Why I Stopped Fascia Blasting?

Author Donald Gianassi

Posted Feb 5, 2023

Reads 44

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As the popularity of fascia blasting spread through my social media feeds, I felt particularly drawn to the results and decided to give it a try. After a few days of relentless self-care, I was captivated by the ‘before and after’ pictures of people with smooth skin and expected a similar transformation in myself.

I began by following all the instructions - applying oil, applying pressure on my skin, consistently adding force till there was a satisfying crêpe sound - but much to my dismay, the results were nothing like what I had anticipated. My skin was predictably sore for days after but there was no visible change in either its appearance or its resilience to everyday wear and tear.

So why did I stop fascia blasting? Ultimately, I realized that it simply wasn't right for my individual needs. Although its practitioners vouch of its benefits in terms of pain relief, smoother motion of muscles and reduced inflammation - it wasn't quite enough for me since these weren't issues that particularly bothered me. I needed something more to bring about an improvement in the texture of my skin - and fascia blasting just wasn't it!

Therefore, if you're considering trying your hand at fascia blasting make sure you are clear about your goals and reasons before you commit. It certainly appears helpful for some people but for others like me - it simply isn't the answer! So look beyond just ‘the before-and-after’ pictures to truly understand whether or not this tool is effective enough for your specific needs.

What led to the decision to stop fascia blasting?

For many people, fascia blasting has been a form of physical therapy for releasing muscle tension and helping with mobility and exercise issues. It appears to be based on the belief that if the fascia tissue that surrounds muscles and organs becoming too tight, it can bear down on them, causing pain and restricted movement. The practice involves pressing an instrument - often resembling a derby - against the skin to apply strong vibrations, which is thought to break up these areas of tension. Despite this general consensus of how it works, there is still a lot of debate around its effectiveness and safety and this has led to questions around whether it should continue as a legitimate practice among physical therapists.

The principal argument against continuing with fascia blasting is that there isn’t enough evidence to support its use in clinical settings. Current research doesn’t demonstrate clear enough results for it to be accepted as an appropriate treatment for muscles or joints in recovery or rehabilitating patients. Furthermore, there are considerations about its potential side-effects due to the vibrations being so powerful. There is currently ongoing investigations from medical professionals into this issue but available data at this point shows that there are other more reliable methods than fascia blasting available when treating mobility problems such as massage therapy and yoga stretches.

For these reasons, many medical professionals have decided not to pursue fascia blasting any further as a legitimate form of treatment in physical therapy sessions but it remains under investigation as more research is conducted into its potential uses. As fascia movement continues to be studied more thoroughly in the future, experts may decide that embracing some form of the approach holds valuable benefits but at this point, they haven't been able identify them firmly enough to continue using it constructively in physical therapy treatments currently.

What motivated you to cease fascia blasting?

Becoming a fascia blaster was, at first, an appealing idea to me. I had heard a lot of good things about it and was interested in trying something new. But when I started to actually research the practice of fascia blasting, it quickly turned into a project that ended up costing me more time and money than I had initially expected.

I soon realized that this was because the process of Fascia Blasting was very taxing on my body and mind, due to its labor-intensive nature. It went beyond just pressing the actual blaster onto my skin; there were additional steps involved in prepping and protecting the area before any blasting could begin. Plus, some of the techniques reqiured expensive equipment or specialized knowledge that, as a novice blaster, I didn't possess.

The combination of all of these factors ultimately motivated me to cease facsia blasting. While it may be a beneficial practice for some individuals, it simply wasn't for me due to the major investment required in order for one to get an adequate return on his/her investment in terms of physical, mental and monetary gains - something that ultimately deterred me from continuing with this form of therapy.

What were the reasons for stopping fascia blasting?

Fascia blasting is an increasingly popular practice of using a tool to release fascia adhesions and tension as a way to improve physical flexibility and reduce pain. Interested athletes, bodybuilders and others use this technique regularly. However, there are some circumstances where ceasing fascia blasting is advised.

The first and most common reason recommended by experts for stopping the practice is the potential of skin irritations and bruises. Since this healing modality usually takes place without the use of any sort of lubrication or topical, direct skin contact with the tool can lead to signs of physical trauma on areas such as the thighs, sartorius and arms. These injuries typically heal over time with rest but practitioners should be aware of the risks. Additionally, individuals who have recently had cosmetic surgery or injury should avoid fascia blasting altogether until fully recovered.

