Fascia is a continuous network of connective tissue made primarily of collagen. It surrounds and connects our muscles, bones, organs, nerves, blood vessels, and other tissues. It is involved in movement, flexibility, circulation, tissue support, and sensory communication throughout the body.
Healthy fascia is flexible, hydrated, and able to glide and move freely. Because fascia is rich in sensory nerves, it also plays an important role in helping the body sense position, movement, tension, and pain. In simple terms, it helps different parts of the body communicate and work together.
When fascia isn’t functioning optimally, it can become stiff, dehydrated, less mobile, or inflamed. This can contribute to feelings of tightness, restricted movement, discomfort, and impaired tissue function.
So, what can affect fascia?
Hormonal changes are one factor that can influence connective tissue. This becomes particularly interesting for women because hormones fluctuate significantly throughout the menstrual cycle and during perimenopause and menopause.
Even during a woman’s monthly cycle, changing hormone levels can influence the connective tissue environment and how collagen is remodelled. As estrogen and other hormones fluctuate, tissues can experience changes in elasticity, hydration, and stiffness.
During perimenopause and menopause, declining and fluctuating estrogen can also affect collagen production and connective tissue health. This may be one piece of the puzzle when women suddenly begin experiencing increased stiffness, aches, changes in mobility, and a feeling that their body doesn’t move the way it used to.
For men, testosterone and other hormonal factors also influence muscle and connective tissue characteristics. However, fascia is not affected by hormones alone.
For both men and women, factors such as inactivity, repetitive movement, injury, inflammation, aging, excess body weight, and prolonged physical stress can influence connective tissue health.
What does this have to do with weight and metabolism?
This is where fascia gets particularly interesting.
Fascia interacts closely with muscles, fat tissue, blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, and other structures involved in movement and metabolism. Research is beginning to show that changes in the extracellular matrix and connective tissue may be associated with obesity, metabolic dysfunction, and changes in fat tissue.
Let’s look at some of the potential outcomes of impaired connective tissue function:
1. Reduced flexibility and range of motion
When tissues become stiff and less mobile, movement can become more difficult. This may limit what you are able to do during exercise and everyday activities. Less movement can then make it harder to maintain muscle mass, build strength, and expend energy — all important components of metabolic health.
2. Changes in fat tissue behavior
Emerging research suggests that the connective tissue surrounding fat and muscle may play a role in how fat tissue develops and functions. In obesity and metabolic disease, changes to the extracellular matrix may contribute to tissue stiffness and changes in how fat cells behave. Basically, impairing metabolism as certain cells shift toward the formation of fat cells
3. Impaired circulation and lymphatic flow
Fascia helps regulate lymphatic flow, nutrient and fluid distribution, and waste removal. When fascia becomes stiff or fibrotic, the above functions do not work optimally, and everything “backs up or slows down” which leads to reduced fat mobilization.
4. Greater tissue stiffness and fibrosis
Chronic inflammation, metabolic stress, inactivity, aging, and excess adipose tissue can contribute to changes in the extracellular matrix and increased tissue stiffness.
Over time, tissues may become less adaptable and more resistant to movement.
So, can unhealthy fascia stop you from losing weight?
Not exactly. Your energy intake, energy expenditure, hormones, sleep, stress, muscle mass, activity levels, and many other factors all play important roles.
However, if you are doing everything “right” and still not getting results then fascia and connective tissue can be a factor and something to address.
Stay tuned as next week we will take a deeper dive into fascia’s affects.
Sensitivity of the fasciae to sex hormone levels: Modulation of collagen-I, collagen-III and fibrillin production | PLOS ONE
https://www.goldmanlaboratories.com/blogs/blog/before-and-after-collagen
Mikkie Nettles-Pollon, Certified Personal Trainer/Holistic & Sports Nutritionist
Not sure where to begin, contact me at info@deemhealth.ca
250-541 -0411.
www.deamhealth.ca
DEEM Health on Facebook/Instagram
