Rehydrating your fascia

Understanding Fascia Hydration and Dehydration

Did you know that 70% of the water in your body is stored in your fascia? This connective tissue system uses a fluid called hyaluronan (or hyaluronic acid) that binds to water molecules, forming a gel-like substance. This gel flows through your fascia, delivering hydration and nutrients throughout your body.

What Happens When You Become Dehydrated?

First, let's define dehydration in this context. When your body lacks adequate water, it leads to increased osmotic pressure, causing water to be drawn from inside your cells. This process makes the cells shrink and become dehydrated.

As a result, your fascia also becomes dehydrated. The fascia tissues start to shrink and compress around the surrounding tissues, including nerve cells. This dehydration makes the hyaluronan sticky and can lead to the formation of adhesions, which can cause chronic pain.

How to Rehydrate Your Fascia

Rehydrating your fascia involves using simple, gentle techniques that target these adhesions. Imagine a dried-up, crusty sponge next to your kitchen sink. If you had a spill, using that dry sponge wouldn't absorb the mess; it would just smear it around. Instead, you would hold the sponge under water, squeezing it until it softens and becomes moist again. Only then would it effectively clean up the spill.

Your fascia works similarly. When you identify an area of adhesion, you can use a soft foam roller or ball to apply pressure and friction, breaking apart the adhesion. This process squeezes out old water, metabolites, and toxins from the tissues, allowing fresh, healthy water to be reabsorbed into the cells.

Patience in the Healing Process

Keep in mind that the rehydration process takes about 48-72 hours to complete. Be patient with your body as it heals and rehydrates.

Stay supple!

Nicole