Probably the most interesting sensory function of fascia is its role in interoception. Interoception encompasses not only the afferents of our so-called enteric brain (‘gut brain’), but also many other perceptions that sense our internal milieu and compare these somatic sensations with the physiological and emotional needs as perceived by our brain. In contrast to proprioceptive stimuli, these sensations do net get projected primarily to the somatomotor cortex of the forebrain, but rather to the cortical insula.
Interestingly many common somatic dysfunctions which clinicians encounter in their practices are less associated with diminished proprioception, but rather with an impaired interoception. These include post-traumatic stress disorder, irritable bowel syndrome, eating disorders, depression, anxiety, and alexithymia (emotional dumbness). Treatment of these disorders may therefore profit from a more interoceptive stimulation compared with the treatment of other musculoskeletal pathologies which are associated with a proprioceptive impairment (such as chronic low back pain, whiplash injury, complex regional pain syndrome or scoliosis).
What do we know about ‘interoceptive mindfulness’, about its trainability and effect on body functions? Is it different from proprioceptive attention? How can we orchestrate manual myofascial therapy around interoceptive stimulation? How important are warmth and temperature or the length of listening pauses for this process? What do we presently know about the influence of specific touch styles, of meditation and of exercise on interoception? How is interoceptive yoga different from a proprioceptive yoga style? And could this apply also for movement therapies, and possibly also to manual therapists?
