One of the most exciting aspects of present-day fascia research is the revelation that the nervous system is far more cognizant of the shakes, bounces, and torques of the fascia than we ever imagined. This is due in part to the discovery of a whole new class of mechanoreceptors embedded within the fascia. But we’re also finding that nerves are remarkably responsive to mechanical deformation. Are there clinical implications here? In most cases, it’s too early to be sure, but lots of folks are paying attention. Count me among them, and if you agree, you should come down to the next Free Enrichment Seminar in Seattle:
This is the second in a series of three Enrichment Seminars. We will explore the various innervations of fascia, the ways that cells and tissues perceive force, the best current explanations for acupuncture meridians, an updated understanding of movement disorders, of synaptic plasticity, and the limitations of a few methods for modeling the nervous system.
The idea with this 3-series of seminars is to provide an overview of the last 15 years of fascia science, to suggest why this matter for our work, and to give us the basic understanding necessary to discuss this stuff with physicians, patients, and colleagues. It’s always, Enrichment Seminars are FREE and open to anyone.
From the Research section:
Mechanotransduction & the Nervous System
We used to think the nervous system didn’t care about its mechanical environment; that its physiology was more or less constant within a wide range of human movements and postures. We don’t think that anymore. Fascial structures like facet joints and retinacula, once thought “dumb”, may be important sensory organs. Things like action potential, axoplasmic flow, and chronic neuroinflammation are all modulated by mechanical stress. The question is, how much, and in what situations, and why should we care?