The Fascia Research Congress

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Why a Fascia Research Congress?
SI practitioners have long worked under the hypotheses put forward by Ida Rolf, and by a few others who brought us scientific data on fascia. On a day-to-day basis however, we do our work by feel, backed up by a few 'scientific superstitions' or talking points about fascial glide, gel / sol thixotropy, and vague ideas about 'body memory' and 'reprogramming'.

This conference is our chance to step up as a profession, to have these feelings validated (or not) by the cutting edge researchers, and to dialogue about what is really going on under our hands.

What are we asking?
The presentations will cover three major themes in fascia research:

1. What kinds of chemical and physical changes occur when fascia is stretched, compressed or deformed? What are the actual biomechanical properties of fascia and under what conditions do they change? How does fascia 'contract' or 'release'?
2. How do tissues communicate among themselves and with the cells imbedded in them? The recent spate of research on 'mechanotransduction' and integrins has exposed the whole realm of 'spatial medicine' – the tensegrity processes in the extracellular matrix that maintain and repair our tissue and our overall shape.
3. It has long been known that fascia communicates electrically, and recent research relates those electrical or electromagnetic phenomena to acupuncture as well as manual therapy. What kind of communication travels along these fascial membranes? What kind of 'meaning' does the body make of these electrical signals?

New discoveries are very exciting in this field as they seem to confirm some of our feelings, while challenging some of our old assumptions. The clearer picture we can construct of what is actually going on, the more precise and effective our work will be.

Who's coming?
You will receive a full program in a few months with the final roster. Only a few of the names are recognizable outside their own research communities, but here are a few of the 'stars' for this conference already confirmed, with a brief description of their work:
Donald Ingber, MD, PhD, Harvard Medical School (Tensegrity, integrins, mechanotransduction at organismal, cellular and molecular level): well known from his 'Scientific American' article "The Architecture of Life", currently the leading force on tensegrity in biological systems.

Serge Gracovetsky, PhD, Concordia Univ., Montreal (Fascial force transmission in gait): Author of "The Spinal Engine" and enthusiastically referenced by Hubert Godard. Gracovetsky was one of the first to propose an important biomechanical function of the human lumbodorsal fascia in walking and other movements.
Andry Vleeming PhD, Director Spine and Joint Centre, Rotterdam (Force transmission across different layers of lumbodorsal fascia): One of the leading back pain researchers and driving force behind a series of interdisciplinary world congresses on low back & pelvic pain, www.worldcongresslbp.com). Originator of the concept of the "form closure", now widely used for the sacroiliac joint worldwide.
Helene Langevin, MD, Univ. of Vermont College of Medicine (Role of fascial manipulation in acupuncture): A respected acupuncture researcher, whose work has shown significant connections between acupuncture and fascial stimulation.
Geoffrey Bove DC, PhD, Harvard Medical School (Innervation and inflammation of epineural fascia and sensitization of sensory axons to pressure): One of Harvard's top experts on the topic of radiating neuromusculoskeletal pain, with a keen eye on potential implications for manual therapists.
Diane Lee BSR FCAMT CGIMS, Consultant in Physiotherapy, White Rock BC (Post partum abdominal fascial changes): A leader of physiotherapy in North America, especially in the area of Low Back & Pelvic Pain, and core support via the pelvic floor and abdominal muscles.
Leon Chaitow ND, DO, University of Westminster, London (panel on clinical applications and fascia oriented therapies) Editor of the Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, and author of more than 60 books, Leon is widely respected for the encyclopedic scope of his knowledge across the field of manual therapies.

A full list of presenters includes top researchers in fibroblasts, connective tissue remodeling, trigger points, the newly-discovered myofibroblasts (the non-innervated half-muscle/half-fibroblast cells that are spread throughout the large fascial planes). You can see more and sign up for this Conference at their web site. Current IASI members who are planning to attend both events will get a discount on the FRC registration. Space is limited, and early response leads us to expect this conference to be booked out. Register early to avoid disappointment.