Superficial fascia sits just under the skin and contains nerve fibres that detect pressure, temperature and movement. There’s also a deeper layer – usefully called deep fascia – which binds muscle, organs, blood vessels and more. This fascia is rich in fibres that sense position and movement (proprioception) and pain.

Fascia is an important part of our structure. Not something to be ignored to get to the big prizes of muscle and internal organs. Most human fascia contains approximately 250 million nerve endings. Roughly the same as you’ll find in skin. If you suffer from chronic pain the number of these nerve fibres that sense pain can grow from approximately 4% to 15%, which may explain why its so hard to treat chronic pain. Its thought that chronic inflammation causes the proliferation of these nerve fibres.

If you go to your doctor with back pain you’ll more than likely get a diagnosis of “non-specific” lower back pain. This is the majority diagnosis – approximately 85% of lower back pain is diagnosed as non specific in the UK. Non-specific is a technical term meaning “we’re not quite sure what’s going on”.

The number of nerve fibres can actually increase in chronic pain, making it more painful. Additionally the fascia itself can stiffen by up to 20%, just like a muscle tightening when injured. Initial research suggests that the sympathetic nervous system (responsible for the fight or flight mechanism) may trigger inflammation in the fascia, causing it to stiffen and compound the problem.

Could it be then that fascia is responsible for a large part of the 85% of non-specific lower back pain? Scientifically this can’t be answered yet, buy maybe. Its worth at least exploring a little more…

1. Stretch. Stretching can help the local fascia release and help to reduce pain. Initial research also suggests that stretching may have more widespread effects; reducing systemic inflammation in the body. Inflammation is a key component of many modern diseases; cancer, diabetes, auto-immune disease, depression.

2. Meditate. Stress and the ensuing overactivity of the sympathetic nervous system can cause inflammation of fascia and pain. Try to switch off the fight or flight mechanism by joining a yoga or meditation class, find space in your day to just “be”, share problems with close friends. Anything that you find truly relaxing.

3. Therapy. Acupuncture and massage can both help. There is evidence to suggest that many acupuncture channels or meridians map the main fascial networks in the body.

If you’d like to see if acupuncture couldk help your fascia pain click here to book a free 15 minute consultation.