Fascia: The Tensional Network of the Human Body

The role of the fascia in musculoskeletal conditions and as a body-wide communication system is now well established. Fascia: The Tensional Network of the Human Body is constitutes the most comprehensive foundational textbook available that also provides the latest research theory and science around fascia and their function.

This book is unique in offering consensus from scientists and clinicians from across the world and brings together the work of the group behind the international Fascia Research Congress. It is ideal for advanced sports physiotherapists /physical therapists, musculoskeletal/orthopaedic medicine practitioners, as well as all professionals with an interest in fascia and human movement.

The comprehensive contents lay the foundations of understanding about fascia, covering current scientific understanding of physiology and anatomy, fascial-related disorders and associated therapies, and recently developed research techniques.

Table of Contents:

SECTION I SCIENTIFIC FOUNDATIONS

Part 1 Anatomy of the fascial body

1.1 General anatomy of muscular fasciae

1.2 Somatic fascia

1.3 Fascia superficialis

1.4 Deep fascia of the shoulder and arm

1.5 Deep fascia of the lower limbs

1.6 The thoracolumbar fascia: An integrated functional view of the anatomy of the TLF and coupled structures

1.7 The deeper fasciae of the neck and ventral torso

1.8 Visceral fascia

1.9 Membranous structures within the cranial bowl and intraspinal space

1.10 Diaphragmatic structures

Part 2 Fascia as an organ of communication

2.1 Fascia as an organ of communication

2.2 Proprioception

2.3 Interoception: A new correlate for intricate connections between fascial receptors, emotion and self recognition

2.4 Nociception: The thoracolumbar fascia as a sensory organ

2.5 Fascia as a body-wide communication system

Part 3 Fascial force transmission

3.1 Force transmission and muscle mechanics: General principles

3.2 Myofascial force transmission: An introduction

3.3 Myofascial chains: A review of different models

3.4 Anatomy trains and force transmission

3.5 Biotensegrity: The mechanics of fascia

3.6 The subcutaneous and epitendinous tissue behaviour of the multimicrovacuolar sliding system

Part 4 Physiology of fascial tissues

4.1 The Physiology of fascia: An introduction

4.2 Fascia is alive: How cells modulate the tonicity and architecture of fascial tissues

4.3 Extracellular matrix

4.4 The influence of pH and other metabolic factors on fascial properties

4.5 Fluid dynamics in fascial tissues

SECTION II CLINICAL APPLICATION

Part 5 Fascia-related disorders

5.1 Fascia-related disorders: An introduction

5.2 Dupuytren’s disease and other fibrocontractive disorders

5.3 ‘Frozen shoulder’

5.4 Spastic paresis

5.5 Diabetic foot

5.6 Scleroderma and related conditions

5.7 Trigger points (TrP) as a fascia-related disorder

5.8 Fascia-related disorders: hypermobility

5.9 Anatomy of the plantar fascia

Part 6 Diagnostic procedures for fascial elasticity

6.1 Diagnostic procedures for fascial elasticity : An introduction

6.2 Fascial palpation

6.3 Hypermobility and the hypermobility syndrome: assessment and management

Part 7 Fascia-oriented therapies

7.1 Inclusion criteria and overview

7.2 Trigger Point Therapy

7.3 Rolfing® Structural Integration

7.4 Myofascial induction approaches

7.5 Osteopathic manipulative therapies and fascia

7.6 Connective tissue manipulation

7.7 Fascial manipulation

7.8 Managing dysfunctional scar tissue

7.9 Acupuncture as a fascia-oriented therapy

7.10 Gua shua

7.11 Prolotherapy

7.12 Neural therapy

7.13 Dynamic fascial release: Manual and tool assisted vibrational therapies

7.14 Graston Technique®:A contemporary instrument assisted mobilization method for the evaluation & treatment of soft tissue lesions

7.15 The Fascial Distortion Model

7.16 Frequency specific microcurrent

7.17 Surgery and scarring

7.18 Temperature effects on fascia

7.19 Neurodynamics: Movement for neuropathic pain states

7.20 Stretching and fascia

7.21 Fascia in yoga therapeutics

7.22 Pilates and Fascia: The art of ‘Working In’

7.23 Nutrition model to reduce inflammation in musculoskeletal and joint diseases

7.24 Fascial fitness: Suggestions for a fascia oriented training approach in sports and movement therapies

SECTION III RESEARCH DIRECTIONS

Part 8 Fascia research: methodological challenges and new directions

8.1 Fascia, the clinic and fundamental scientific research: Considering the scientific process

8.2 Imaging: Ultrasound

8.3 MRI and Elastography

8.4 Roles of fascia in molecular biology of adaptation of muscle size

8.5 Mathematical modelling

Glossary

Robert Schleip, PhD, MA , Director Fascia Research Project, Ulm University Germany; Research Director European Rolfing Association; Director Deutche Gesellschaft fur Myofascial Release; Registered Naturopath, Certified Rolfing & Feldenkrais Teacher; Carla Stecco, MD, Orthopaedic Surgeon; Professor of Human Anatomy and Movement Science, University of Padua, Italy; Mark Driscoll, Eng, PhD, Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, McGill University; Canada NSERC Chair Design Engineering for Interdisciplinary Innovation of Medical Technologies; Director of the Musculoskeletal Biomechanics Research Lab at McGill University; Co-director of the Orthopaedic Research Lab, Montreal General Hospital; Associate member, Biomedical Engineering, McGill University; Professional Engineer with the Order of Engineers of Quebec, Canada and Peter Huijing, PhD, Professor of Biomechanics and Physiology, Research Instituut MOVE, Faculteit Bewegingswetenschappen, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands