Fascia: what is it and why should we always stretch it? – GOOD SHAPE

Fascia, a kind of “hammock” that surrounds our body, can stiffen and cause pain in different regions, especially when we spend hours in the same position every day (common during social isolation). See how to avoid.

It was and still is a somewhat controversial topic within anatomy studies. A fascia has gained different definitions over the years, but it can be understood as “a network of connective tissue formed by bands that involve all the internal parts of the body, from head to toe and that allows the muscles to move freely alongside other structures and reduces the friction between them”, explains physician Marcus Yu Bin Pai (@drmarcuspai), specialist in pain and acupuncture and researcher at USP.

Think of a kind of membrane (mainly made up of collagen) that sits just below the skin and embraces muscles, groups of muscles, bones, nerves, blood vessels and organs. Well, that’s the fascia. But why talk about her?