Does Fascia Stretch?: Learn Integral Anatomy with Gil Hedley

www.gilhedley.com Make sure you watch this one to the very end for some amazing footage of fascia-in-action. In this video, Gil drills down into the details of fascia as a biological fabric to explain how different types of fascia and their weaves and the direction of stress all factor in to answering the question "Does fascia stretch?" At the end of the video he provides microscopic video analysis to demonstrate what he is talking about. Enjoy!
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[@tmkim]

To the question of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome from Heather Corey Fitness. I have treated a number of patients with this condition as a integrative-physio and I have been interested in the whys and hows. What I understand at the molecular level the collagen protein structure has a G ( glycine): GxyGxyGxyGxy pattern throughout which gives its unique triple helixed capacity to fold-unfold, cross-link to maintain structure, demonstrate tensile strength and elasticity and hold water, and contract!! as Gil so expertly addresses and reflects the myofibrils embedded in the whole structure of a cotton-t. It is what makes this tissue so unique and wondrous and beautiful. Though with this genetic disorder these Glycine alterations-patterns causes weakening/abnormal enfolding and "looseness" which causes the loose joint's, skin/scar malformations, musculoskeletal persistent pain conditions /scoliosis/arthritis, C-V complications. Because collagen is what keeps us all together, "all" in its rightful place", In EDS, my experience is everything about these souls is affected and they are acutely attuned and highly sensitive to nuances in all realms of their lives. Would love to hear what others know or have experienced to add to this prompt.

[@gilhedley449]

Thank you so much for this information and insight Terry, I am very grateful to read and learn from your contribution here!

[@sunshinecoasttrailcam]

love everyone of this videos. Ive take a few of your courses. \im so thankful you have taken the time to put these vids together!

[@jenrice4500]

I just had a conversation (or 5) about this in the last couple of days... Thank you for giving a visual back up! I love how these video shorts seem to coincide with ongoing conversations in my massage practice 🙂 As always, I am so grateful for all the info you offer to us! Many thanks!

[@gilhedley449]

Hi Jen you must have called it out of me!

[@MsCathyyo]

So great to learn with Gil-he answers all your questions, and I have posed many on his site….ask him-I try to not appear as a stalker and he is incredibly respectful (save for an article that I sent him form the NYTimes…such a great response from him!) When I have broached him regarding certain movement practices, he tries what I have tried to articulate in as clearly directional as possible; Gil actually tries it and gives feedback! I enjoy learning from him and can feel the curiosity of his team. Lets make learning trend!

[@gilhedley449]

Thanks for the boost Catherine, you are a true somanaut, and an inquiring mind :)

[@tigerlily357]

You explain it all so beautifully, with passion, clarity.

[@KieranJordan]

Whoa! Mind-blowing, that last footage of horizontal stretching!

[@somanaut]

That might be my all time favorite video clip amongst my archive of thousands!

[@chrisfrederick7861]

Hi Gil, thanks for this most wonderful question followed by your 3 dimensional answer ;-) “Does Fascia Stretch” is the title of a chapter I wrote for the 2021 book “Fascia, Function, and Medical Applications” by David Lesondak and Angeli Maun Akey. In it, I included research that supports findings that fascia does indeed stretch. I have been dealing for years with many who believe fascia does not stretch and have found that they all have a limited, materialist definition of the word ‘stretch’ as in the permanent deformation of a material. They usually cite (now dated) research that concluded that the ITB did not deform in any significant way and further that the strength of it was akin to steel. I usually reply that the stress-strain diagrams and findings from materials science often cited applies to things like building materials and not the soft matter of humans. Physics and the stress-strain dynamics of soft matter is not well understood relative to all the common materials that have been safety tested for buildings. (I learned this in my training to be an architect in a past life). Also, the definition of stretch I use is dynamic and not about permanent deformation so that it is applicable to the tensional network that Schleip and others describe in the now 2nd edition of the book “Fascia: the human tensional network. " This network must be adaptive, thus elongates/stretches and recoils/shortens three dimensionally in all movement. Then this stretching translates into mechanotransduction, catalyzing all sorts of biochemical responses apart from but also integrated with the nervous system. Thanks again showing us all that fascia does indeed stretch. Perhaps you could also show how the rest of the ITB connection to the fascia lata completes the expansion or stretch that you demonstrated in an isolated fashion? This would help us move away from the dated isolated concepts of stretching and closer to the newer definition of the fascial system as it responds kinetically and functionally. PS Ann & I have been stretching unembalmed cadavers too and yes, fascia does stretch!

