• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Massage School Notes

Explorations in the theory and practice of Massage Therapy

  • Home
  • Massage Careers
    • Massage Therapy Careers – Things they will never tell you.
    • Choosing Schools
    • Online Massage Schools -Can you learn massage online?
    • Massage Therapy Schools by State
    • Massage Licensing
    • Licensing vs Certification in Massage vs Certificate
    • The Truth About Salaries
    • Sports Massage Therapist
    • Become a Medical Massage Therapist
    • Male Massage Therapists
    • Job Center
      • Salary Stats
      • IC or Employee
      • Franchise Jobs
  • Find a School
  • Notes
    • Anatomy and Physiology
    • Kinesiology
    • Massage Theory and Practice for Massage School Students
    • Pathology
    • Ethics for massage therapists
    • Glossary of Terms
    • Massage Therapy Research
    • Business/Marketing
      • Websites That Work for Massage Therapists
      • Build a Referal Network for your Massage Business
      • Retaining Massage Clients – Keep Clients coming back.
      • Ethics for massage therapists
      • Massage Insurance Billing
      • Self Care
      • Supervision, Peer Groups, Mentoring
  • Exam Resources
  • News
  • Shop
    • Massage Oils
    • Best Massage Guns for Massage Therapists
    • Best Shoes for massage therapists
    • Massage School Textbooks
    • My Books
You are here: Home / Uncategorized / The Structure and Function of the Fascial System

The Structure and Function of the Fascial System

February 4, 2021 By Julie Onofrio

Conditions: Having completed 6 hours of instruction on the fascial system, the learner is expected to:

• Demonstrate knowledge of the terms and concepts related to the structure and function of the fascial system, on a written examination.

• Demonstrate knowledge of the terms and concepts related to myofascial dysfunction on a written examination.

• Define and discuss fascia, its relationship with muscle tissue, and the structure of myofascia.

• Define and discuss connective tissue and these aspects of connective tissue.

  • Different types of connective tissue:

Fascia

Bone

Cartilage

 Ligaments

 Tendons

 Joint capsules

Periosteum of bones

 Blood

Adipose tissue

Connective tissue, their structure and function:

Connective tissue cells

Fibroblasts

Mast cells

Ground substance

Connective tissue fibers

Collagen

Elastin

Reticular

Properties of connective tissue and the implications for massage or bodywork:

Thixotropy

 Viscoelasticity

 Piezoelectritcity

Adhesiveness

  • Unique characteristics of fascia that make it different from other connective tissue and therefore more responsive to massage or bodywork methods:

 Higher levels of ground substance

Links all body areas together

  • Functions of fascia:

Structural integrity

Tensegrity

Protection and shock absorption

Immune defense

Cellular exchange

  • Locations of fascia and theories of fascial organization such as the idea of horizontal planes, fascial bands, and myofascial chains.
  • Discuss implications for these arrangements of fascia to massage and bodywork.

 Superficial

Deep

Horizontal planes

 Fascial bands

 Myofascial chains

Fascial Dysfunctions

• Myofascial dysfunction

  • Defined
  • Present and discuss general causes and factors that lead to myofascial dysfunction:
  •  Postural habits
  •  Diet
  • Repetitive mechanical stress
  •  Injury
  •  Chronic stress
  • Lifestyle
  • Present and discuss these components of connective tissue, normal function,
  • and dysfunction:
  •  Cells (fibroblasts, chondrocytes, osteocytes)
  • Healthy function
  • Dysfunction
  •  Fibers (collagen, elastin, reticulin)
  • Collagen
  • Formation: present and discuss how collagen fibers are formed.
  • Healthy function
  • Dysfunction
  •  Ground substance
  • Composition
  • Function
  • Dysfunction

Properties of connective tissue and compare and contrast healthy function with dysfunction:

 Thixotropy

Healthy function

Dysfunction

 Viscoelasticity

Healthy function

Dysfunction

Piezoelectricity

Healthy function

Dysfunction

Adhesiveness

Healthy function

Dysfunction

Pain and fascia

  • Sensory receptors and their locations and functions:

Mechanoreceptors

Proprioceptors

Chemoreceptors

Nociceptors

Neurosensory role of soft tissue and the concept that fascia is more pain sensitive than muscle and transmits pain over broad distances through the fascial “web.”

Present and discuss what happens when fascia becomes shortened.

Present and discuss ways to promote myofascial health and implications for massage and bodywork:

“Melt” and “stir” ground substance.

 Increase piezoelectricity.

Reduce fascial restrictions.

 Break adhesive bonds.

Topic The Muscular System (13.0)

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Primary Sidebar

Start Here!

  • Science Literacy
  • Massage State Licensing Requirements
  • Massage School Curriculum
  • History of Massage Therapy
  • Definintions of Massage Therapy
  • Types of Massage Therapy
  • Anatomy and Physiology
  • Kinesiology Notes
  • Massage Theory and Practice
  • Pathology for Massage Therapists
  • Ethics for Massage Therapists
  • Glossary of Terms
  • Test/Exam Resources
  • Massage Therapy Research
  • Massage Business/Marketing
  • Massage Therapy Job Center
  • Supervision, Peer Groups, Mentoring
  • Self Care
  • Disclaimer
  • Policies
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • About
  • Sitemap

© 1999 –2023 as www.thebodyworker.com
now www.massageschoolnotes.com Pine Woods Publishing, LLC Julie Onofrio, LMT.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.