WHAT IS CONNECTIVE TISSUE
It is a very tough, strong tissue, otherwise known as the myofascial system. Connective tissue is the support system of our body – circulatory, digestive, nervous, musculoskeletal, and organs – are ensheathed in connective tissue. A healthy and balanced connective tissue system’s characteristics are flexibility, elasticity, length and resilience. The tissue absorbs and responds to gravitational force, illness, injury, emotional trauma and plain everyday stress. Any of these factors will immediately, or over a period of time, cause an imbalance in the tissue system. When imbalance exists, the system’s healthy characteristics are affected. The imbalance is identified as a shortening, thickening, dehydration of the tissue, which impairs joint mobility and muscle function. This is usually felt in the body as chronic pain, discomfort, stiffness or decreased flexibility and impaired movement.
CONNECTIVE TISSUE HAS MEMORY
Any imbalance in the body - no matter what the cause – is imprinted as change in the internal structure and has a long range and cumulative effect. The body may attempt to return to its original state but without assistance it remains misaligned. For example, when someone sprains an ankle it is only natural to protect it by shifting as much weight as possible to the uninjured side of the body. This natural response to the injury changes the entire body’s relationship to the gravitational field, and the neuromuscular system is re-patterned as part of the process.
By patterning I mean the patterns of neural activity, blood and lymph flow, and muscular contraction are altered. When the ankle heals and pain subsides, the person assumes that he/she is returning to normal movement and function: however, this is not the case. The new pattern created from the shift of weight has been recorded in the internal structure and remains there as part of that person’s movement and holding pattern, and remnants of the injury will be maintained in the structure and function indefinitely. Although I have used a sprained as an example, this change in the inner system and re-patterning can take place from something as simple as the habit of carrying a heavy bag on the same shoulder or holding a telephone receiver between one’s shoulder and ear. In order to remain upright the entire body has to compensate and some muscles are forced to shorten. When a muscle is chronically shortened it loses its ability to relax which then results in a constant state of tension. When these changes occur, the connective tissue needs assistance in order to return to its normal, healthy state. Structural Integration is of particularly great benefit at this point.