Connective Tissue

Cartilage 

• a firm, smooth, non vascular connective tissue
• little blood supply (meniscus has a little)
• adds protection by shock absorption

Ligament (SPRAIN)

• connect bone to bone to form a joint
• strong, fibrous bands of connective tissue that link bones or structures together
• provide stability to joints at rest and at movement
• some ligament prevent movement in certain directions

Tendon (STRAIN)

• connect muscles to bone
• round band of connective tissue
• without tendons, it would be impossible for us to move the way that we do
• connect the muscle which enables movement to the bone which adds stability

Aponeurosis (SPRAIN)

   Fascia (STRAIN)

• layers of dense regular connective tissues, containing closely packed bundles of collagen fibres oriented in a wavy pattern parallel to the direction of pull 
• surrounds muscles, groups of muscles, blood vessels, and nerves, binding some structures together, while permitting others to slide smoothly over each other  
• It has multiple functions, including providing support, shape, and suspension for most of the soft tissues of the body, aiding in force transmission, and providing extensive proprioceptive feedback

Myofascial Tissue

• Fascia is found throughout the body and there is a special interdependent relationship between muscle tissue and fascia, both structurally and functionally. 
  
• Fascia that surrounds muscles and their individual fibres, and the muscles would not be able to generate anywhere near the amount of force necessary for proper movement and function... WHAT?? 
• The force from muscles can be still be delivered to distal bones after cutting the muscle's primary tendon because of fascial connections with adjacent muscles  
  
• Numerous receptor cells in myofascial tissues generate extensive sensory information that is necessary for regulation of movement and posture -numerous receptor cells in myofascial tissues generate extensive sensory information that is necessary for regulation of movement and posture. This supply of sensory input is so extensive that it produces the greatest amount of afferent (sensory) information coming in to our central nervous system. Consequently, the myofascial system is our largest sensory organ - greater than the eyes, nose, ears, and skin.
  
• When fascia remains in a shortened position for prolonged periods it will have a tendency to adopt that shortened position. 

Types of Sensory Receptors (proprioceptors) Muscle Spindles and Golgi Tendons

5 Types of Receptors based on Modality:

1. Chemoreceptors (changes in chemicals)
2. Thermoreceptors (change in temperature)
3. Mechanoreceptors (physical distortion-touch, pressure etc.)
4. Photoreceptors (change in light- mostly in the eye)

5. Nociceptors (they don't fit in one category, they can fit in many) 1,2 & 3 fit into this category

How Are Sprains and Strains Classified?

• Grade I (Mild): Tissue is stretched.
• Grade II (Moderate): Involves stretching and some tearing of tissue.
• Grade III (Severe): Complete tearing of tissue. (often requires surgery to repair)