The Interstitium

The interstitium helps your body repair itself.

So what is the Interstitium and why does this “new” discovery matter? Well, your manual therapist cannot touch your sore muscles, adjust your stuck spine, or heal inflammation in ligaments and tendons without first going through the interstitium.

The interstitium is a layer of fluid-filled pockets hemmed in by collagen and it can be found all over our bodies, from skin to muscles to our digestive system. Researchers believe the interstitium acts as a kind of shock absorber for the rest of our interior parts and that the workings of the fluid itself could help explain everything from tumor growth to how cells move within our bodies.

This part of the body has been studied by physical medicine specialists in the UK and Germany for years. They call it the “extracellular matrix” (ECM). There are some profound connections between loading (exercise) and the interstitium. When you perform any movement, the loads that enter your body are transmitted to your cells through this ECM. Genes turn on, blood supply increases, and both support your body’s self-repair mechanisms.

More information on the interstitium can be found here, or watch the video below.