[@gilhedley449]

Hi Chris long time no see, and THANK YOU so much for this extremely helpful and interesting addition to the conversation here! The notion of "stretching" as being a "permanent deformation" would go a long way in explaining the heartfelt commitment some have on the "no" answer to this question, it does seem like we can sometimes be talking past each other. I think that the common use of the word as understood by most folks in conversational English would be more along the lines of "elasticity" evoking the image of a rubber band which is deformed in use but returns to where it started. When it gets dry, we would therefore say it has lost it's "stretchyness." A highly specialized meaning of the word "stretch" may relegate most materials to the sidelines of the stretch olympics on such terms, but I for my part speak not as an engineer, but just as an observer of the human form, both living and dead. THANK YOU CHRIS! Say howdy to Ann for me!

[@PaulaNutting]

Hi Chris, that's really interesting. I interviewed David Lesondak last year on my AskMeAnything Vodcasts. He is a top bloke and we first met at an AMTA conference years ago.

[@chrisfrederick7861]

@@PaulaNutting Hi Paula, yes he is a top bloke as well as a friend and student of mine. Glad you found this interesting! I will be writing a long blog form on this topic, along with new fascial based definitions of 'stretch', 'flexibility' and how this all works together with the 'tensional network' concept. Cheers!

[@chrisfrederick7861]

@@gilhedley449 You are most welcome Gil & Ann sends you a big Howdy from our Valley of the Sun. Fond memories coming in from your stay with us when you did your nationwide tour ;-)

[@gilhedley449]

@@chrisfrederick7861 I remember your warm hospitality well!!

[@MonicaMolinar]

Thank you for providing all that you do, Gil. I greatly appreciate your work and the clear explanations you give.

[@gilhedley449]

Thank you Monica, I'm grateful for your interest!

[@SuziGeiger]

I love these videos! Thank you, Gil, for such amazing, informative, helpful information

[@gilhedley449]

Thank you for watching Suzi, I'm glad to know these vids are helpful to you!

[@elizabethtretina8299]

Love your knowledge, energy, and hands on approach. Could watch your teachings for hours..I'm humbled beyond after learning more about our amazing bodies. Thank you for the gift of continued commitment in the field of fascia for others. Always in awe and grateful.

[@julietthompson8217]

Great teaching, video and demonstration. Thanks Gil!

[@gilhedley449]

Thanks for watching Juliet, you are most welcome!

[@rickanderson536]

Amazing content as always. Thank you Gil.

[@gilhedley449]

Thank you for being here with us Rick!

[@EmmaRV-2018]

Gil, thank you so much for this video. I was hoping for you to cover this topic. Just wonderful and the video really helped. Again, your videos are a great way to start the week. THANK YOU!

[@gilhedley449]

I appreciate your appreciations Somayeh, thank you! More to come :)

[@Coumei2009]

Totally agree with you. whether the fascia is stretchable or not really depends on the proportion of the type of the collagen fibers, the arrangement of the fascia, and the direction of force (as you showed IT track) applied. Personally, I believe all soft tissues are designed to be stretchable (flexibility), it just is a matter of how much it can be stretched. In contrast, bone is designed not for stretching (stability).

[@gilhedley449]

Exactly! Well put Dr. Carlson, I appreciate your comments here!

[@denisemelo7802]

I love your explanations and the video is fantastic. Thank You !

[@gilhedley449]

Hi Denise, thanks for saying so!

[@fitnesslingo546]

Great visual with the video and thanks for sharing!

[@gilhedley449]

You bet! It made my eyes pop when I saw that the first time, it taught me so much!

[@SOMATICSwithLauraVWard]

How timely! I mentioned you and talked about exactly this in my SoMATic Mat class this am! Thanks for your info always!

[@gilhedley449]

Hi Laura! Glad to hear it, I appreciate your interest as always!

[@DeviDalyYoga]

You are the best! Shared this with my students 🙂

[@gilhedley449]

Great! Thank you for sharing Devi!

[@debanjanmondalphysio]

So great to learn with Gil.

[@somanaut]

Thank you Debanjan!

[@marthacarranza4512]

Wow! I loved to watch the IT band fibers! Thank you for your wonderful explanation.

[@gilhedley449]

I'm glad you enjoyed the clip Martha, thanks for watching!

[@mrose4796]

Gil, I love your work and have been a devoted student ever since I discovered your "Fuzz Speech", nearly 15 years ago. As a massage therapist, I incorporate your vast knowledge into nearly all of my bodywork and as a high school Anatomy and Physiology teacher I share your videos to enhance my connective tissue and muscle lessons, and to bring visual clarity to my dissection labs. Thank you so much, you are the Fascia Master.

