top of page

Exploring the Role of Fascia in Biomechanics and Healing: Eastern vs. Western Medicine Perspectives

Writer's picture: Marnie HansenMarnie Hansen

Blog post written by Dr. Marnie Hansen, DC

January, 2025



Woman in white top and pink pants sits cross-legged on a blue mat. A spine graphic overlays her back, set against a gray wall. Calm mood.
Fascia: Connecting the dots.


For years, I've been observing the role of fascia in the body and how it holds onto memories of trauma and stress.


I am fascinated by fascia, to say the least. You could say I'm obsessed.


Fascia is a vital connective tissue that encases muscles, bones, organs, and nerves. It plays a crucial role in our body's biomechanics by supporting movement and aiding in communication throughout the musculoskeletal system. Beyond its structural support role, fascia also has the capacity to store emotional experiences and traumas.


Here, I will discuss how fascia influences chronic pain and emotional well-being, focusing on how Eastern and Western medicine interprets its role in healing. By exploring the link between fascia, trauma, and how emotions become deeply embedded into our tissues over time, we can develop more effective health strategies both medically and holistically.



Exposed muscle anatomy figure in dynamic running pose on black background with reflective surface. Red and white muscle details visible.


The Nature of Fascia: The Great Connector


Fascia consists primarily of collagen fibers, which create a dense mesh-like structure throughout the body. It is a paper-thin tissue that has been ignored for years but is just now gaining importance in medical literature.


I remember in our anatomy lab class how we were instructed to peel fascia away from the muscle of the cadaver and toss it aside to better see and study the muscles. Discard it as if it were insignificant, not unlike how you would peel off the skin of your chicken and toss it in the trash.


Gross analogy of gross anatomy, I know.


But it goes to show how unimportant fascia used to be in the grand scheme of how we viewed the human body and it's kinetic chain of movement. How un-researched it has historically been. Thankfully, the tides are turning, and research is growing on how magnanimous the tissue is.


Fascia, the great connector, connects every part of our anatomy to each other, facilitating coordination and communication among muscles, joints, and organs. Recent research has found that it can communicate from tissue to tissue at lightning speed without traveling through the central nervous system.


Pretty cool, huh?


That's your body. It's innately intelligent.


Fascia is a wonderfully brilliant tissue that aids in movement, flexibility, and strength throughout the body. Fun fact: Under a microscope, it looks like a bunch of sticky spiderwebs.


Research reveals that fascia can become tight or restricted due to physical injuries, emotional trauma, or prolonged stress. These restrictions often lead to pain, reduced mobility, and even chronic illnesses. For instance, a study from the Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies indicated that approximately 70% of people with chronic pain issues also reported emotional distress. This connection suggests a significant interplay between physical discomfort and emotional health.


So, why... or how does fascia hold on to trauma and stress?


Numerous theories suggest that fascia is densely packed with nerve endings, making it very sensitive to nervous system activity and brain signals, including those related to stress, emotional distress, or physical and emotional traumas. Essentially, when under stress, fascia can contract and, through the nervous system, may recall this response if similarly stimulated.


Other theories discuss how the stress hormones that are released in response to emotional stressors or trauma can alter the composition of fascia, thus altering it's function, and in turn, affecting it's functional memory.


In psychology, traumatic memories retained by the body are often referred to as emotional or somatic memories. In my practice, I refer to it as emotional scarring. Fascia can store traces of the numerous unseen bruises we have experienced, and fascial tension can also reflect the emotions of the trauma in it's tightening response.


The Body Keeps the Score, by Bessel van der Kolk is an excellent read on this theory.


Throughout my clinical practice, I've determined that innate intelligence and "muscle memory" (or tissue memory) significantly influence how our tissues retain the narrative of our entire body. Our lives. Regarding fascia: if our tissues can remember movements due to trained habits, injuries, or stressors on the body, I believe this memory can also be a kinetic memory embedded in the fascia.


I've found that by consistently observing the behaviors of fascia, we can directly correlate pain patterns with emotional states.


Pain Patterns and Emotional Storage


Years ago in practice, I started observing common patterns in my patients concerning how they retained stress in their bodies. This curiosity propelled me to explore the mechanisms behind this phenomenon and its implications. I delved into ancient yogic wisdom, Acupuncture, Eastern Medicine, and even psychology, aiming to connect the dots and create a framework that would enable me to assist my patients in healing and comprehending their injuries more profoundly.


