Fascial Decoding; Fascia: At the Heart of Manual Therapy

Numerous studies have shown the importance of fascia in the organization and functioning of the body: its mechanical role is essential, as well as its interrelation with physiological and biochemical phenomena.

Fascia connects all the structures of the body. Inside the cell, it extends into the nucleus by way of microfilaments and microtubules and, through them and via the mechanoconduction phenomena, fascia manages the organization of the cell. We emerge from a single cell possessing a hereditary memory, which then creates billions of cells. This indicates that each cell is capable of memory and that this memory is omnipresent, even at the peripheral levels of the body. Fascia is a privileged support of memory and a vector of psychosomatics and the psyche.

The important events of our life are memorized in particular by the epigenetic phenomena that record them and, in some cases, transmit them to subsequent generations. A peculiarity of epigenetics is its reversibility, which opens up interesting therapeutic possibilities, in particular for the treatment of babies. In certain cases, lesion-dating techniques allow us to decode these memories.

Since the body is made of approximately 70% water, which is housed within the fascia, we must consider that the effect of our techniques induces modifications in the distribution, and perhaps composition of these liquids. The facts that acupuncture meridians circulate through the fascia and that plexuses can be correlated with chakras, both of which are also supported by the fascia, opens up new therapeutic perspectives.

Furthermore, the use of intention is an interesting adjunct to our manual techniques. Intention corresponds to the “fourth dimension” of osteopathic and manual therapy treatment, and has been shown to improve therapeutic outcomes. This is confirmed by quantum medicine, which demonstrates that intention enables us to modify the state of matter by impacting both the biological and physiological systems. These effects are validated via biofeedback and the placebo/nocebo effect. Finally, the body is unquestionably the center of electromagnetic phenomena, which can present valuable input for the treatment of people with certain dysfunctions.

Given that fascia is omnipresent, any osteopathic or manual therapy treatment will in fact have an effect on the fascia. All manual techniques can be effective in the treatment of fascia provided that one respects a certain chronology. Specifically, this involves the choice of treatment, which initially is often a technique of de-sideration to restore mobility, physiology, and function. Then, we can apply structural techniques.

Fascial Decoding explores these thought-provoking areas and offers osteopaths and manual therapists a new reference covering both theory and practice.

Serge Paoletti, renowned osteopath, is the author of the reference book The Fasciae: Anatomy, Dysfunction and Treatment, which highlights the role of soft tissues in human mechanics. An international lecturer, he teaches in many schools of osteopathy in France and abroad.