[@winnetajp8714]

Dear Gil, thank you for your videos ! So clear, interesting, helpful and motivating to go on understanding our amazing body ! Take care ! Anke from France.

[@gilhedley449]

Thank you for watching Anke!

[@methodeBodyfx]

Thank you so much for sharing this ! This make it so much easier to understand and teach to my students !❣

[@gilhedley449]

Thank you for watching Yogami, I'm glad it serves!

[@lauravicente65]

Thanks, Gil it's brilliant your explanation...

[@gilhedley449]

Thank you very much Laura!

[@PaulaNutting]

Love your passion and dedication to helping myth bust what so many of us hear on the grapevine of the FB groups. The body is far to clever to simply have one size (or weave) fits all. Cheers again Gil

[@gilhedley449]

Thank you Paula!

[@monica11119]

Wow, this is awesome! Thank you so much for your the video! I appreciate you, kind regards.

[@gilhedley449]

Thank you for joining in and watching Monica!

[@jillmiller389]

Thanks for adding mercy into the controversy. I remember the first time I saw that clip....I think I must have held my breath for a solid minute while my eyes "stretched" to their functional limit. Thanks for exploring in the way that you do and for your communication skills.

[@gilhedley449]

Hi Jill! Yes this clip at the end shocked the heck out of me when we filmed it, I could hardly believe my eyes to see the world within revealed in this way, and I knew I would eventually get to sharing it with the world :) Everybody here should check out Jill's amazing work and books! The Roll Model and Yoga Tune Up, amazing contributions to self care!

[@IntuitiveWarrior2024]

Oh my gosh you are informative and entertaining...love it and very helpful for me at present as I am experiencing tightness in my IT band..thankyou!

[@somanaut]

Thank you kindly, I am glad your seeing this is timely for you!

[@graemecheung8822]

Thank you Gil

[@somanaut]

You're welcome Graeme, I appreciate your interest!

[@annahalia2937]

awesome visual.

[@gilhedley449]

Thank you!

[@breathe.move.perform.health]

SO GREAT!!!! you chose the IT Band to open minds to this misunderstood beliefs of fascial stretch of the IT Band longitudinal elongation.....BOOM!!!! more of a functional spatial orientation to compensate for the muscle expansion when force is needed! Thanks!

[@somanaut]

You bet! That footage at the end literally blew my mind when we caught it, very exciting, I knew I could finally illustrate the point incontrovertably!

[@SnakeAndTurtleQigong]

Thanks so much!

[@stevenweiss7373]

Nice video. I've known that the collagen fibers in ligaments and tendons micro-fold, helping to increase the effectiveness of collagen's 10% limit of lengthening. Makes sense that it also occurs in the broader fascia. The weave concept is so useful!

[@gilhedley449]

Thanks Steven! Biological fabrics are the stuff of humans :)

[@brianwillis6592]

Great stuff

[@gilhedley449]

Thank you Brian, more to come!

[@Healingngrowing]

Amazing

[@stretchingbythebay]

Yes!! What's the weave? Tell us some real science! Weave it all together for us ;) (To the tune of the 60's song, "What's the buzz?".... In sewing this weave concept includes the word bias - which is a different use of the 'bias' word than what causes you to look slightly shocked in your opening comment, wondering how "Does fascia stretch?" could even be controversial.) & Thank You :) An especially important share!

[@gilhedley449]

Thanks stretchingbythebay, I love your pun-insights, and also grew up on the soundtrack to JC Superstar hahah!

[@lointitude]

Amazing explanation and images. I really appreciate the work you offer and i am also very grateful for the wonders of our body that you put into spotlights. That makes me (us) able to understand anatomy much easier and feeling your passionnate work is a real motivation for learning. By th way, I heard you talking about cellulite in another vidéo but the sound was very bad (and my english not that much good to understand perfectly). What a shame! It sounded like a very interesting point of vue about those specific tissues/type of cells: so I was wondering if you plan to explain about it in a next vidéo? Thank you again for your fantastic sharing work.

[@gilhedley449]

I'm happy to hear that Iointitude, thank you for saying so!

[@harmoniousembodiment7203]

Thank you

[@gilhedley449]

You're welcome, thanks for watching!

[@Thesacredfig]

excellent!

[@gilhedley449]

I love figs!!

[@tonyrabone4668]

Fascinating

[@somanaut]

Thanks Tony!

[@feldenkraismethod]

Beautiful

[@gilhedley449]

:)

[@heathercoreyfitness]

Wonderful explanation! I'd love to know about the collagen formation in a body with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (which I have).

