In recent years, fascia has gained popularity in the fields of training, rehabilitation, and recovery. This is due in part to a growing understanding of the important role that it plays in the body.
Many people recognize the benefits of targeting the tissue in various types of treatment and training have had an impact.
So this article is a more in-depth, sciency look at fascia.
What Is Fascia?

Fascia is a type of connective tissue that surrounds and supports various structures within the body, including muscles, bones, and organs. It plays a crucial role in human movement, as it helps to provide support, stability, and flexibility to the body.
One of it’s main functions is to support and protect the structures within the body. It helps to hold organs in place and to provide a protective barrier around them. Fascia also provides support to muscles, helping them to maintain their shape and function.
In addition, it helps to stabilize the body and to maintain proper posture. It connects and supports various structures within the body, helping to hold them in place and to prevent excessive movement.
Fascia also plays a role in flexibility and movement. It surrounds and interpenetrates muscles, allowing for smooth and coordinated movement. The ground substance of fascia is composed of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and proteoglycans, which help to maintain the hydration and elasticity of the tissue. This allows fascia to stretch and move with the body, helping to facilitate movement.
Overall, fascia is an important component of the body’s musculoskeletal system, and it plays a crucial role in movement and stability.

The Structure of Fascia
At the most basic level, fascia is made up of cells, which are the building blocks of the tissue. These cells are embedded within an extracellular matrix (ECM), which is a structural network of proteins and other molecules that surrounds and supports the cells.
The ECM is made up of several different components. There are fibers such as collagen and elastin, and a ground substance made up of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and proteoglycans.
The fibers within the ECM provide support and structure to the tissue, while the ground substance helps to maintain its hydration and elasticity. The ECM also plays a role in communication between cells and in the immune response.
The Extracellular Matrix

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is the structural network of proteins and other molecules that surrounds cells within tissues.
It plays a crucial role in supporting and regulating the functions of cells. In fascia, the ECM helps to provide support and structure to the tissue.
It may also plays a role in communication between cells and in the immune response.
Cells In Fascia
There are several different types of cells within fascia, each with specific functions. These cells include:
- Fibroblasts: These are the most abundant cells in fascia. They produce and maintain the structural components of the tissue. They produce collagen, elastin, and other fibers, as well as the ground substance of the ECM.
- Macrophages: These are immune cells that help to remove debris and promote tissue repair. They are able to phagocytose (ingest and digest) foreign particles and damaged tissue, and they also produce cytokines (signaling molecules) that help to coordinate the immune response.
- Mast cells: These cells are involved in inflammation and immune responses. They release chemicals such as histamine and heparin. This can lead to swelling and increased blood flow to the area.
- Adipocytes: Also known as fat cells, these cells store energy in the form of fat. They are found within the subcutaneous layer of fascia. They help to insulate and protect the body.
Overall, the various types of cells within fascia work together to maintain the structural integrity and function of the tissue, and to promote healing and repair when needed.
Fibrous Proteins
Several types of fibrous proteins found within fascia, each with specific functions that contribute to the overall structure and function of the tissue. These fiber proteins include:
- Collagen fibers: These are the most abundant fibers in fascia, and they provide strength and support to the tissue. They are made up of long, rod-like molecules that are arranged in a parallel fashion. This gives them their strength. Collagen fibers are responsible for the tensile strength of fascia, meaning they help it resist stretching and pulling forces.
- Elastin fibers: These fibers are more flexible and elastic than collagen fibers, and they allow for movement. Elastin fibers are long, wavy molecules that are able to stretch and then return to their original shape.
- Reticular fibers: These fibers form a delicate network within fascia, and they help to support smaller structures such as blood vessels and nerves. They are made up of thin, collagenous fibers that are arranged in a branching pattern.
Overall, the various types of fiber proteins within fascia work together to provide structure, support, and flexibility to the tissue. They help to resist forces applied to the tissue and allow for movement, and they also contribute to the overall elasticity and resilience of the tissue.
Ground Substance
The ground substance of fascia is a gel-like matrix that surrounds the cells and fibers within the tissue. It is composed of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and proteoglycans. These large, complex molecules are composed of sugars and proteins. The ground substance helps to maintain the hydration and elasticity of the tissue, and it also plays a role in communication between cells and in the immune response.
GAGs are long chains of sugars that are highly hydrophilic (water-loving), meaning they are able to hold onto and retain large amounts of water. This helps to keep the tissue hydrated and gives it its elasticity. There are several different types of GAGs, including hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulfate, and dermatan sulfate.
Proteoglycans have a protein core with one or more GAGs attached. They are also highly hydrophilic, and they help to maintain the hydration of the tissue. Proteoglycans also play a role in communication between cells, as they can bind to and interact with various signaling molecules.
Overall, the ground substance of fascia plays a crucial role in maintaining the structural integrity and function of the tissue. It helps to provide support, hydration, and elasticity to the tissue, and it also plays a role in communication and immune responses.

Improving Fascia
There are several different approaches to working with fascia, including manual therapy techniques, instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM), and nutrition.
These are important because your movement, range of motion, and performance suffer when fascia densifies or becomes fibrotic.
Manual therapy techniques involve the use of hands-on techniques such as massage and stretching to manipulate the fascia and other soft tissues. These techniques improve flexibility, reduce muscle soreness and tension, and support the body’s natural healing processes.
IASTM involves the use of specially designed instruments to manipulate the fascia and other soft tissues. These instruments have a variety of shapes and textures. They apply precise pressure to specific areas of the body.
IASTM is thought to be particularly effective at breaking down scar tissue and adhesions within the fascia.
Nutrition can also play a role in supporting the health and function of the tissue. Adequate hydration is important for maintaining the elasticity and hydration of the tissue, and a diet rich in nutrients such as collagen and antioxidants may also be beneficial for supporting the health of the fascia.
Overall, these approaches support the health and function of the fascia and other soft tissues either by themselves, or in combination.
Summary TL;DR
Fascia is a type of connective tissue that surrounds and supports various structures within the body, including muscles, bones, and organs. It is an important component of the body’s musculoskeletal system, and it plays a crucial role in movement and stability.
There are several reasons why fascia is important for fitness and wellness. First, it provides support and protection to the structures within the body, helping to hold organs in place and to provide a protective barrier around them. It also helps to stabilize the body and to maintain proper posture.
In addition, it helps to facilitate movement by surrounding and interpenetrating muscles, allowing for smooth and coordinated movement.
The ground substance of fascia is composed of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and proteoglycans, which help to maintain the hydration and elasticity of the tissue. This allows fascia to stretch and move with the body, helping to facilitate movement.
Finally, fascia is involved in the body’s natural healing processes. It contains various cells such as fibroblasts and macrophages, which help to remove debris and promote tissue repair. Working with the fascia through techniques such as massage and stretching can help to support these natural healing processes and improve overall fitness and wellness.