What is Connective Tissue
There are several types of connective tissue, including:
Loose connective tissue: Composed of loosely arranged collagen fibers with a gel-like ground substance. It provides support and elasticity to surrounding structures.
Adipose tissue: Specialized to store fats. It acts as a cushion, insulator, and energy storage site for the body.
Dense fibrous connective tissue: Tightly packed collagen fibers arranged in parallel bundles. It provides strength and support to tendons and ligaments.
Elastic connective tissue: Elastic fibers that allow it to stretch and recoil. It is found in structures that require elasticity, such as the lungs and blood vessels.
Cartilage: Firm & flexible tissue that provides support and cushioning to the joints and other structures in the body. It is avascular and lacks nerve fibers.
All of these are in a more significant category called Fascia.
Fascia is a complex network of connective tissue that surrounds and connects muscles, organs, and other structures in the body. It is made up of collagen and elastin fibers, which gives it flexibility and strength. The types of connective tissues mentioned earlier, such as loose, dense, fibrous, and elastic connective tissue, are all components of Fascia. Adipose tissue can also be found within the Fascia, providing cushioning and insulation. Additionally, cartilage, although not directly part of the Fascia, can interact with it and contribute to the structural integrity of the body. Overall, these various types of connective tissues play a role in providing support, structure, and flexibility within the Fascial system.
The intricate web of Fascia, which connects and supports every part of our body, is a testament to the complexity and beauty of human anatomy. Recent breakthroughs in our understanding of the body's connective tissue in the late 20th and early 21st centuries have been game-changers as advances in technology and research methodologies allowed scientists to delve deeper into the intricacies of connective tissue. These breakthroughs have not only uncovered its role in muscle function, movement, and overall bodily health but also paved the way for ongoing discoveries and a greater appreciation of its importance in the body. Thus, Connective tissue plays a crucial role in muscle function, providing support, elasticity, and structure, which are essential for movement and bodily balance.
So, how does this relate to Essentrics and us?
Our muscles need to be strong, flexible, and rebalanced throughout the entire body, from toe tips to fingertips. Even as we focus on working the muscles, we're working with connective tissue. Fascia, which many of us are unaware of or overlook, is crucial to obtaining a strong, flexible, and rebalanced body. As suggested above, this web-like connective fascial tissue is like a different fabric, a goo-ie, meshy fabric, surrounding everything, even down to individual cells. But in addition to sheathing the muscles, this connective tissue forms into solid sheets and cables all around our body, creating interconnected chains of Fascia. So, understanding the role of Fascia, which interprets our entire body and interlinks as myofascial chains, is not just exciting but also crucial. This knowledge empowers us to train our bodies effectively and promote longevity. Let's delve into the most significant fascia lines below, equipping us with valuable insights into our body's intricate network.
A. Front Spiral Line*: This chain runs from toe to head and wraps the body from front to back. It begins under the foot on the neus longus tendon, wraps around the inside of the ankle, and travels up the front and side of the lower leg by way of the tibialis anterior, connects with the side and back of the thigh via the iliotibial band (IT), and wrap around the torso and ribcage by means of the internal and external obliques and the serratus anterior muscles. The system then crosses over the back upper torso by way of the rhomboids and terminates at the base of the skull on the splenius capitis & cervicis.
B. Back Spiral Line*: This chain also runs from toe to head. It also begins under the foot on the neus longus tendon, wraps around the outside of the ankle, and travels up the side of the lower leg by way of the peroneals. It connects with the back of the thigh via the biceps femoris muscle, crosses over itself on the sacrotuberous ligament, and continues up the spine by way of the erector spinae muscles. The system then terminates at the base of the skull on the occipital ridge.
*These spiral systems of Fascia connect all the soft tissue structures that help rotate the body as an integrated and coordinated chain.
C. Lateral Line: There are two chains, left and right, here. Each chain starts under the foot and connects with the peroneal muscle as it wraps around the outside of the ankle and up the outside of the lower leg. Then, it integrates with the iliotibial band (IT) running up the outside of the thigh and into the tensor fascia latae and gluteus maximus muscles. It then continues up the side of the torso by way of the obliques and intercostals, where it terminates on the side of the neck.
D. Superficial Back Line: This chain includes the erector spinae, sacrotuberous ligament, hamstrings, gastrocnemius, and plantar Fascia.
E. Superficial Front Line: This chain travels down the body from top to bottom, including the sternocleidomastoid, rectus abdominis, quadriceps, and tibialis anterior.
F. Deep Front Line: This chain includes the longus colli and longus capitis, the diaphragm, the hip flexors, the adductors, and the tibialis posterior.
So, Essentrics helps us work through these interconnected Fascia chains that play a crucial role in bodily movement and coordination. With the full-bodied, subtle, yet profound Essentrics motions, we stretch these connective tissue chains out and free them. In freeing the Fascia, we can better address our muscle chains. Thus, we liberate our entire body, enhancing our flexibility, balance, and overall bodily function.
It is important to remember that research into connective tissue is still in its infancy. As knowledge of connective tissue evolves over the years, it is important not to lock in our current knowledge of the Fascia as the be-all and end-all. We must keep our minds as open and flexible as our bodies, even for the next 10 to 20 years, because the science of connective tissue is constantly evolving.
Here is a salient quote from Dr. J. Glenn Gray and his book 'The Promise of Wisdom' - "Knowledge is not only being able to learn, it is also being able to unlearn and relearn throughout life."