I found that understanding the fascia's role as an emotional repository is essential when examining chronic pain. Western medicine often approaches chronic pain from a mechanical standpoint, focusing primarily on symptoms and structural issues.


In contrast, both Eastern medicine and emerging modern Western perspectives recognize the critical role of emotional health. For example, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioners associate specific emotions with particular organs. Anger is linked to the liver, grief to the lungs, fear to the kidneys, etc.


These age-old connections have long indicated that unresolved emotions can become lodged in fascia, causing pain and dysfunction in different body areas linked to those emotions. It's unfortunate that Western Medicine is only now recognizing this understanding, but it's thrilling to contemplate the potential advancements!


Examining Eastern vs. Western Medicine Perspectives


Eastern Medicine's Approach


Eastern medical systems emphasize a holistic view of health, seeing the body as an interconnected system influenced by physical, emotional, and spiritual factors. The concept of "Qi" (or life energy) underlies many Eastern philosophies, promoting balance and flow through the body's energy centers known as chakras or meridians.


When an emotional event or trauma occurs, it has the potential to block the flow of Qi, resulting in physical symptoms. Treatments frequently involve bodywork, acupuncture, breathwork, and movement therapies that work to release stored emotions and restore harmony.


In this view, fascia's role extends beyond structural support; it assists an emotional storage system essential for overall health.


If you think about it, that's a wise thing for the body to do, isn't it? These emotional memories can help you later on in handling challenging situations or even in steering clear of them. It might also suggest that there is a cellular memory contributing to our fascial memories, bringing the question of cell programming into play, and even raising the question of generational trauma, which I will explore in future articles.


Western Medicine's Approach


Traditionally, Western medicine has adopted a reductionist perspective, concentrating on alleviating symptoms and viewing the body as separate components rather than as an integrated whole. This approach has been highly effective in addressing structural problems through surgeries or medications, but it frequently overlooks the broader aspects of health, healing, and preventative medicine.


Recently, however, there has been a shift toward acknowledging the mind-body connection. Practitioners increasingly explore techniques such as myofascial release and craniosacral therapy, which directly address the role of fascia in emotional storage and physical health.


This evolving perspective brings Western medicine closer to Eastern philosophies, as both emphasize the emotional aspects of physical health.



Woman holding her back in pain
Trauma can be held in our tissues and express itself as chronic pain.

Mapping Trauma to Pain


Recognizing where trauma is stored in the body can enhance our understanding of chronic pain patterns. Here are some commonly seen connections between specific body areas and stored emotions:


  • Neck and Shoulders: Often hold stress and unresolved tension, potentially causing headaches and neck problems. I ask my stressed patients: what are you overdoing? What burdens are you carrying, and can you release any of them? How are you shouldering the world's weight? People from all walks of life carry the burden of stress, from busy parents trying to manage everything, to students handling finals, or individuals facing significant life changes. The neck and shoulders are common areas of tension during stressful times.


  • Lower Back: Associated with feelings of fear and insecurity, persistent pain in this region might indicate deeper emotional burdens related to stability. The lower back serves as the foundation of our posture, and we often unconsciously store unwanted emotions in our lower backs and pelvis. Many of my patients with low back pain are experiencing major life changes such as a move or a job transfer, while others are dealing with smaller life decisions that cause minor, yet important disruptions in their foundation. Where do you feel uncertain, and how is that reflected in your back?


  • Digestive System: Issues in the stomach and intestines frequently indicate unresolved conflicts, such as anxiety, worry, doubt, and fear. Difficult-to-process life events can manifest as indigestion, constipation, or bowel problems. Suppressing your truth can impact gut motility, while anxiety can interfere with nutrient absorption. In what areas of your life are you not expressing yourself or keeping things inside? What fears and doubts do you harbor? These issues can cause a rumble in your tummy!


By charting these connections, individuals can pinpoint where they might be harboring stress and start the healing process. This allows them to address emotional release in tandem with physical recovery, promoting a more holistic recuperation. Additionally, they can cultivate a better understanding of how pain is linked to specific body areas and why it might repeatedly manifest throughout their lives.



The Role of Energy Medicine


Energy medicine, which draws from both Eastern and Western traditions, aims to balance and restore the body's energy flow through non-invasive methods. Practices like Reiki, acupuncture, and yoga therapy can help facilitate the release of stored emotions and trauma from fascia.


These energy pathways enable practitioners to address emotions stored in fascia, promoting tranquility and alignment within the body.


Sounds blissful, right?


Energy work can be!


