Fascia is a thin casing of connective tissue that surrounds every organ, blood vessel, bone, nerve fiber and muscle, and holds them in place. It can also be a tough part of the body on its own, like the thick palmar fascia that strengthens and protects the palm of the hand. It absorbs shock and provides lubrication to help your muscles move as part of the myofascial system. When it’s healthy, it’s elastic, it’s flexible, and it glides. Fascia can accumulate trauma and become stiff and adhered to other body parts or other areas of fascia. Some factors that cause this include:

• • • A sedentary lifestyle or job with limited physical activity
  • • Repetitive movement that overworks one part of the body
  • • Trauma such as surgery or injury

Want to know more? Gil Hedley’s ‘The Fuzz Speech’ is informative, but is not for the faint of stomach; it includes the use of medical cadavers. If you’re feeling more sciencey and have about half an hour, Strolling Under the Skin may be more your speed.