Fascia: A band or sheet of connective tissue, primarily made of collagen, beneath the skin that attaches, stabilizes, encloses, and separates muscles and other internal organs. Fascia is classified by layer, as superficial fascia, deep fascia, and visceral or parietal fascia, or by its function and anatomical location.
Like ligaments, aponeuroses, and tendons, fascia is made up of fibrous connective tissue containing closely packed bundles of collagen fibers oriented in a wavy pattern parallel to the direction of pull. Fascia is consequently flexible and able to resist great unidirectional tension forces until the wavy pattern of fibers has been straightened out by the pulling force. These collagen fibers are produced by fibroblasts located within the fascia.
Fasciae are similar to ligaments and tendons as they have collagen as their major component. They differ in their location and function: ligaments join one bone to another bone, tendons join muscle to bone, and fasciae surround muscles and other structures.
Fascia also contains most of the water in your body. The water acts like a lubricant during movement. It also keeps the fascia soft and flexible. This is a big part of why staying hydrated is so important. Not having enough water in your body is like driving a vehicle without oil. Fascia is also highly concentrated with nervous tissue. This is a part of why manual therapy, like massage, can be very helpful in relieving pain and restoring range of motion.
