Why Fascia Matters

Welcome to another edition of the Doctor's Note where we talk about what's on our minds when it comes to your health.

This week I sat down with Dr. Scott Fitzpatrick, a renowned acupuncturist and friend of the practice, to dive deep into a topic that's often overlooked but absolutely essential to our well-being: FASCIA. Most of us know fascia as connective tissue that wraps around our muscles, but recent research shows it's so much more complex and influential than we ever imagined. We unpacked the evolving definition of fascia, discussing its role as a living, responsive network that envelops every part of the body, reacts to mechanical stimuli, and supports everything from movement to healing. It's amazing to realize that this “structural glue” doesn't just hold us together structurally—it also participates in pain signaling, movement efficiency, and even communication between different tissues.

Dr. Fitzpatrick shared insights from both traditional and modern medicine, connecting the dots between how fascia interacts with acupuncture, physical therapy, and even modalities like ultrasound and cupping. We touched on the variety of fascial types throughout the body and how issues with these tissues manifest as pain—especially the nagging, unexplained types that keep people coming back to their doctors or therapists. Chronic pain in the back, shoulders, and joints often traces back to fascial restriction or dysfunction, and addressing these layers is crucial for effective, lasting relief. It was clear from our conversation that forward-thinking pain management relies heavily on understanding—and respecting—the complexities of fascia.

PODCAST NOTES

• Fascia is More Than Connective Tissue: The modern understanding of fascia is that it’s any structure in your body that responds to mechanical stimulation, not just the “wrapping” around muscles. Fascia is involved in nearly every cell and organ—and has a hand in functions as diverse as movement, healing, and communication across body systems. The implications are enormous in terms of diagnosing and treating pain or movement disorders.

• Different Fascia Types for Different Jobs: Fascia isn’t one uniform sheet—it varies remarkably throughout the body, becoming rigid, flexible, or soft depending on the job it needs to do. There are six major fascia categories, from the tough, silver skins you find on a chicken breast to the soft granulated fascial tissue in scars and organs like the thymus and spleen. This diversity makes fascia adaptable, but also means that problems can occur in very specific, localized ways.

• Pain Often Starts in the Fascia: When everything else checks out—X-rays, MRIs, and orthopedic procedures find nothing wrong—chronic pain often can be traced to stuck or inflamed fascia. For example, many people struggle with persistent lower back pain without any structural issues in the bones or discs. This is increasingly believed to result from irritated nerve endings within the fascial layers, causing ongoing discomfort and even limiting movement.

• Fascia has its own Nerve Supply: Unlike what we’re taught early on, fascia isn’t inert. It's loaded with nerve endings and is intensely sensitive to stretch, pressure, and injury. These nerves play a huge role in relaying pain signals, contributing to complex issues like fibromyalgia, chronic headaches, and mysterious aches that don’t have a clear muscular or skeletal source.

• Hydration is Key to Fascia Health: Good hydration is essential because fascia is best able to move and function when well-lubricated, both at a cellular and systemic level. Supplements like CREATINE help to hydrate muscle and fascia, while hyaluronic acid (frequently injected in joints for lubrication) is a key component in keeping tissue surfaces slick and moving freely. Dehydrate your fascia, and you set the stage for stiffness, adhesions, and pain.

• Treatment Goes Beyond Medications: While medications have their place, some of the most direct and beneficial ways to treat fascial problems include physical therapies that focus on fascia specifically. Acupuncture, cupping (especially the technique of moving cups along fascia lines), massage, and even ultrasound all work on breaking up adhesions and restoring the normal slide and glide between fascial layers. These modalities can jumpstart the healing process where traditional meds might just mask symptoms.

• Movement Matters: Just as important as any therapy is staying active and moving through all planes of motion. The “use it or lose it” principle applies to fascia—when we stop using certain movements, our fascia stiffens and restricts, causing pain and poor posture. Regular movement, stretching, and techniques like yoga or targeted physical therapy help keep fascial planes supple and resilient as we age.

• Fascia's Role in Overall Health: Dysfunctional fascia can compromise much more than just joints or muscles. It can affect circulation, impair nerve signals, block lymphatic drainage, and even contribute to emotional health issues. Conditions like fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue often have a strong fascial component, making it crucial to address fascia in holistic health strategies—not just focus on one isolated body part or symptom.

The more we learn about fascia, the more we realize it holds the keys to effective pain management and vibrant movement as we age. If you're struggling with lingering pain or stiffness—and traditional treatments haven't fully helped—it may be time to look deeper into how your fascia is functioning. 

Don’t wait for the pain to get worse. Ask your provider about therapies that target these fascial layers, stay hydrated, move daily, and consider adding key supplements to your routine. Your healthiest, most supple self is waiting on the other side—let’s keep moving (and learning) together!

Stay educated. Stay healthy. 

Till next week.