Pain is a complex process which involves the activation of central nervous system modulatory pathways that can attenuate or enhance the perceived pain via descending inhibitions or facilitations, respectively. Following an injury, nociceptive signal is transmitted to the dorsal horn of the spinal cord along primary afferent fibres. The signal is mediated to the Central
Cell receptors in facial tissue are exposed to an abundance of extracellular signals. The signal is recognised by the receptors, and this signal is decoded according to a complex pathway of intracellular signalling. This signal is translated to an appropriate response by the cell. According to the linked receptor, the signal molecules can respond differently.
Fascia (plural fasciae) is a web of connective tissue under the skin that attaches, stabilises, encloses, and separates muscles and other internal organs. Fascia is the most pervasive, but perhaps least understood network of the human body. From a macroanatomy point of view, scientists are interested in the science of the continuity of myofascia, gliding
Aging is a natural process that can cause significant changes in the neuromyofascia system, including muscles, fascia, and the central and peripheral nervous systems. The structure and function of myofascial tissues will be affected. A review by Alberto Zullo and colleagues published in Frontiers in Physiology summarized the evidence about the harmful effect of aging
The biomechanical properties of the myofascia are mostly assessed by manual palpation and is used to assist in diagnosis and evaluation of therapeutic effect. However, the reliability of manual palpation in a clinical application has always been questioned. Now, a new tool called MyotonPRO is available. It is a handheld instrument that can measure the
Massage is a type of mechanotherapy on muscles that have been shown to improve protein turnover during disuse atrophy. It has also been shown to enhance muscle regrowth during recovery from disuse atrophy in adult muscle. A new study investigated whether massage could cause beneficial adaptations in skeletal muscle from aged rats during normal
That is a million-dollar question. Undoubtedly, massage therapy is very popular among athletes. A 2013 review of soccer recovery strategies found that 78% of French professional teams utilized massage therapy to help athletes recover. During the 2018 FIFA World Cup, France’s national football team played 7 soccer matches in 30 days. Big-name players stressed the
Walking upright is one of the factors that sets us apart from our nonhuman primate cousins and is considered to be one of the main forces behind our evolution into our current Homo sapiens selves. Creating a stable, resilient form with the least calorie usage has been a driving force within nature. Different animals use different strategies
Appreciating the role of fascia in walking leads us to a new understanding of muscles. The old idea of movement via concentric, eccentric, and occasional isometric contraction is simply not how the body works in many functions. The muscles work as a stiffness-adjusting system. Just as a Pilates instructor changes the springs on a reformer
Manual therapy has been known to have positive impacts on various conditions. Trials were usually carried out to find out if a treatment is effective for a specific condition. To understand the mechanism of how manual therapy works and looked at the physiological and biological responses of massage, researchers have used animals as a model.
