What is Fascia?

Fascia is a web of tough, elastic connective tissue that surrounds every tissue in the body, creating an interconnected web system. Healthy fascia is stretchy, springy, slippery and well hydrated, covered by a lubricating fluid.

What is fascia’s role in the body?

Fascia plays many roles in the body system;

  1. Efficient movement: Fascia stores kinetic energy like an elastic band or spring, which enables tissues to rebound after force is applied, creating more fluid, efficient movement.
  2. Force distribution: Fascia connects all tissues of the body. It absorbs shock which allows forces to be carried up and forwards from the hindlimbs smoothly and with as little impact as possible.
  3. Proprioception: Fascia contains a high density of receptors that help the brain understand where its body is in space. Healthy, well-hydrated fascia acts to support safe movement within normal ranges, as well as sending feedback to the brain when movements or positions are abnormal. The brain can use this information to recruit the correct muscles and movements to avoid injury.
  4. Mobility: Fascia’s ability to stretch and glide in all directions allows the tissues of the body to act independently in movement by sliding over one another.

What causes dysfunction in fascia?

Fascia can become dysfunctional or painful when it is put under abnormal forces or conditions.

Dysfunctional or painful fascia becomes dehydrated, causing a reduction in its extensibility, as well as reducing its ability to slide and move freely as the lubricating fluid becomes thicker and stickier. Sometimes fascia can become thickened due to repetitive overuse, and adhesions can occur when layers of fascia become so sticky that they stick to each other, or even other structures that they touch. These factors reduce pain-free mobility in our pets.

The primary drivers of fascial dysfunction are:

  1. Compensatory Movement: If a pet is struggling with pain in an area of their body, they shift their weight away from the painful area. Over time, this altered gait and posture overloads fascia elsewhere (like the neck or lower back).
  2. Repetitive Stress: Fetch games with sharp turns, abrupt stops, or jumping for frisbees repetitively, without the proper conditioning to support the movements safely, cause micro-tears and dense collagen buildup in specific fascial areas.
  1. Dehydration: Fascia needs to remain hydrated to maintain its slippery qualities. If your pet is dehydrated their fascia may become sticky and less stretchy.
  2. Uncontrolled small high-velocity movements: Repeatedly slipping on hardwood or tile forces the fascia to contract continuously just to maintain traction. This leads to excess abnormal stress placed on areas of fascia.
  3. Trauma, Injury or Surgery: Scar tissue from surgical incisions or injuries can produce areas of fascia that are less stretchy. This can cause discomfort and changes in gait as they avoid movement in the more restricted areas. If scars heal badly, adhesions can also form between layers of tissue, resulting in some areas becoming stuck together, preventing them from being able to slide smoothly over one another.
  4. Disuse or inactivity: inactivity can reduce circulation to tissue structures such as fascia, leading to dehydration and reduced lubrication. Inactivity can also result in fascia not being stretched and moved, resulting in stiff, less stretchy fascia.

What are some signs of fascial dysfunction or pain?

Signs of fascial discomfort can often be very subtle, as our pets are extremely good at “hiding” their discomfort. Some of the easier signs to spot are:

  1. Coat changes: you may notice areas of your pets’ coat changing direction or standing up unusually. This can be a sign of discomfort as fascia may be creating tension on the skin, or the coat change may be because of them licking an area that is uncomfortable.
  2. Sensitivity to touch: you may notice that your pet’s skin might “twitch or shiver” when you touch them, even with gentle pressure. This sign is most easily observed over their back.
  3. Movement changes: you may notice that your pets’ movement looks “off”, or abnormal for them. It might be that they are overloading an area of fascia or may be avoiding placing stretch onto a restricted fascial area.
  4. Stiffness after inactivity or in cold weather
  5. Restlessness: If you notice your pet is struggling to find a comfortable position to lie in, and is tossing and turning and readjusting, they may be struggling with fascial discomfort or restrictions.
  6. Behavioural changes around activities: If you notice your pet is avoiding activity that they normally enjoy or do very willingly, it may be a sign of discomfort or reduced stretchiness of their fascia, causing it to be uncomfortable to do those activities or movements. (some examples are cats not wanting to use their climbing trees, dogs avoiding getting into or out of the car, dogs who normally enjoy jogging might be reluctant to trot, and rather walk or canter, hesitating before climbing onto furniture etc)
  7. Reluctance to be touched, brushed, or have harnesses put on: dysfunctional fascia can become very sensitive and tender. Pets with fascial discomfort might become averse to be touched. This could be when being pet, when having their harness put on, being brushed or even using a doggy/cat door that requires then to push under the flap.

What can we do to improve our pets’ fascial health?

Fascia is a complex system, and keeping it healthy and happy is a multi-faceted task. Keep an eye out on future content this month, as we will be diving into testing your pets’ fascia for discomfort as well as improving your pets’ fascial health by implementing simple lifestyle and management strategies! Stay tuned!

Bianca Duthie