7PhasesofFascia"FreakOut"AshleyD.Black

Blood/Nerves Neves Muscle/Tendon Spine / Joints Brain/Sense of WellnessPhase1:OptimalFasciaThesepeoplearepro-athletes,topfitnesstrainers,thehighestofthefitfoodchain.

•Fasciaandothersofttissuesarehealthyandhydrated.•Bodyisinproperalignment.•Propermusclesareusedtoperformspecificmovements.•NoRestrictions•Fasciaglideseasilyoverthemuscles.•Fasciaisnotadhesed.•Fasciafunctionsproperlyandisabletostretchandcontract.•Fasciaasafull-bodyentityisnotsticking,distortingorrecoilinganywhere.

Phase2:CoffeeStage"SomethingBrewing"

•Fasciaisprimarilysupple.•Smalldentsorripplesbegin.•Youmaybecellulitefree,exceptonespot.•Cellulitemaylooklikeasmallstripe(s).

Somethingisbrewing-eventhoughpeopleinthisphasewouldnotidentifythemselvesas"ATRISK"-symptomsofearliestonsetoffasciarecoilareonthehorizon.Mostpeopleinphase2arehighlyfitandonlystrugglewithmildsetbacksorone-two"troublespots".

Phase3:(60%ofpeopleareinthisphase)Peopleonlyhurt“when”orit'sjustamatterof“when”somethingisgoingtomanifest!(e.g.,IonlyhurtwhenI...run,liftheavy.Playraquetball,etc.)Thesearepeopleho“trytoremainphysicallyactive”.Mayoscillatewithina10-25poundweightzone.Knowhowtodiet,exerciseandstretchbutareverybusyandhighstress(usually30-55yearsold).

•Fasciaistalking!•Fasciaisbeginningtoreacttothelittlestructuraldeficiencies.•Painoccurswhenthebodyispushed.•Nowitisphysicallyvisible.•There’ssomanypullsthatwholesystemisslightlywacked.•Fasciaisdistortingtheskeletonisshifting/twisting/jamming.

•Fasciarestrictionspreventbloodflowtotheareasthatneeditmost.•Bloodispoolinginthecompensatorymusclescausingswellinginthejoints(whereverthebodygoestocheatiswhereitswells).•Smallspiderveins.•Smallvaricoseveins.

•Nervesignalcannotgetthroughthefasciatothepropermuscle.•Brainsaysviathenerves,“That’sgoingtohurt-don’tuseit!”•Nervoussystemchangesthemusclememoryforentirebody.•Dramaticshiftsincenterofgravity.•*Musclememoryisnolongerefficientandworkoutshurtvs.feelbetteratleastsomeofthetime

•Whentraining,severelacticacidbuildsupresultingmuscleswelling.•Musclesareover-developingandunder-developing.•Increaseinmuscleimbalance.•Musclesspasmsbegin(whenthemuscleisusedtoomuch,itclampsupandshutsdown.Eventually,youcreatemusclesthatdon’teverletgo—alwaystight).•Youmaybegintowearabrace/acebandage.

•Spineisstartingtomorph.•Sectionsofthespinedoingtoomuch;othersnotdoingenoughcausescurvesandscoliosis.•Fasciacrossingthejointstighten-closingthejointsalittlebitallover.•Rangeofmotionisrestricted.

•Startstoringstressinplacesofimbalanceinthephysicalbody.•Whenfeelingstress,compensatorymusclesareover-contracted-worseningthecondition.•Mentalcapacityisdivertedtopain.•Bodyissendingamessagetothebrain,“I’mnotdoingwellallover-helpmeout.”•Brainhastoprocess"I'mnotdoingwell,"whichfurtherdeterioratesmentalfaculties.

