Long ignored or thought of as packing material filling the space between skin and muscles, fat is finally getting its recognition as essential to human health and a part of the fascial system massage therapists tend to every day.
Every step, hop, and jump puts immense strain on our plantar foot. Fortunately, a whole team of tough, resilient, and surprisingly sensitive tissues steps in to manage these mechanical loads.
The IT band functions as part of a 3D system with connections above to the gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, and tensor fascia lata; below to the lateral knee; and deep to the femur via the lateral intermuscular septum.
When we angle the palm by supinating or pronating the forearm, we can diminish the size of the palm contact, making it much more specific without being pokey the way thumb and finger pads can be.
