myofascial meridians & anatomy trains: the evidence continues to mount
THE EVIDENCE FOR MYOFASCIAL MERIDIANS IS BECOMING DIFFICULT TO IGNORE I was certified in Acupuncture by the late Dr. Jon Sunderledge of the Chicago area clear back in 1991 (I don’t do as much these days, although I’ve started playing with DRY NEEDLING). One of the first things I learned in his classes is that […]
more on the inflammation / fibrosis (scar tissue) connection
THE INFLAMMATION SCAR TISSUE CONNECTIONTHE BEAT GOES ON I have shown you in the past how INFLAMMATION ALWAYS LEADS TO FIBROSIS. And in my recent TWO PART SERIES, I showed you that despite some experts wanting to argue against, Fibrosis is essentially the same thing as Scar Tissue. Although Scar Tissue can form anywhere, it […]
more on the microscopic scar tissue / fibrosis i call ‘fascial adhesions’
SCAR TISSUE OR FIBROSIS?(THE MICROSCOPIC STRUCTURE OF SCARRED FASCIA) NORMAL TISSUE SCAR TISSUE In my last post (HERE), I talked about Scar Tissue and Fibrosis, showing you that no matter what you want to call them, they are essentially the same thing. Today I want to talk a little […]
wikipedia and the scar tissue / fibrosis debate
SCAR TISSUE OR FIBROSIS?DOES IT REALLY MATTER WHAT WE CALL IT? In my clinic, I talk about Scar Tissue —- a lot (HERE). When most of us think of Scar Tissue we picture it as seen above. The wax replica of Frankenstein’s Monster is a mass of scars; on his head, torso, trunk, and limbs. […]
tissue remodeling and the vasovagal response
TISSUE REMODELING AND THE VASOVAGAL RESPONSE Vasovagal Reaction: A reflex of the involuntary nervous system that causes the heart to slow down and that, at the same time, affects the nerves to the blood vessels in the legs permitting those vessels to dilate (widen). As a result the heart […]
dry needling, fascial adhesions, chronic pain, and trigger points
Although the term “Dry Needling” was coined by Dr. Janet Travell in her Magnus Opus (Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction: Trigger Point Manual), it has been around for thousands of years as a form of ACUPUNCTURE. Practitioners use it to treat BOTH SIDES OF THE COIN we call Myofascial Syndrome (TRIGGER POINTS & FASCIAL ADHESIONS). Dr. […]
post-surgical adhesions: abdominal wall -vs- abdominal cavity
“Adhesions are an almost inevitable outcome of surgery, and the problems that they cause are widespread and sometimes severe. It has been said by some that adhesions are the single most common and costly problem related to surgery, and yet most people have not even heard the term. This lack of awareness means that, excluding […]
why fascia? twenty reasons why fascia!
BREAKING THE CHAINSOF CHRONIC PAIN TWENTY REASONS WHY FASCIA IS A PRIME SUSPECT IN THE CAUSE OF MUCH CHRONIC PAIN & CHRONIC ILLNESS “The peripheral nerve is composed of several layers of fascia tissue, which can become a source of pain if the way they slide is impeded. The peripheral nervous system is subjected to a […]
chronic pain and adhesed fascia
CHRONIC PAIN SOLUTIONSFOR ADHESED FASCIA CHRONIC PAIN — according to medical sources, it affects nearly one in three Americans to some degree (about 100 million people). It’s important, however, to understand that not all CHRONIC PAIN is debilitating — much of it is not. “Chronic” simply means that it is ongoing — a nagging ache […]
can the piriformis muscle be overstretched?
A POST-TREATMENT CAUTIONARY TALE “Cold packs…. are applied after exercise or manual therapy. Cold modalities help to decrease pain and inflammation that may have been further triggered by stretching or massage. Remember to stress to patients the importance of light and gradual stretching techniques for the piriformis muscle to avoid overstretching and possible further irritation […]
torn or overstretched fascia?
