Until recently fascia has been ignored while more study went to the muscles, organs and other tissues and structures of the body. Recently scientists have discovered how fascia is really a vital part of the human anatomy, movement and even neuromuscular communication. Fascia is a liquid structure, it’s hard to imagine as a support structure being a liquid, we don’t make high rises out of Jello. But juicy fascia is happy fascia, think of a sponge, when it is dry it can be hard, brittle and difficult to move, when it is wet and well hydrated it becomes pliable and resilient, it bounces back when crushed.
So it’s important to stay hydrated right? Yes and no, while staying hydrated is very important, it’s also important to make sure that the water can reach every part of your body. When your fascia is stuck in any place the pathways get clogged and the fascia becomes dehydrated. To open up those pathways we have to untangle the gluey bits, which can be done with massage and/or stretching. When your tissue retains or regains its natural spring, the rebound effect of the fascial allows you to use less muscle power, and will fatigue less rapidly. If you want to jump higher, run faster or throw farther, improve your endurance and performance, you need to nourish the elastic quality of your fascia. When you start to feel rundown or heavy, getting stretched or massaged can help get the springiness back to the fascia and put the bounce back into your step.