It has been theorized for many years that fascia is peizioelectric in nature, and will convert the gentle pressure held at each barrier into an energetic release of the tension. Fascia is believed to exhibit piezoelectric properties, which means it can generate electrical potentials in response to mechanical stress or deformation. This phenomenon is observed in certain biological tissues, including fascia.
Piezoelectricity is a property of certain materials where mechanical stress or deformation leads to the generation of electric charges or voltages. In fascia, this phenomenon is thought to occur due to the presence of collagen fibres, which are a major structural component of the tissue. Collagen fibers have an organized and layered structure, and they can exhibit piezoelectric behavior.
When fascial tissue is subjected to mechanical forces, such as pressure, stretching, or movement, the collagen fibres within the fascia can become compressed, twisted, or distorted. This mechanical deformation leads to a separation of positive and negative charges within the collagen molecules, generating electric potentials or voltages along the fibres.
Significance of Fascial Piezoelectricity:
The piezoelectric properties of fascia are believed to play a role in various physiological processes and functions:
- Mechanosensation: Piezoelectricity in fascia may contribute to the body’s ability to sense and respond to mechanical stimuli. It could help transmit signals related to touch, pressure, and movement.
- Tissue Repair and Remodelling: Electric potentials generated in fascia through piezoelectricity might influence cellular processes involved in tissue repair, regeneration, and remodelling.
- Pain Perception: Fascial piezoelectricity could have implications for pain perception and the transmission of pain signals. Changes in electrical potentials within the fascia might influence pain sensation.
- Biomechanics: The generation of electric potentials in response to mechanical forces might contribute to the overall biomechanical properties of fascia and its role in maintaining structural integrity.
It’s important to note that while the piezoelectric properties of fascia are a subject of scientific
investigation and interest, our understanding of these properties and their exact significance in various physiological processes is still an area of ongoing research. Researchers continue to explore the role of piezoelectricity in fascia and its potential applications in fields such as biomechanics, tissue engineering, and pain management.
What is most exciting is that scientific research is catching up to the theories!
The 2021 Nobel prize winners for Medicine, David Julius and Ardem Patapoutian and their discovery of temperature and touch receptors in nerve cells. They found that these receptors provide information on how heat, cold, and mechanical force can initiate the nerve impulses that allow us to perceive and relate to our environment. I will write an article outlining their discoveries but two of the three receptors are aptly named Piezo1 and Piezo2.