Fascia as a Sensory and Emotional Organ: Implementing New Insights from Connective Tissue Research into Myofascial Treatment Practice
Workshop for Hands-on and Movement Practitioners with Tom Myers and Dr. Robert Schleip
Recent research indicates that the muscular connective tissues (fasciae) serve a more active role than previously assumed. This includes the capacity to regulate their stiffness independently from neuromuscular coordination, the role of fascia as a potential pain generator, and its role as our richest sensory organ for proprioception. In addition, new insights about an intricate connection between fascia and the autonomic nervous system as well as emotional aspects have become available. Dr. Robert Schleip and Tom Myers will review some of the most important insights from the field of fascia research and demonstrate practical translations into hands-on myofascial applications.
Lectures will include:
- Fascia as sensory organ: the basis for proprioception, the so called sixth sense
- The four mechanoreceptor types in fasciae: Golgi-, Pacini-, Ruffini- and free nerve
endings. Each with preferred location, mechanical sensitivity and expected physiological
response - Fascia and interoception. Role of visceral and cutaneous receptors for body image
formation and emotional conditioning - Connection between fascial tonicity and the autonomic nervous system
- The tensegrity concept revisited: myofascial force transmission lines, with latest
modifications. Relevance for postural regulation. - Lumbar fasciae: architecture and innervation. New aspects in back pain research.
Practical Applications:
- Golgi receptor stimulation: application for correction of shoulder protraction
- Pacini stimulation: application to spinal facet joints and costovertebral junctions
- Ruffini stimulation: application on upper trapezius, with downstream effects on vagal
tonicity and heart rate variability - Stimulation of free nerve endings: example of periosteum manipulation.
- Fascial techniques for the treatment of acute low back pain
- ‘Mother Cat‘ technique for nuchal fascia
- Inclusion of mindful micro movements of the patient during the hands‐on work
ROBERT SCHLEIP PHD MA
Robert Schleip PhD MA directs the Fascia Research Project of Ulm University in Germany. Having been a Rolfing instructor and Feldenkrais practitioner for over 20 years, he felt frustrated with the speculative nature of scientific explanations backing up most areas of current bodywork. When he entered the field of connective tissue science as an active laboratory researcher in 2003, he became so thrilled that he soon became one of the driving international forces in the newly emerging field of fascia research. His own research findings on active contractile properties of human fasciae have been honored with the Vladimir Janda Award of Musculoskeletal Medicine. He is research director of the European Rolfing Association, and co‐initiator of the 1st Fascia Research Congress hosted at Harvard Medical School (Boston 2007) as well as of the subsequent congresses.
