The high level of efficacy from use of our MP/MF PEMF technology is created when the unique percussive muscular contraction, which causes the mechanical break up of intramuscular adhesion, intersects with high increases in blood flow and an accelerated reduction of inflammation (in the locally treated area). Adhesion occurs in connective tissue for a wide variety of factors, situations and circumstances including age, posture, injuries, surgeries, repetitive activities/strains and living life in general. Thus, we think it crucial to the reader to have a better understanding of how fascia, tendons and adhesion profoundly affect a human's or animal's experience through movement. Fascia is a form of connective tissue. Its jobs are to provide a sliding and gliding environment for muscles, suspend organs in their proper places, transmit movement from muscle to the bones to which they are attached, and provide a supportive, moveable wrapping for nerves and blood vessels as they pass through and between muscles. Fascia, in its non-stretchy form, is the substance that makes up tendons, which attach muscle to bone, and ligaments, which attach bone to bone.

Muscles are composed of muscle fibers that are each wrapped in a thin, tight sheath of connective tissue known as fascia. Bundles of muscle fibers are then overwrapped with a slightly thicker layer of fascia, then bundles of bundles are similarly wrapped with fascia, and then the total muscle is wrapped again with another layer of fascia. As the muscle nears its end at a bone, the size and number of muscle fibers significantly decreases, narrowing the circumference of the muscle, but the fascia that has been wrapping those muscle fibers continues, becoming the tendon that attaches the muscle to bone.

Fascia is like a big cobweb that runs throughout your entire body.

The interconnected nature of fascia means that everything in the body is connected to everything else. When one part of fascia is injured or compromised in any way, it can affect tissues that are far from the original site of the injury or impairment. In the case of repetitive strain injuries, this means that tissue changes in the shoulder which are the result of an old injury can, over time, affect the condition and function of fascia farther down the arm and into the hand. This often leads to the confusing, seemingly unrelated, symptoms that are often present in any case of RSI. Symptoms may be felt in one area, but the source of the strain may be located somewhere else.

When poor posture habits cause fascial changes in the neighborhood around a nerve, the normally loose, suspending fascia that protects that nerve becomes tighter. The nerve, inside its casing of tight fascia, can then become stuck to nearby muscle, bone, blood vessels, or even skin. Every time muscles in the area contract, the tight casing of fascia around the nerve gets tugged, and the nerve becomes more and more irritated until an injury is felt, causing tingling, numbness, zinging sensations, and sometimes burning or weakness.

In the case of repetitive strain injuries that have muscle-based symptoms (weakness, pain, pressure, drawing sensations, congestion, etc.), the fascia surrounding and permeating through muscle becomes tight and restricted. This can prevent the muscle from accomplishing the work it is designed to do by inhibiting the full contraction and release of the tight muscle. This forces neighboring muscles to pick up the slack, helping the restricted muscle do its job. The problem is that the helper muscles aren’t designed to contract and release in exactly the same direction as the restricted muscle, so the assistance causes more strain in the helper muscle.  Thus, both muscle groups, primary and secondary, become restricted and strained, and the process of creation of adhesion and more restriction continues.

Fascia creates a wrapping around the entire muscle, much like a sausage casing. This part of the fascia can also become adhered and will cause one muscle to stick to its neighbor.    

When one muscle contracts, it must drag along the muscle that is stuck to it, causing strain. Fascia tightens in the area to help protect the strained muscles, and more adhesions develop as a result.  

Fascia molds itself over time according to how the body is used. Here is a simple example of what that means.

The moldability of fascia is the reason that ergonomics is so important when recovering from a repetitive strain injury. If a person habitually sits in a slouched posture, then over time the fascia in a person’s body will mold itself to that posture. Fascia in the chest will pull the rib cage down. Fascia in the neck will pull the head and neck forward. The slouched position of the upper torso will change how the arm bones fit in the shoulder joints, and the fascia in the shoulder area will change as a result. All of these posture-related tissue changes will be felt by the body as a source of strain. Now, add a repetitive motion using muscles in that area, and you have the perfect environment for creating a repetitive strain injury.
Cross your arms over your chest and notice which arm ends up on top. Now, cross them the other way with the other arm on top. Notice how funny this feels, how you are unused to crossing your arms in this way and how unnatural it feels to do so. This is because you have repeated your favorite way of crossing your arms thousands of times throughout your life, and the fascia in your arms has been molded according to that pattern. The same thing occurs in any area of the body that is used in a repetitive way.

 Podiatric indications where use of our MP/MF PEMF technology can be beneficial.

What is Plantar Fasciitis?

The plantar fascia is a ligament band running from your heel to the ball of your foot.
This band pulls on the heel bone, raising the arch of your foot as it pushes off the ground. If your foot moves incorrectly, the plantar fascia may become strained. The fascia may swell, and its tiny fibers may begin to fray, causing plantar fasciitis.

Causes

Plantar fasciitis is often caused by poor foot mechanics. If your foot flattens too much, the fascia may overstretch and swell. If your foot flattens too little, the fascia may ache from being pulled too tight.

Symptoms

With plantar fasciitis, the bottom of your foot may hurt when you stand, especially your first step in the morning. Pain usually occurs on the inside of the foot, near the spot where your heel and arch meet. Pain may lessen after a few steps, but it comes back after rest or with prolonged movement.

What is a Heel Spur?

A heel spur is a bony outgrowth at the base of the heel bone near the plantar fascia.
A spur may cause pain on the bottom of the heel when you stand. As with plantar fasciitis, the pain may decrease after standing or walking a short time. The pain you feel is not from the spur itself. Your heel hurts because the spur pinches a nerve or presses against the plantar bursa. With a bursitis (inflamed bursa) it may apply pressure to the plantar fascia.