Much research is being done on how energy affects our health, and Western Medicine is catching up to what Eastern Medicine has known for thousands of years. Energy medicine is becoming an increasingly accepted therapeutic option, blending seamlessly with traditional treatments to offer a holistic approach to health that addresses both emotional and physical well-being.


A woman massaging her calf on a yoga mat
Care for your fascia and it cares for you!

Releasing Stored Emotions and Trauma


Multiple techniques are available for releasing stored emotions and trauma:



  1. Bodywork: Somatic treatments like massage and myofascial release target the fascia to reduce tension and promote emotional release. Methods like Chiropractic, Craniosacral Therapy, and Reiki are effective in relieving stored stress in the body and are gaining popularity in hospitals to aid healing. Even a dose of foam rolling at home goes a long way in caring for your fascia. Incorporate a balanced mix of these into your regular self-care routine for a successful wellness strategy!


  1. Mindful Movement: Practices such as yoga, Tai Chi, and Qi Gong enhance the link between mind, body, and breath, incorporating emotional awareness into physical activity. Additionally, they help regulate the nervous system and serve as an excellent method for stress relief.


  2. Breathwork: Conscious breathing techniques can help individuals access and release suppressed emotions, soothing both body and spirit. Some techniques to try are Holotropic Breathing Techniques, breath work found in Kundalini Yoga, diaphragmatic breathing, or box breathing.


  3. Meditation: Mindfulness and visualization practices can assist in identifying and letting go of trauma, enabling emotional and physical healing. I recommend The Headspace App to my patients as a good place to start. Deepak Chopra has a great 21-Day Yoga Challenge as well. My personal fave is Joe Dispenza however I highly suggest you read his books first before doing his meditations. Meditation can be life-changing!


  4. Inner Child Work: Delving deep to connect with the wounded inner child and offering them comfort, peace, and love can be a deeply transformative experience for patients who aim to heal unresolved wounds lingering in their tissues and fascia for years. Our bodies react positively to self-love, and just as our tissues can store trauma, they also have a remarkable ability to retain love. In the journey of healing our bodies and tissues profoundly, love wins!


  1. Sound Therapy: Recent studies are highlighting the advantages of sound therapy for the body, and there's a solid basis for this. Research conducted by The National Institute of Health discovered that using a Tibetan sound bowl can lower blood pressure, heart rate, tension, anxiety, and depression among participants, indicating a potential relaxing effect on the fascia.


Incorporating these methods into daily routines can help individuals address their physical pain alongside the emotional traumas associated with it, nurturing a greater sense of well-being.


Eye level view of a tranquil meditation space
Choosing a quiet space where you can meditate without interruption is key.

Final Thoughts


The relationships among fascia, emotional trauma, and pain patterns are essential to understanding our health and healing processes. Both Eastern and Western medical systems offer valuable insights that emphasize the necessity for a holistic approach, one that cares for both the body and emotions.


Recognizing fascia's role in biomechanics enables us to address the deeper implications of chronic pain, fostering healthier strategies that embrace both traditional and alternative practices.


As we begin to acknowledge fascia and its role in storing trauma and emotions, we open the door to a collaborative approach to healing. This path leads to recovery, balance, and overall well-being in our lives. In an often-overlooked emotional landscape, addressing trauma stored in the body is a step toward a healthier, more balanced life.



Chiropractor adjusting a patient in a clinic
Dr. Marnie Hansen working with clients at Salt Lake Spine & Pelvis.

Dr. Marnie Hansen, a trauma-informed Integrative Chiropractic Physician in Salt Lake City, UT, expertly combines gentle chiropractic treatments with evidence-based and holistic therapies such as Soft Tissue Therapies, Craniosacral Therapy, and Somato-emotional Release Therapies to achieve deeper, long-lasting results. She is also skilled in Pelvic Floor Therapy, integrating yogic exercises into her practice. Dr. Hansen is dedicated to patient-centered care, taking the time to address the root causes of each individual's concerns.

Recent Posts

See All

Comments


THE CLINIC

2091 E 1300 S #104

Salt Lake City, UT 84108

Email: slspdoctor@gmail.com

Tel: 801-949-5886

Opening Hours:

Monday: 10-1, 3-5 

Tuesday: 10-1, 3-5

Wednesday: 10-1, 3-5

Thursday: 10-1, 3-5

Friday: Closed

​​Saturday: Closed​

Sunday: Closed

  • Facebook
  • Instagram

CONTACT

Thanks for submitting!

© 2024 by Salt Lake Spine & Pelvis. Powered and secured by Wix

bottom of page