Photo credit to Asier Romero via Shutterstock.

by Eric Winder, DC 

The world has become more familiar with fascia therapies and how they can help with muscle and joint pain. However, many people don’t know that treating fascia restriction can also help gut problems. Fascia (fibrous connective tissue) restrictions in the trunk and pelvic areas of the body can cause tension and discomfort in the digestive organs. Treating these restrictions can, therefore, help digestion and organ function to relieve the accompanying pain. 

A few months ago, a patient, whom I will refer to as Betty was improving in the treatment of her injuries from a prior accident. The gentle hands-on therapy to release restriction in her fascia was relieving her hip and lower back pain.  Satisfied with her results, she wondered if I might also be able to help with her chronic abdominal pain caused by irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).  Fortunately, I was able to answer, “Yes.” 

I explained to Betty that sometimes gut symptoms can either be caused or worsened by fascia restrictions in the trunk and pelvic area. In her case, careful examination revealed tender, restricted fascia in the upper abdominal muscles and along her left lower rib cage. My staff and I released the restrictions with fascia therapies that apply gentle stretching pressure in order to free this normally pliable and flexible connective tissue. One week later, Betty reported that both the abdominal pain and her frequent trips to the bathroom were gone. At her one month follow-up, those IBS symptoms had still not returned. 

Fascia therapy helps with gut symptoms in much the same way that it helps joint and muscle pain. Fascia is the fibrous connective tissue that covers all other tissues, from muscles and bones to blood vessels and all internal organs. It is everywhere in the body and comprises 20% of the tissue. It is all interconnected as a complex structural web. Fascia can become abnormally restricted due to “wear and tear” in the form of injuries, chronic tension, inflammation or repetitive stress. Because fascia interconnects throughout the body, a restriction at one point can affect other areas. 

There are millions of nerve endings in the fascia that can become irritated when fascia is restricted or distorted. This, in turn, can cause referred pain and tension to nearby muscles and joints. It can also refer tension and irritation into the abdominal organs, especially when the restrictions are in the abdominal muscles, the muscles of the rib cage, or in the fascia of the hips and pelvis. Relieving the restrictions can stop the referred pain and tension to reduce or relieve symptoms like nausea, diarrhea, bloating and pain. 

I have seen fascia therapy offer significant relief for many gut problems, from irritable bowel syndrome and chronic nausea to constipation and gastric reflux.  While there are multiple different causes for those conditions, fascia therapy should be considered when conventional therapies are unable to provide relief.  

Fascia restrictions might play no role at all in digestive problems, or they can be the primary cause, or one of several contributing factors. The one way to know is with careful examination of the fascia in the related areas of the trunk and pelvis. If you are not experiencing adequate relief of chronic gut issues, fascia therapy is an option to consider. 

 Dr. Eric Winder has 24 years in practice and focuses on relieving pain and restoring alignment and motion through fascia release therapies, without the use of forceful manipulation. For more information, visit GentleBay.com.