How might understanding the body as an interconnected system improve clinical outcomes? 

As undergraduates, most of us learned anatomy through disarticulated bones, muscles, their origins and insertions and the surrounding neurovascular structures. 

In the lab, carefully dissected prosections easily highlight these structures. 

However, the discarded connective tissue that originally bound the body together is also critical—that tissue is part of the fascial system. 

Far from being mere ‘packing material’, fascia health affects how we move, send feedback from our bodies to our brain and how our other organ systems interact. 

You can find it enveloping every muscle, bone, nerve, vessel and organ. 

Considering it is recognised as our most densely innervated sensory organ and accounts for up to 12.5 per cent of an adult male’s body weight, fascia requires more of our clinical attention. 

A fascia-informed perspective may transform assessments and treatments, ultimately leading to better clinical outcomes and quality of life. 

Alison Slater will talk about the importance of considering fascia in pain and mobility issues in animals in her keynote at APASC25.

What role can fascia play in a patient’s pain or mobility issues? 

Fascia not only wraps around every neural structure in the body but also serves as its protective conduit. 

When fascia is altered by surgery, trauma, poor posture or immobility it may restrict or bind neural structures thereby causing chronic pain. 

Within the fascial matrix, specialised cells produce hyaluronan (better known as hyaluronic acid), which acts as a natural lubricant, allowing tissues to glide smoothly for effortless movement. 

But when hyaluronan becomes overly aggregated, it behaves more like glue than lubricant, leading to stiffness, discomfort and impaired mobility. 

In my pre-conference workshop, we’ll explore cutting-edge research on fascia’s role in chronic pain and dysfunctional movement, and examine applications of science to restore healthy tissue dynamics. 

How important is mood to movement and recovery? 

The fascial system has a rich relationship with the autonomic nervous system. 

When stress levels rise, fascial tissue can lose elasticity and function, which in turn may alter posture, limit mobility or reduce movement efficiency. 

Just as state of mind can hinder or help fascial system health, so can hydration, temperature and pH. 

Together, these factors may shape fascial health and determine how well we move and recover. 

>> Alison Slater APAM is a physiotherapist with 39 years of experience. She has undertaken a wealth of post-graduate study, including a Master of Manual Therapy from the University of Western Australia and a Master of Public Health from the University of New South Wales. Alison has worked and taught extensively throughout Australia and the United Kingdom. She has been in solo private practice in Sydney since returning from the UK in 2003. Her interest has more recently extended to the arena of canine and equine therapy. 

>> Alison will present a full day pre-conference workshop titled ‘The anatomy and physiology of fascia: implications for assessment and treatment in human and animal manual therapy’ on Wednesday 22 October at 8:30am and a keynote session titled ‘The anatomy and physiology of fascia: implications for assessment and manual therapy treatment’ on Friday 24 October at 10.35 am.

Click here for more information about APASC25