Second, improvements from fascial blasting have been shown to plateau after unique levels of intensity have been reached beyond which gains in flexibility may not be further achieved. To avoid muscle degeneration or joint damage, one can opt out from repeating a certain level of activity as they may no longer gain benefit from routine actions.

Finally, it is necessary that practitioners evaluate whether benefits out way risks prior to any deep tissue practices such as fascial blasting in order for the safety for their bodies. There should be rest periods included between sessions depending on athletic needs but also health concerns should always be at top of mind; therefore consulting with medical professionals is always a good idea before engaging a form if intense self care.

How did you come to the conclusion to no longer do fascia blasting?

At one time, I was a big fan of fascia blasting. It was a popular form of body massage, often described as deep tissue massage that used blunt instruments to break up the dense knots and adhesions found in the muscle tissues known as fascia. It felt deeply therapeutic, releasing tension and allowing the body to move more freely. But after about six months of using it regularly, I started to experience persistent pain that did not respond to any interventions or therapies.

After a few weeks of research and consultation with my health care team, I came to the conclusion that I needed to stop using fascia blasting in order to heal my body from this discomfort. My doctor explained that although fascia blasting seemingly created a more supportive and balanced system in the body, it could also be damaging because it was so aggressive and therefore create micro-tears in healthy muscle tissue.

Although it meant saying goodbye to what initially felt like an effective approach for reducing tension and increasing mobility, it's been worth it for the long term health benefits gained by not doing regular fascia blastings anymore. Instead of opting for one-off solutions like this type massage therapy, I have since focused on shaping a holistic lifestyle involving plenty of restorative stretch, mindful movement practice and adequate nourishment. This has allowed me room for responding consistently and sustainably towards recovering from soreness - without needing any further interventions than what might be given naturally by wholesome living and balanced exercise program.

Why did you decide to end your fascia blasting practice?

When I first started my fascia blasting practice, I was drawn to the impressive results people were getting; it seemed like a quick and easy way to improve body shape and reduce cellulite. But after a few months of trying various techniques and routines, I began to realize that the fascia blasting process had its own set of risks.

The most significant one for me was related to potential skin damage; as an amateur, it was difficult for me to identify how much pressure is too much and which areas are too delicate for intense fascia blasting. This led to more bruises than beneficial results after a few sessions, which helped me understand that without detailed guidance from a professional my practice had some unwanted potential outcomes that can't be ignored.

I believe in taking the utmost care with your body and ensuring corrective measures are taken prior any intrusive methods – something which I felt couldn't be done with beginner's fascia blasting at home. For this reason, while fascia blasting has its pros, I have decided to end my practice until I have someone who can give me advice on what techniques are safe or just right for my body type in order to get desired results.

What drove your choice to discontinue fascia blasting?

When faced with the prospect of discontinuing fascia blasting, the decision came down to one primary factor: effectiveness. While fascia blasting can provide some noted benefits such as improved mobility, it is not without its risks. As fascia blasting involves using pressure and a tool to impact the body’s tissues, there can be risks of rhabdomyolysis, nerve damage and prolonged pain. Though such complications are rare, they do happen and it was not a chance I was willing to take in my own practice.

After researching the alternatives to fascia blasting, one stood out for its efficacy – cupping therapy. Cupping is an ancient form of alternative medicine that has found its way into many modern practices as well due to its effectiveness in releasing tight muscles without the risk posed by fascia blasting. Cupping uses cups placed on your skin that create localized suction around areas of tightness or injury in order to release tension or inflammation. This technique can be particularly beneficial for athletes and those with chronic pain conditions and offers immediate relief that lasts beyond the treatment session itself- something fascia blasting did not provide reliably or consistently enough for me personally.

Thus while fascia blasting seemed like a promising way to work on mobility at first, ultimately it did come with a degree of risk associated with it that just wasn’t worth taking in my own practice; for these reasons I chose to discontinue offering it as an option completely and focus solely on more effective treatments with greater returns outcomes such as cupping therapy instead.

Donald Gianassi

Donald Gianassi

Writer at CGAA

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Donald Gianassi is a renowned author and journalist based in San Francisco. He has been writing articles for several years, covering a wide range of topics from politics to health to lifestyle. Known for his engaging writing style and insightful commentary, he has earned the respect of both his peers and readers alike.

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