I saw an article by John Barnes where he talks about how fascia is far more complex and important than previously thought. Here’s the link and some excerpts:

The Myofascial Release Perspective

The following quotes are from Carol Davis, D.P.T., Ed.D., M.S., F.A.P.T.A., editor of a book titled, Complementary Therapies in Rehabilitation: Evidence for Efficacy in Therapy, Prevention, and Wellness, (3rd Edition) 1 (www.slackbooks.com/ctr). Davis has been researching the latest articles about fascia, as well as some previously published information, for an update of her chapter on myofascial release for a well-known neurological textbook to which she has contributed.

* Fascia turns out to be far more complex and far more involved in the moment to moment function of all our cells, and is intricately involved with the central, peripheral and autonomic nervous system tissue. It is no longer useful to view the body or the fascial system as a mechanical system alone. Nonlinear system dynamics are at work as we now understand the involvement of fascia with the neuroendrocrine system, the brain and the neurological plexus in the lining of organs like the stomach and gut.

Fascia must be viewed by practitioners and patients not as a static, but as enervated, alive, functional, fluid and self-regulatory. Involving the patient or client in the process of manipulation of fascia and its embedded tissue enhances the response of the tissue and the patient. (Schleip R. Fascial plasticity–a new neurobiological explanation. J. Bodywork and Movement Therapies. 2003;7(2): 104-116.)