Pain-free thanks to fascia therapy: symptoms, treatment methods and effective fascia tools
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Stress, lack of exercise, back pain - even protective fascia can be damaged and thus affect the entire organism. Fascia has many nerve endings that can be responsible for everyday complaints . Fascial injuries can be treated and prevented with therapy methods such as device-assisted fascia therapy. In this article, you will learn everything about the typical symptoms and complaints, recognized treatment methods and effective fascia tools.
Contents
What are fascia?
Symptoms and causes of fascia problems
What is fascia therapy?
Therapy methods for fascia
What instruments are available for IASTM?
Fascia treatment with Fazer
Physiotherapy: Treatment with Fazer Hooks
Fascia training at home
Conclusion: Professional treatment of fascia throughout the body
What are fascia?
Fascia is a connective tissue-like structure that acts as a buffer between layers of tissue . Consisting mainly of collagen fibers and water, it forms a net-like tissue that gives the body stability. Fascia surrounds and connects organs, muscles and other structures, ensuring smooth movement and flexibility. Adhered or matted fascia can reduce flexibility and lead to pain and restricted movement .
Symptoms and causes of fascia problems
The symptoms of fascia problems include pain, restricted movement and loss of strength . Other signs can include stiffness, muscle tension and a feeling of pressure or tightness. They are diagnosed through manual tests and imaging procedures that make adhesions and thickenings in the tissue visible. Fascia problems are caused by, among other things:
Incorrect and excessive loading
Incorrect and excessive strain lead to biochemical changes that cause fascia to thicken and calcify. Excessive or incorrect strain can cause micro-tears and inflammation, which reduces the elasticity and flexibility of the fascia. In the long term, this results in chronic pain and restricted movement.
Lack of exercise
Fascia needs constant movement to stay well hydrated and supple. Lack of movement can cause the fascial tissue to atrophy and become matted. Without regular movement and stress, fascia loses its ability to glide and become flexible, which leads to compaction and hardening of the tissue. This can lead to painful adhesions and limited mobility.
Stress and inflammation
Chronic stress increases the production of stress hormones such as cortisol, which can lead to muscle tension and fascia hardening . Inflammation caused by injury or disease can also negatively affect the structure and function of the fascia. This leads to an increased susceptibility to adhesions .
What is fascia therapy?
Fascia is extremely malleable and can therefore adapt to all types of stress over the long term. Fortunately, this also means that it is able to return to its original physiological state - provided it receives help. This is because all connective tissue structures are able to contract and relax again under the influence of minimally increased pressure. Accordingly, manual (osteopathic) treatments can influence cellular metabolism and stimulate a gradual structural reorganization of the fascial components. There are various methods, approaches and tools for treating fascial complaints.
Therapy methods for fascia
Fascia therapy aims to restore the natural mobility of the fascia and prevent physical complaints. There are a variety of fascia exercises and methods:
Instrument-assisted fascia therapy (IASTM)
It is not uncommon for various sources of pain to be caused by adhesions or matting of the fascia. Instrument-assisted fascia therapy (IASTM = Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization) aims to combat such hardening. IASTM uses special tools and fascia tools to loosen adhesions and hardenings. The advantage: This device-assisted method protects the therapist's joints and enables precise work.
Osteopathy: The body as a functional unit
According to Andrew Taylor Still, the founder of osteopathy, the different areas of the body influence each other. Disturbances in one area can affect other areas through interactions. Therefore, the body should always be viewed as a functional unit . Gentle mobilization and stretching of the fascial tissue should release blockages and activate the body's self-healing powers.
Rolfing: For more balance in the fascia system
As early as the 1950s, biochemist Ida Rolf recognized the crucial role of human connective tissue in tension and back pain. From this she developed Rolfing, a form of massage that specifically targets the fascial connective tissue . Rolfing aims to reorganize and balance this connective tissue in the body. Myofascial massage techniques, combined with physical exercises, are intended to correct misalignments and release tension, adhesions and energy blockages .
Fascia Distortion Model (FDM)
The fascial distortion model (lat. Distorsio: twisting / dislocation) was developed from osteopathy by emergency physician and osteopath Stephen Typaldos. It is based on diagnosis through anamnesis, symptoms and the patient's body language. Unlike osteopathy, this concept focuses on local treatment with forced techniques . By pulling or pushing hard, the pathological cross-links are released more quickly, the separated fascia is untwisted or rejoined in order to achieve faster treatment success.
What instruments are available for IASTM?