[@gilhedley449]

Hi Heather I would love to learn more about that too, I'll have to study up!

[@Truerealism747]

I have hypomobilty my pain is in the fascia it cracks and pops do you take MSN vitamin c for fascia

[@Truerealism747]

@@stacer1962 but the brain must tense the fascia to cause inflammation?

[@michaelmcgill4710]

Hi Gil Great video! Here’s a question: in taichi we look for an elastic stretch/unstretch of the extensor muscles to produce our throwing power. We train this eccentric contraction or muscle lengthening to come under our conscious control much as we would when we ask a muscle to contract. Are there motor nerves for fascia or does it play a supporting role only?

[@gilhedley449]

That's a great question Michael! As far a current knowledge goes, we don't find motor supply to fascia, though it is contractile actively by way of myofibroblasts, which operate at a pace MUCH slower than the motor nerve supply to the muscle tissues. That having been said, fascia can be trained to have more "crimp," which is extremely useful in sport and movement in general due to the increased springiness crimp lends to tendons, etc. There are also a great deal of sensory nerves in fascia, millions... it may come to be recognized as much as a sensory organ as anything else! Thanks for watching Michael!

[@revampcoaching]

So as always, the answer is, “it depends.” Thanks!

[@gilhedley449]

Haha that's it Daniel! :)

[@scarlett8123]

Very helpful for people like me, with trigger points. What a pity that not for physiotherapist in my country :(

[@gilhedley449]

Thanks for watching Scarlett!

[@MeditatewithMaria11]

Can you explain calcification in the fascia?

[@somanaut]

Do you have a particular syndrome in mind Maria? I have seen that sort of thing on the diaphragmic pleura as a sequelae of prostate cancer, but no other example comes to mind~

[@virginiedebru]

Hi Gil, I thought the fascia layers overlapped at 45° on top of each other, it looks like that at the end of the video on the AT band video, do you confirm that?

[@gilhedley449]

Dense fibrous fascia layers create many different angle configurations, too many to reduce to any single angle measurement. I have put protractors to fascia only to establish there is a great variety, although certain areas of the body will fall into particular general configurations that I see over and over again with a certain range of angularity, but never just one :) Thank you for watching, this is an important question that perhaps I can address in another video!

[@virginiedebru]

@@gilhedley449 Great, thanks for your answer and yes for there next video about the angle of overlapped, I am very curious to know if there is any mathematic connexions in it?

[@barrycraig6165]

When conversing about any particular body tissue or functional behavior thereof, I have experienced without exception that it is easier to converse about a human body with a physicist or someone who has a formal background in materials engineering and sciences than it is with my "colleagues" who practice any manual/movement therapy modality. As an educator of over 40 years with experience in all levels of education K-12 and post graduate university as well, I think the basic unalterable problem is that the curriculum for our professions ( be it manual and/or movement therapy) is archaic and dumbed-down-watered-down. Consider the emphasis in virtually all curricula with respect to so-called origins and insertions limited to muscles. It is assumed that this knowledge alone determines what action a muscle performs. Adding various "myofascial chain" components appears to be an "advancement" in our model and so we pursue that avenue with all types of movement and manual therapy theories and practices that purport to embrace this newer enlightened model. Take for example any "tensegrity" model you have ever seen and consider the "stick parts" and the "string parts." All you have to do is change what material one or the other of the "parts" is made of and the ability of the model tp perform an action changes drastically. Furthermore this model assumes (incorrectly) that all of the stick and string parts of made of a material the composition of which is the same throughout the entire material. Patently false. Fake biology. We begin to ask ourselves at what point is the model so removed from reality that it no longer deserves to serve as a model of reality? At what point is the model good for only one thing? Perhaps as kindling to start a fire? No doubt this comment could spark a debate. To shake up your reality why not go to this website, just one of many? byjus.com/physics/stress-and-strain/ Can you take and apply some of these concepts to a single body tissue? All of a sudden you may get to feel pretty uneasy about what you have been taught in order to "keep the public safe." What you see Gil doing every week is a masterful move away from fantasy toward reality. A sharp scalpel hones a sharp mind.

[@gilhedley449]

Thanks Barry, the kudos are especially appreciated given your own depth of experience, and, I am definitely hoping to crack some eggs here :)

[@cazalis]

Gil, new here. Would you concur that fascia being densely neurologivpcal is not only affected by our environment but is also sensitive to the environment and thus sending us messages. For exampl3 a highly cleansed fascia can sense the fear in the environment of a war zone or the higky polluted air in a mega city. Thanks.

