Fasciatherapy is a manual approach, focusing on the fascia. These connective tissue membranes continue throughout the human body. During trauma, malposition, stress … the fascia retract causing pain. The fasciatherapist restores flexibility through his fine touch. It is therefore aimed at all types of patients, from infants to the elderly, including athletes. Discover this gentle and beneficial therapy.

The main principles

Fasciae are a connective tissue membrane just like tendons and ligaments. They do not have defined contours and connect the anatomical elements between them. Although still often unknown to the general public, they are observed and brought to light for the first time in 1800 by Bichat and then in 1936 by Salomon. Mainly made up of collagen giving them a gelatinous appearance. They are divided into 3 connected layers: the superficial layer (present directly under the skin), deep (at the level of the neck, thorax, abdominal and pelvic cavity) and the meningeal layer (mainly intracranial and made up of the dura mother, magpie and arachnoid).

This fine fibrous membrane is translucent, malleable and envelops all bodily structures: muscles, bones, arteries, organs. They serve as a matrix, a support for the human body. They are found everywhere in the body ensuring a certain continuity between the different systems. The fasciae are innervated and vascularized, and also – thanks to the tubular fibers – allow passage of lymphatic fluid. This is why it is important to have a therapeutic approach towards them. During trauma, bad positions, dysfunctions, or stress … the fascia will have a tendency to retract, to lose visco-elasticity. This loss of mobility (we speak of “adhesion”) and this reduction in the sliding of the structures leads to an alteration of the vascularization and fluid intake which may be the source of acute or chronic pain, muscle cramps, digestive disorders, neuralgia, headaches, tired…

Over the years, research has demonstrated the capacity of fascia contraction. These could increase body tension. The presence of sensitive sensors within the fascia has shown that the fascia is more sensitive to pain than the muscle.

Fasciatherapy has principles common to so-called “alternative” therapies such as:

Fasciatherapy in sports

As explained previously, fasciae have great adaptability and react to stresses and strains. They react very well to movement and their solicitation can help to acquire flexibility. However, too intense or poorly performed exercise can lead to injury or pain. Adhesion and retraction of the fasciae may be reduced by mobilization or pressure in painful areas or found dense on palpation.

Fasciatherapy can be very useful in tendonitis, capsulitis or plantar fasciitis (fibrosis of the fascia of the plantar arch). During trauma, such as an ankle sprain for example, the fascias will tend to retract, impacting the good circulation of fluids (lymphatic fluid that can create edema). Fasciatherapy turns out to be a privileged ally in order to regain correct tissue quality and mobility in the affected joint more quickly.

The more the fasciae are worked, the more they react to the request and the more they gain in elasticity. This advantage allows the athlete to gain flexibility and mobility, which ultimately produces increased performance.

• Globality: the human being is a whole made up of different parts linked together. It takes into account the physical and psychic component, both interacting with each other.
• Homeostasis or self-regulation: the body has to a lesser extent the capacity to recover from certain disorders.

Fasciatherapy with its fine and precise touch can reach a very large audience. The list below is by no means exhaustive.

Bronchitis, asthma …

Fasciatherapy is proving to be a major asset in the management of respiratory disorders. In fact, the therapist will pay particular attention to restoring flexibility and elasticity to the rib cage, which is particularly concerned in these pathologies.

Neuralgia, migraines …

Fasciatherapy is very useful for disorders of the cephalic sphere. Whether it is in the event of a headache, a sensation of “electric” shock, the therapist will take care to look for areas of tension in the skull and cervical areas. Then by its fine touch it will work to restore mobility to these structures.

Trauma

During trauma, such as a sprain for example, the fascia will retract. This retraction causes a loss of viscoelasticity of the fascia, resulting in a decrease in mobility. In addition, the retraction will hamper the proper circulation of fluids, especially lymphatic fluid, leading to edema during the sprain. The fine and precise touch of the therapist will be able to approach the painful area without constraint in order to restore flexibility to these fascias.

Senescence

Senescence is a time of changes in the body. There is loss of mobility in the joints, muscle wasting and tissue retraction. These changes sometimes bring their share of pain. The fasciatherapist can help restore joint mobility and greater tissue flexibility.