Professional fascia tools for physiotherapists
The following tools are exclusively professional instruments that should only be used by appropriately trained people. They are made of metal. The advantage: materials such as stainless steel and aluminum are extremely durable, do not deform and hardly wear out, as would be the case with comparable devices made of wood or plastic. A well-maintained fascia tool can accompany therapists for a lifetime.
Fascia treatment with Fazer
Fazer consists of five therapeutic treatment instruments made in Switzerland from high-quality stainless steel - corrosion-resistant and meeting the highest requirements. The materials used are used in surgery, among other things. Each of these tools was designed and forged for specific treatment techniques or body regions.
There are five Fazer instruments in total. They differ in shape and application, and all are made of so-called surgical steel, which is completely skin-friendly and very easy to care for. This material also has a very high density, which means that tensions and knots in the tissue can be felt and localized using the instruments themselves.
You can purchase Fazer instruments individually or as a set with instruments 1 - 4. This also includes a cleaning cloth and two massage gels. The whole thing is packed in a practical instrument roll. This means the complete Fazer set can be easily transported and is always quickly to hand.
Fazer tools at a glance
| Fazer 1 | Fazer 2 | Fazer3 | Fazer 4 | Fazer 5 | |
| Area of application | Analgesia, fibrolysis, metabolism, rehydration | Analgesia, metabolism, rehydration | Tone regulation | Tone regulation | Tone regulation |
| Mass | 14.5x4.5x0.5cm | 25x4x1cm | 6.5x6x3cm | 6.5x6x3cm | 15x3cm |
| Weight | 163g | 450g | 248g | 272g | 524g |
| material | Corrosion-free stainless steel | ||||
| Cleaning/disinfection | Please note that disinfection only kills bacteria and viruses. Therefore, you should remove the skin cells by mechanical cleaning (e.g. using a brush) before disinfection. The devices can then be disinfected with alcohol-based disinfectant wipes. | ||||
| Special features | also available in a set (instruments 1-4 including 2 massage gels and storage bag) | ||||
Physiotherapy: Treatment with Fazer Hooks
Hooks are the perfect complement to the Fazer . With their special hooking technique (myofascial fibrolysis) they effectively treat adhesions in the muscle fascia, tendon transitions and intermuscular septa. Scars and irritations on tendons or tendon-bone transitions in particular can be treated precisely using targeted transverse friction with the hooks. The unique hook shape enables precise topographical stimulation of the tissue.
Thanks to the aluminum used, the hooks are also very light in weight , which makes them easier to handle. A high density and thus a high weight of the material are not necessary for the intended use of the Fazer hooks.
Three different hook attachments and one handle model are available. All hook attachments are available individually and fit on the separately available handle. This means they can be quickly replaced as needed. Each instrument comes with a matching bag that can be easily secured in the separately available instrument bag using Velcro.
Fazer Hooks at a glance
| Fazer Hook 1 | Fazer Hook 2 | Fazer Hook 3 | |
| Area of application | myofascial fibrolysis, transverse frictions on scars, tendons and tendon-bone junctions | ||
| Length (including handle) | 19cm | 21cm | 22cm |
| Weight (including handle) | 140g | 150g | 154g |
| material | aluminum | ||
| Cleaning/disinfection | Please note that disinfection only kills bacteria and viruses. Therefore, you should remove the skin cells by mechanical cleaning (e.g. using a brush) before disinfection. The devices can then be disinfected with alcohol-based disinfectant wipes. | ||
| Special features | Each Fazer Hook comes with a protective cover that can be fixed into the Fazer instrument roll via Velcro. | ||
Fascia training at home
The Klimmi fascia tool is perfect for fascia massage at home. The small silicone tool is ideal for use on the forearms and legs and works even more precisely and precisely than, for example, fascia balls or mini fascia rollers.
Conclusion: Professional treatment of fascia throughout the body
Fascia is adaptable and can regenerate through targeted treatments. With manual techniques and instrument-supported therapies, you can effectively solve fascial problems. A holistic approach is the key to healthy fascia and a flexible body. Get the best fascia tools and take the next step in your therapy!
Sources:
Liptan, G.: Fascia: A Missing Link in Our Understanding of the Pathophysiology of Chronic Pain, in: Current Pain and Headache Reports, 2014
Cleveland Clinic: Fascia, 2022, https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/23251-fascia
Verywell Health: What is Fascia?, https://www.verywellhealth.com/what-is-fascia-5079645
European Rolfing Association: What is Rolfing?, https://rolfing.org/de/was-ist-rolfing/rolfing-erklaert
Müller, A.: Fascia training, in: Hessisches Ärzteblatt, 2024, https://www.laekh.de/fileadmin/user_upload/Heftarchiv/Einzelartikel/2024/04_2024/Faszientraining.pdf
