that fascia was a non – contractile tissue. This has been the current thought in all medical anatomy training until now.What this new research shows us is that fascia acts like smooth muscle. Some people have a considerable number of these cells in their fascia. This can result in more shortening and more restricted range of motion in certain tissues that cause pain and alter biomechanics: fascia, ligaments, joint capsules, muscles and nerves. It may explain why some individuals are more prone to certain types of injuries or a more severe restriction of their mobility entails.
In the study (Schleip et al) they injected Mepyramin into the fascia (in vitro samples of fascia), which caused the myofibroblasts to contract after 5-10 minutes.(Mepyramin is a first generation antihistamine which targets the H1 receptor. It has a histamine action to the cell in vitro.) Oxytocin, a pituitary hormone, had a similar affect on the fascia in this study. We find it fascinating because it has implications with the treatment of frozen shoulder and other trauma resulting in restricted range of motion of the soft tissues. It gives greater validity to the use of manual therapies, specifically Active Release Techniques- with the treatment of the myofascia through slow, precise manual tension and precise force to lengthen fascia, muscles, tendons, ligaments, joint capsules.
To learn more: Dr. Michael P. Leahy, DC www.activerelease.com
This research can be found at www.fasciaresearch.com courtesy of Robert Schleip PhD, Werner Klingler MD et al
And a list of research articles can be found at https://3.144.6.147/html/patienteducation.htm