[@somanaut]

Hi there and welcome, thanks for watching, I have a ton of vids here and on my site, I hope you enjoy them :) I would concur that fasciae have a great number of free sensory nerve endings, and, as regard to what they are sensing particularly, in addition to proprioceptive feedback and chemoreception, I cannot exactly say, though speculating is no doubt fun! I feel that there are sensory modes even beyond the particulars of the nerves and fascia, and so I am not sure we can easily distinguish or identify what is sensing what~ And, developing our sensitivity is surely worthwhile, whatever tissues or energies we may be leveraging to do so. Thanks for commenting!

[@alainbellemare2168]

does your body change shape while moving ?

[@gilhedley449]

Yes! Continuously!! That in fact might be a good base definition of moving: changing shape through space :)

[@tomgmaples]

This is why so many people circumcised or having difficulty with their scars. I've heard testimony for many men that have tight bands squeezing in their penis. I've heard stories at some men scars open up and bleed from erections from time to time.

[@somanaut]

Yes, these are some of many problems from this issue, consider checking out the work of my friend Alistair McLoughlin's scar tissue release work: www.mcloughlin-scar-release.com/alastair-mcloughlin

[@Drcmdavis]

Well, could this issue be more one of language, I wonder, Gil? "Shape change" happens in various directions, elongation, yes. But what do we call elongating past the point of recoil-- permanent damage to the structure as in "stretch marks" following pregnancy? Just pathological stretch?

[@gilhedley449]

"Pathological stretch" works for me! I have great images of the structure-change of stretch marks, will have to do that in another vid~ Thanks for watching Carol, I appreciate your contributions!

[@pivotalfit]

👌

[@somanaut]

:)

[@GD-bx5pk]

I’m doing research for school please who knows any cream, oil, device whatever that will prevent the recoil or reduce this elasticity so it can easily be stretched and take a new shape

[@somanaut]

I cannot say that I do! Mostly folks are using particular techniques to increase the "crimp" in fascia and thereby increase the load and recoil to maximize springiness and lower the demand for muscle power in athletes, increasing both speed and endurance in runners for example. See the work and research of Dr. Robert Schleip, Fascial Fitness etc.!

[@YepWin]

Going on 5.5 years of my bodies fascia doing very strange things. Hardens on its own. Hurts bad. Stretching, yoga and massage dont heal it. I know about hyalaronan for glide. But other than the body just healing on its own, has anyone dealt with this and beat it? I can't exert much energy without it hardening and staying hard.I dont know what to do. Tried th e Melt, melt balls, blasters, massage machines, hand massage (many), rolling (helped neck...alot) and more. It just moves from one part of my body to another. Proper diet with potassium and magnesium, water. I just need to hear that one person had it so bad that no one understood (tension is like a compound bow)....and beat it.

[@somanaut]

Hmm that is a challenging problem indeed, and, even if you are the only one (which I doubt), we humans are very ingenious and persistent in resolving difficult health challenges. I do not know what's going on for you exactly, not being that kind of dr., but as one human to another, I highly recommend adding the work of Dr. Joe Dispenza to your arsenal of strategies, the consciousness work can very powerfully augment your other strategies. There are tons of free interviews and testimonials you can watch here on youtube~ You can beat it!! Our bodies do weird sh't sometimes, and, it is VERY changeable. Blessings on your quest SimpleSam~

[@lauramay9717]

Gil your shirt stretches because it is knitted not woven. Knitting (in this case machine knitting) is the technique that will produce stretchy fabric, woven fabric is not stretchy although sometimes you can stretch it slightly on the bias.

[@lilyl5492]

a woven shirt or even denim jeans can stretch if elastic fibres are mixed in though. In modern textiles it's about fibre type/mix (stretch of the original smallest fibres of material e.g. flax and silk proteins are long, cotton is short) as well as yarn form (the string structure is put together or spun into a certain shape, kinked and loose or taught smooth) as well as how fibres interweave or loop together (structure of the fabric). It's very fascinating to see textiles materials science inside the body though - even down to specific complex weaves for specific jobs and locations! Pleats might be seen as another kind of 'kink' shape in a woven fabric that stretches wide in one direction but not in the other

[@somanaut]

I clearly have a lot to learn about textiles and fabric, thank you Laura!

[@pattypenny1492]

I know this is a really whacky question....... but how come that plant grows a foot with every topic?! 🤔🤔😂😂

[@gilhedley449]

Hahaha! I have a couple of them in my office! The shorter one is named Sallie, the taller one is Miranda, and the one from the lab videos is Daisy, all dear friends :)

[@lamegalectora]

Awesome

[@somanaut]

Thank you!