By Dr Feelgood Team · bodywork practice with certified MER practitioners. Updated and editorially checked 17 October 2026.
A connected support system
Fascia is part of the body’s connective-tissue system. It surrounds and connects tissues and interacts with muscles, tendons, joints and the nervous system. This connected anatomy helps explain why movement, loading, breathing and manual contact may be experienced beyond a single local area.
Tissue and experience are different things
A sensation of stiffness tells us something important about how the body feels. It does not alone reveal the structure of connective tissue or whether it is injured. Pain and tension need context, including activity, sleep, illness, stress and previous experiences.
What does this mean for bodywork?
Manual contact may contribute to relaxation, reduced perceived tension, freer movement and a clearer connection with the body. Research on myofascial release reports promising results for pain and function. In practice, we combine tissue work with breathing, movement and the person’s own feedback.
A responsive and individual approach
Fascia is influenced by the whole person’s context: movement, rest, loading, stress and health. We therefore adapt pressure and pace and let the body’s response guide the work. You can always ask for lighter contact, more time or a different focus.
References
Zügel M, Maganaris CN, Wilke J, Jurkat-Rott K, Klingler W, Wearing SC, Findley T, Barbe MF, Steinacker JM, Vleeming A, Bloch W, Schleip R, Hodges PW (2018). Fascial tissue research in sports medicine: from molecules to tissue adaptation, injury and diagnostics: consensus statement. British Journal of Sports Medicine.
DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2018-099308