Infants and children

Fasciatherapy is also aimed at the little ones. During childbirth, constraints are exerted on the infant’s skull, sometimes leading to plagiocephaly, intestinal disorders … the fasciatherapist is effective because of this finesse of the hand and this quality of perception.

For children too, during growing pains, scoliosis …

The specialist

He can be a doctor, physiotherapist, osteopath, or exclusively a therapist.

Like any therapist, he must be attentive, caring and passionate. It must have a fine touch, capable of detecting areas of tension. He adapts to his patient, according to his age, his antecedents.

Course of a session

As we have seen previously, the principles of wholeness and homeostasis guide the fasciatherapy session. During the session, after having identified your reason for consultation, and your history, the therapist places his hands on the patient’s body. The hands are “listening” and feel the inherent natural movement of the fascia and any tensions or areas of tissue density. The touch is very fine, subtle, and must be trained in order to detect possible “traumas”. In order to restore mobility to the fascia, the therapist induces light gentle pressures. As we have seen, the fasciae are a real matrix of the human body. They are interconnected. This is why the practitioner will take an interest in the whole body, globally in order to relieve your pain.

Usually a session lasts 45 minutes to 1 hour and can be repeated 2 to 3 times depending on the reason for the consultation. Only one session may also be necessary.

There are different techniques: “listening” techniques, deep massage, Rolfing, postural integration, myofascia or trigger point release (practiced by many therapists, it aims to release tension through specific points called “ trigger points ”). All of these various therapies are aimed at restoring the initial function of the fascia, that is to say, restoring its elasticity, its viscosity and therefore its sliding and plasticity capacities.

The formation in fasciathérapie

As we have seen, the origin of fasciatherapy is claimed by different therapeutic currents. The training courses are therefore multiple and diverse.

Osteopaths learn fasciatherapy during their training. The latter is carried out in schools approved by the Ministry of Health and takes 5 years.

Fasciatherapy is also of interest to doctors and physiotherapists. The latter are formed in 3 years, and obtain the “University Diploma of Fasciatherapy”.

The fasciatherapy developed by Christian Carini is called “fasciapulsology”. The training lasts 3 years and leads to the Certificate in fasciapulsology. After 2 additional years of postgraduate studies, the student can access the Diploma in fasciapulsology.

Cons-indications

Fasciatherapy does not have absolute contraindications. Indeed, the touch exerted by the therapist turns out to be of great finesse. We will still mention fractures, wounds, during fever, infectious processes, cardiopulmonary attacks …

However, there are so-called relative contraindications. That is, the therapist will not dwell on the pathogenic area. The following list is by no means exhaustive. The therapist will be more careful during for example: in the event of inguinal or crural hernias, herniated disc, migraine attack …

Manual therapy has diverse and distant origins, Hippocrates in his time was already developing mobilization techniques. Whatever the origin of fasciatherapy is the subject of multiple debates, each claiming paternity. It will only be a question here of evoking the history of fascia therapy in the broad sense.

As the discovery of fascia progressed, therapies were conceptualized in the 1980s to promote them and “treat” fascia tensions. Among these different gentle approaches, we find Rolfing, Hellerwork (these 2 practices are similar to vigorous and deep body massages), fasciapulsology (conceptualized by Danis Bois MK) and fasciatherapy (theorized by Christian Carini MK). It should be noted that fasciatherapy is also one of the branches of osteopathy. These so-called “soft” techniques were developed by William Garner Sutherland (for the cranial aspect) around 1940 and more recently by Pierre Tricot (for the tissue aspect).

Biological research is advancing more and more. As previously written, Bichat highlighted them at the beginning of the 1930th century, followed by Salomon in the XNUMXth century, then Ida Rolf (biochemist) in XNUMX who will study its plastic properties. This will lead him to theorize “Rolfing”.

Osteopath DO by training and working in a private practice in Paris, I see all types of patients. Sometimes it is necessary to adapt my techniques to the patient. Fasciatherapy is then very indicated. Patients who discover it for the first time are sometimes questioning. Indeed the hand affixed to the body seems not to move. How then can the therapist act? It is through communication and by appealing to the feelings of the patient that I manage to make them understand. This technique is not without side effects. Some patients feel tired, or even a little stiffness after the session. A well-trained therapist will have all your confidence when your symptoms are gone!