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Fascia is able to contract in a smooth muscle-like manner and thereby influence musculoskeletal mechanics

PainSci » bibliography » Schleip et al 2006
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Tags: controversy, biology, biomechanics, massage, fascia, debunkery, etiology, pro, manual therapy, treatment

Three pages on PainSci cite Schleip 2006: 1. The Complete Guide to Trigger Points & Myofascial Pain 2. Trigger Point Doubts 3. Does Fascia Matter? 

PainSci commentary on Schleip 2006: ?This page is one of thousands in the PainScience.com bibliography. It is not a general article: it is focused on a single scientific paper, and it may provide only just enough context for the summary to make sense. Links to other papers and more general information are provided wherever possible.

This research established that there are muscle cells in fascia. The finding is relatively straightforward. What makes it interesting is that they concluded that fascial contractions are “strong enough to influence low back stability and other aspects of human biomechanics.” This conclusion seems suspiciously consistent with the interests of the organizations that funded the study.

The data they present clearly shows that fascial contractions are orders of magnitude weaker than what the same mass of muscle tissue can produce. Weak fascial contractions strike me as being scientifically fascinating but clinically boring. I analyze this paper in detail in the article: Does Fascia Matter?.

~ Paul Ingraham

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