Fascia System Support
The fascia system is a complex
structure that offers support to the
following areas;
• Structural support and stability
to the skeletal system
• Bone protection
• Skeletal cushioning and
protection
• Individual muscular division
• Collective muscular division
• Muscular cushioning and
protection
• Individual body organ division
• Collective body organ division
• Body organ protection
• Intra-cellular metabolism
• Intra-cellular respiration
• Intra-cellular communication
• Toxic and waste elimination
lungs, brain and spinal cord. The most
interesting aspect of the fascia system
is that it is not just a system of separate
coverings. It is actually one structure
that exists from head to hoof without
interruption. So the entire body is
connected to every other part of the
body by the fascia, like the yarn in a
sweater.
Fascia also plays an important role
in the support of our bodies, since it
surrounds and attaches to all structures.
These structures would not be able
to provide the stability without the
constant pull of the fascia system. In
fact, the bones can be thought of as
tent poles, which cannot support the
structure without the constant support
of the guide wires (or fascia) to keep an
adequate amount of tension to allow the
tent (or body) to remain upright with
proper equilibrium.
In the normal healthy state, the fascia
is relaxed and wavy in configuration.
It has the ability to stretch and move
without restriction. When the
horse experience physical trauma or
inflammation, however, the fascia loses
its pliability. It becomes tight, restricted
and a source of tension to the rest of the
body.
The myofascial system
The myofascial system consists of 3
layers: deepest Myofascial layer, deep
myofascial layer and superficial layer.
When an area of body tissue or a
body organ experiences an abnormal
and damaging degree of pressure, its
immediately surrounding myofascial
fibres will tighten, that will serve as
Causes of Myofascial malfunctions:
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An excessive range of
motion beyond the
horses recognized
levels of ability
breeding in relation to
work and muscle fibre
type
bad/ disrespectful
riding
bruising
falls
injuries
scar tissue
tack
conformation
postural tension
emotional tension
If the original cause isn’t
treated, the malfunctions
November 2015 • Issue 26 • Everything Horse Magazine
will start to spread to the
nearby muscles, tendons,
myofascial layer and will
feed off each other and
continue to affect each
other. This will create
further malfunctions
and further pain and
discomfort. This can lead to:
• compensatory
locomotion
• uneven muscular
development
• Areas of structural
misalignment such as
tilted, rotated and/ or
misaligned vertebrae
• emotional imbalances
• character change
• respiratory strain
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