Foundations

The body’s fascia consists of connective tissue and forms a continuum. In this context, we can distinguish superficial, middle, and deep fascia, but all layers are connected to each other and form a unit in the craniocaudal and anteroposterior directions.

We can thus draw the following conclusion: a disturbance of the fascial dynamic anywhere in the body will, over time, cause a response in all fascia. This means that a dysfunction in a deep-lying area of the body’s fascia can be detected in superficial tissue.

The fascial dynamic can be disturbed by the following:

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  adhesions (as a result of surgery, inflammation, or blunt trauma)

  
  
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  ptoses

  
  
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  viscerospasms

  
  
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  parietal dysfunctions

  
  
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  craniosacral dysfunctions

Disturbance of the fascial dynamic has consequences for the neurovegetative and hemodynamic supply of the organ:

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  The circulatory conduits penetrate the organ’s fascia to reach the organ.

  
  
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  An additional vicious cycle results: if a disturbance of the fascia negatively affects the trophic state of an organ, the organ functions will be impaired, and the fascia responds in turn with an aphysiologic pull.

  
  
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  Aphysiologic tissue pulls in the fascia also impair the mobility and motility of an organ. This can lead to functional impairments in the organ or parietal symptoms.

We can cite adhesions in the area of the small intestine after abdominal surgery as an example: the intestinal loops attach to the abdominal wall or to each other, and we see digestive problems or lumbar pain.

Principles of Diagnosis

The superficial fascia reacts to dysfunctions in the lower layers of the fascia with a change in tissue pull.

It is the goal of visceral diagnosis of the fascia to obtain information about the lower-lying organ fascia by palpating the superficial fascial tissue pulls (induction test) and by neurovegetative reactions (hemodynamic test).

By testing the superficial fascia in the abdominal wall, we identify the disturbed organ.