EP 79 When Definitions Change, Understanding Changes: The Evolving Science of Fascia
About this episode
This episode explores the evolving definitions of fascia and their implications for health and movement practices.
Fascia has become a popular word in health and movement spaces, but what does it actually mean? In this episode, I explore why definitions matter and why fascia is not a fixed concept. How we define fascia shapes the questions we ask in research, the way clinicians think about the body, and how we explain pain, healing, and recovery to the people we serve. I walk through the key definitions that have influenced my own thinking, starting with the traditional structural perspective found in Gray’s Anatomy, moving into the widely accepted definition from the Fascia Research Society that reframed fascia as a three-dimensional environment, and then exploring the function-focused definition proposed by John Sharkey and Mark Flannigan. The heart of the episode focuses on a 2024 update to fascial nomenclature by Bordoni and colleagues, which challenges long-held assumptions by grounding the fascial system in embryology. This work expands the fascial continuum beyond solid connective tissues, emphasizing how tissues that develop together, function together, and communicate together cannot be fully understood when separated conceptually. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.53995 Rather than…
People in this episode
Host: MayerWellness
Topics covered
- fascia
- definitions
- health
- movement
- pain
- healing
- embryology
Keywords
- fascia
- definitions
- health
- movement
- pain
- healing
- embryology
- Fascia Research Society
- Gray’s Anatomy
- continuum
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Fascia Research Society
Books & works: Gray’s Anatomy
More episodes of The Fascia-Informed Therapist Podcast; Occupational Therapy, Myofascial Release, Fascial System, Posture, Movement, and More
- EP 85 Lessons from a New Client: We see the body differently.
- EP 83 A New Lens: The Why Behind the Fascia-Informed Practice Book
- EP 82 Understanding Trauma in Our Clients: Research, Brain Science, and Practical Care
- EP 81 Matching, Pacing, Leading: The First Intervention in Fascia‑Informed Care
- EP 80 Pain, Protection, and the Adult Body: What Fascia-Informed Therapists Need to Know About Childhood Sexual Abuse
- Ep 78 From Stress to Stiffness: Fascia and the Healing Response Lessons from Huston, 2022
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The Fascia-Informed Therapist Podcast; Occupational Therapy, Myofascial Release, Fascial System, Posture, Movement, and More podcast page.