Maybe you’ve heard the fascia mentioned by your physiotherapist or Active Release Technique (ART) Provider, but do you know what it is? Fascia in Latin means bundle, and it’s comprised mainly of collagen. It’s a thin cover of connective tissue that holds the body together. It keeps bones, nerves, muscles, organs, tendons, ligaments, blood – in fact, every body part – exactly where it should be.
Think of the fascia like a tablecloth for your body. It’s at its best when the table is laid nicely and it can perform its function of protecting the furniture (or your body) from stress and damage. However, if a passing child or pet gives the slightest tug to the tablecloth, it makes a difference to everything. Stuff moves, and is taken out of its rightful place, and as a result, the tablecloth can’t do its job properly.
It’s the same with the fascia, if it’s out of alignment in one place, it can cause problems everywhere. Physioplus has a number of fascial release tools and therapies, which can be used in treating problems with the fascia, which can lead to headache, back pain, neck pain and nerve pain, among other issues. We can provide you with drug free pain relief, to assist your body in a natural healing process and at the same time improve flexibility and restore normal function.
Extending the analogy of the tablecloth, the damage isn’t restricted to one place. For instance, a glass of wine may be placed on a crease in the tablecloth, which causes it to topple over, potentially breaking the glass, spilling the liquid, staining the cloth and damaging the table surface. That’s just the immediate effects, but what if the liquid and glass spread? Someone may get cut by the glass, or their clothing may be stained or damaged by the contents of the glass. Even the flooring may suffer damage. And all this stems from one small crease in the tablecloth!
In the case of the fascia, just one small issue in one area can adversely affect other areas of the body. There’s a name for this – it’s called Myofascial Pain Syndrome (MPS) – and it can have devastating effects on your body if left untreated. The good news is, MPS can be often be treated successfully, without resorting to drugs with potentially harmful side effects.
Indicators of MPS
There are several indicators for the therapist that what you are experiencing is down to MPS. While chronic pain is usually localised to a particular area of the fascia, there may be associated tenderness in other areas. The following are common indicators of MPS:
- Pain in the back, neck, and other areas, usually on one side of the body, or much worse on one side or the other.
- Pain that travels after massaging a specific area.
- Cramps, spasms and tenderness in the affected area.
- Stiffness and restriction of movement.
- Fatigue, depression, stress.
Normally, the fascia is slippery, soft and flexible, moving naturally with the body. However, injuries, trauma, and lack of exercise or repetitive overuse of certain muscles can cause the fascia to dry and thicken, rather than gliding gently as you move. Because the fascia is interconnected throughout the body, problems in one area can affect other areas of the body, even if there is no presentation of pain there.
How does Physioplus Albir treat MPS?
You can’t tell if your pain comes from fascia, from your muscles or from joints, but a good physiotherapist or sports therapist can! Here at Physioplus Albir, there may be more than one therapist involved in your treatment, as MPS responds best to a variety of targeted disciplines used in conjunction, rather than one specific therapy.
ART
The resulting scar tissue from MPS is known as adhesions, and ART is perfect for breaking down these adhesions and restoring normal function and movement. Paul Espe is the only certified ART Provider in Spain, and he specialises in treating damaged fascia with ART to reduce scar tissue with various treatment techniques.
Telephone: 966 57 75 89
Muscle Strengthening and Posture Correction
Emma Segovia is a physiotherapist, sports therapist and provider of DPostural, a discipline which identifies and corrects errors in posture through exercise and targeted massage. She works closely with Paul to get the best results for the patient, and is up to date on the latest functional training techniques.
Telephone: 639 88 23 76
Deep Dry Needling
This is a treatment technique which involves inserting needles into various trigger points in the fascia where there is pain and spasm. It’s not to be confused with acupuncture – it’s a more modern, western discipline, specifically aimed at getting deep into the muscles, where it may not be possible to reach with manual therapies. Maria Curiel is experienced in this discipline, which is particularly suitable for treating established cases of MPS where other therapies have not helped.
Telephone: 679 90 78 90
Contact us to arrange an assessment so that we can identify if you could be suffering from MPS. Even if you are not, targeted work on your fascia could greatly improve your range of movement and improve bodily performance and function. We look forward to straightening out your body’s tablecloth to help you Move Better, Feel Better and Live Better!