INJURED FASCIAIS IT TORN (HERNIATED) OR OVERSTRETCHED? Wellcome Image L0061303 Rocco_Cusari Dear Dr. Schierling, I have had constant pain in the right transverse abdominus muscle since FEBRUARY 2015 – as a result of over-stretching. The pain was diagnosed by an acupuncturist as ‘torn fascia’ and I have received several acupuncture treatments since then. I still […]
a piriformis syndrome / thoracolumbar adhesion testimonial
SOLVING A CASE OF SCIATICAA COMBINATION OF PIRIFORMIS SYNDROME & THORACOLUMBAR FASCIA ISSUES Sasha I saw Marlene a few months ago for what she believed to be PIRIFORMIS SYNDROME. Although she had some fairly intense FASCIAL ADHESIONS in her hip / buttock region, that was just for starters. She had the same stuff in her […]
tissue remodeling and central sensitization
TISSUE REMODELING AND CENTRAL SENSITIZATION “At least 100 million adult Americans have common chronic pain conditions, a conservative estimate because it does not include acute pain or children. The costs of unrelieved pain can result in longer hospital stays, increased rates of re-hospitalization, increased outpatient visits, and decreased ability to function fully leading to lost […]
tissue remodeling and the elite powerlifter
POWERLIFTING AND TISSUE REMODELINGA GREAT COMBINATION! Having been fascinated with muscles from the first time I saw Muscle & Fitness on the magazine rack at the Emporia, Dillons / Kroeger as a kid, I started lifting weights my in my senior year of high school. Mind you; when I graduated, I was 6’2″ and not […]
fascial manipulation and the relationship to fibroblastic activity
FASCIAL MANIPULATION AND FIBROBLASTIC ACTIVITY Anatomist90 ANTERIOR NECK MUSCLES Anatomist90 RIB CAGE & ABDOMINAL MUSCLES “The human body must be considered as a functional unit, where every area is in communication with another through the fascial continuum, consequently originating perfect tensegritive equilibrium…The fibroblasts represent the foundation of the fascial system, […]
post-surgical scar tissue
POST-SURGICAL SCAR TISSUEIS THERE ANYTHING TO BE DONE? Dear Dr. Schierling, I recently came across your website and wanted to know if you truly believe that you can help me. I am a very active XX y/o man, who exercises very intensely. In early 2013 I tore my right ACL along with the meniscus, which […]
inflammation always leads to fibrosis (microscopic scar tissue)
INFLAMMATION & FIBROSISINFLAMMATION’S RELATIONSHIP TO THE MICROSCOPIC SCAR TISSUE THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY CALLS “FIBROSIS” FIBROSIS / EMPHYSEMA Yale Rosen NORMAL / HEALTHY LUNGS Patrick J. Lynch, medical illustrator FIBROSIS / EMPHYSEMA Yale Rosen I get it. Some of you might be tired of me beating this drum that concerns the relationship between INFLAMMATION and the […]
breaking fascia (tissue remodeling) can cause a herxheimer reaction
BIOFILMS, HERXHEIMER REACTIONS AND TISSUE REMODELING “Biofilms are increasingly being recognized as the preferred mode of growth of microbes in a wide range of habitats and have a large and varied role in human activities.” From the homepage of the Cambridge University Press’ medical journal, Biofilms “The vast majority of laboratory methods used today examine […]
scar tissue remodeling for chronic problems: why so harsh?
SCAR TISSUE REMODELING AND INFLAMMATIONAND THE POTENTIAL HARSHNESS OF BREAKING THROUGH FASCIAL ADHESIONS Thomas Sørenes “Fibrosis is a process that follows chronic inflammation. Fibrotic tissue is like a scar tissue, thick, and rigid, due to excess accumulation of protein below the skin.” From Sclero.org “Inflammation, like the kind caused by Rheumatoid Arthritis, can lead to […]
is it scar tissue (fibrosis) or something else?
FIBROSIS / SCAR TISSUEINFLAMMATION OR DENSIFICATION?PAINFUL CONNECTIONS: DENSIFICATION -vs- FIBROSIS OF FASCIA Expertnamasaze Luigi Stecco was an Italian PT who wrote a number of books on FASCIA, as well as creating a method of soft tissue treatment he named the Fascial Manipulation Technique. One of the things that interested me when reading about Luigi is […]