What is fascia?
Fascia is the connective tissue network that wraps around and links your muscles, organs and skin. Learn what it does, what happens when it becomes adhered, and how connective tissue and fascia treatment works at BodyFix Amsterdam.
Book a free consultationThe basics
What is fascia?
Fascia is the connective tissue in your body: a continuous, three-dimensional network made up mainly of collagen and elastin fibres that lies just beneath the skin and around almost everything inside you. You can picture it as a flexible web that wraps around and links muscles, tendons, nerves, blood vessels and organs. Where it was once thought of mostly as “packing material”, fascia is increasingly described today as a coherent system of its own that runs throughout the body. This page offers general information and does not replace medical advice or a diagnosis.
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A network made mainly of collagen and elastin fibres beneath the skin
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One continuous system rather than separate, standalone layers
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Wraps around and connects muscles, organs and skin
Fascia is also referred to as connective tissue. At BodyFix — specialised in connective tissue and fascia since 2008 — this tissue is exactly what every treatment focuses on. Curious how this practice approaches the fascial network? Read more about what connective tissue massage is.
Function
What does fascia do?
Fascia connects muscles, organs and skin into one coherent whole and contributes to the overall structure of your body. Because the network is continuous, it is often described as a kind of connecting and distributing system: tension or movement in one area may be transmitted to other parts of the body — you can read more in our explainer on posture, fascia and tension. Supple connective tissue is generally associated with muscles that can glide freely over one another and with skin that feels resilient. These are general descriptions and may vary from person to person.
Connect & support
Fascia wraps around muscles, organs and skin and helps hold everything in place — contributing to the shape and firmness of the body.
Allow free movement
Supple fascia is associated with tissue layers that can slide more freely over each other, so that moving may feel more comfortable for some people.
Fluid & circulation
Lymph vessels and small blood vessels run in and around the connective tissue, and a supple network is often associated with smoother drainage of fluid.
Adhesions
When fascia becomes stuck
Ideally, fascia is supple and gliding, but under certain circumstances it may become stiffer and start to stick. The fibres can then become adhered to one another or to underlying layers, so that the tissue moves less freely. This may develop gradually or be linked to an event that places significant demands on the body.
Factors that, in practice, are sometimes associated with adhesions include:
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Hormonal changes
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Ageing
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Pregnancy and the period afterwards
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Scars and inactivity
For some people, adhered connective tissue may coincide with skin that looks uneven, a full or tight sensation, and a reduced range of movement. Because ageing can play a part here, our explainer on fascia and ageing looks at how this tissue changes over the years. Whether that applies to your situation is something to assess personally, and this information does not replace medical advice or a diagnosis. Want to read more about how adhesions are approached? See releasing adhesions.
Complaints
Fascia & common complaints
Because fascia is closely interwoven with the skin, the muscles and the drainage of fluid, stiff or adhered connective tissue is sometimes associated with a range of experiences. Many people recognise the descriptions below and, for that reason, look into a connective tissue and fascia treatment. This overview is intended as general information and does not replace medical advice or a diagnosis.
Skin
Cellulite
With cellulite, the dimpled pattern is often associated with fascial strands that pull on the skin and with subcutaneous tissue that may have become less supple. Individual experiences vary.
Fluid
Fluid retention
Stiff connective tissue is sometimes associated with less efficient drainage of fluid, which can coincide with a full or swollen sensation for some people.
Resilience
Lax skin
When the elasticity of the connective tissue decreases, the skin may feel looser and less firm for some people.
Whether a treatment is suitable for these complaints depends on your personal situation and any underlying medical condition. During the free consultation, this is always discussed together first.
The BodyFix Method
How fascia is treated
A conventional massage often focuses mainly on the surface and on the muscles. The BodyFix Method, by contrast, is aimed at the connective tissue itself and at supporting the drainage of fluid. To do this, the method combines two techniques that are tuned to one another: deep manual connective tissue massage and device-assisted lymphatic drainage.
Bodyreading first
Before the first treatment, a diagnosis-first approach (Bodyreading) maps out where the connective tissue may need attention.
Connective tissue massage
Deep manual techniques target the fascia and are aimed at giving adhesions more room and helping the tissue feel more supple.
Lymphatic drainage
Device-assisted lymphatic drainage is aimed at supporting the drainage of fluid — the signature combination of BodyFix.
This method was developed by founder Agnieszka Kadula and is carried out by medically trained therapists with a physiotherapy background and 2,500+ hours of training. This information is general in nature and does not replace medical advice or a diagnosis. Want to understand the full approach? Explore the BodyFix Method or browse all treatments.
Get started
Book your free consultation
Wondering what a fascia and connective tissue treatment could mean for you? Start with a free, no-obligation 20-minute consultation. We look at your complaint together and explain which approach may suit you — with no commitment.
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Free consultation (20 min) included — no obligation
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Specialised in connective tissue and fascia since 2008
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Two locations in Amsterdam-Zuid — Mon to Sat 09:00–19:00
Prefer to call or email first? You can reach us on +31 6 5580 4938 or info@bodyfix.nl. You will find us at Legmeerplein 7 (1058 NJ) and at Haarlemmermeerstraat 115H in Amsterdam-Zuid.
Free consultation
Ready to take the next step?
Book a free, no-obligation consultation and discover how connective tissue and fascia treatment could work for you at BodyFix Amsterdam-Zuid.