MayhaveanythingfromPhase2and:•Probablyhavetoiceafterworkingout.•Bulgingdisks,ribflares,shoulderoff,and/orkneeoff.•Wecanseearotatedhip,anelevatedshoulderand/orcurveinthespineiswrong.•Mayhavehadplantarfasciitis.•Earlyonsetsoftendonitis.•Trapsarealwaystight.•IftheITbandsarenotrolledout-knee(s)hurt.•Ifabraceiswornitdoesn’thurt.•TensionHeadaches•MildArthritis•Mayhavehadabackstrain.•JointSwelling•MuscleSpasmsandCramps•Orthopedicsoftenprescribed.•Manydiagnosisliketenniselbow,runnersknee,plantarfasciitis,hippointer,ordegenerativediscarebeinghandedout.

•Fasciaisre-coiling.•Celluliteispresent.•Bodyfeelstight.•Skincanbepinched,butsomeplacesarechunks.

Phase4:TroubleFasciasysteminSERIOUSTROUBLE!Mostpeoplebegintogethurtandtimetheyexercise.Thesearepeoplewhosay"Ican'tbelievethisismybody",or"Iusedtobe…."

•Fasciacontinuingtotightenandrestrictmovement,nervefunction,andbloodflow.•Fasciaisadheringinthejoints.•Fasciaispuckeringandpinchingallover.•Fasciaispullinglikea"tug-of-war"betweenstructurescausingmajordysfunction.•Regulardiscomfort.•SpurtsofPain.•Surfaceadhesions.•Muscletomuscleadhesions.•Intermuscularadhesions.

•Seriousrestrictionofbloodflowduetofasciaadhesions.•Bloodwilleithercompletelybypassthearea,makingitfeelnumb,oritwillpoolaroundtheareamakingitswell(e.g.,poolinginthekneeequalsnumbfeet).•Commontogetdiagnosedwithperipheralvasculardisease•Varicoseveinspoppingup.

•NervepathwaysgoesCOMPLETELYaroundtheaffectedareaandcompletelyshutsoffthemuscles.•Bodylearnstofunctiondysfunctionally.•Morelimitedtospecificsiteareasversusentirebody.•Pinchednervescommon.•Boutsofsciatica.

•Youaresignificantlyover-trainingthecompensatorymuscles.•Musclesneededforproperformoractivityarevirtuallyoff.•Brainsensesissuesandbeginstofunctionseverelydysfunctional.•Belliesofthemusclescan’tcondition.•Tendonsoverfire.•Tendonsswell.•Tendonstwist/jamjoints.•ChronicITbands.

Furtherjointcompressionleadsto:•Neckisbecomingflat.•Ribsarestartingtogetencasedinfasciaandlosemobility.•Discsaredehydrating,bulgingandmorediscdamageisonthehorizon.•Spineistakingthebruntofimbalancesexistinginotherjoints.•Scoliosisisvisible.•Lordosisisaproblem.•Kyphosisisaproblem.•Jammedhips.

•Beginningtofeeltiredonregularbasis.•Disruptioninthethoughtprocess.•Morenegativeenergydevotedtopain.•Messagefromthebodytothebrainis,“Wearemessedup,soweneedtochangethingsupabit.”•Bythisphase,youarechangingupyourroutine;it’saffectingyourworkout.•Maynotbeinpain,butprobablyhaveadiscissueora“naggingthing"inyourbody.•Afteractivity,takesamusclerelaxer.•Maybeonaregulardoseofananti-inflammatory.

MayhaveanythingfromPhases2-3and:•Manyarelabeledwithfibromyalgia.•Atthispoint,mosthaveconsultedaphysician.•PulledHamstring•Wristhashurtfor3weeksstraight.•Havebackpain,blowitout,itgetsbetter,blowitoutagain.•Mysterypainsthatcomeandgo.•Inyourback-herniation’s,bulges,ACjointimpingement.•Inyourneck-headachesandTMJ.•Plantarsfasciitis-achy,throbbingfeeling.•Radiatingpainfromoriginalsiteofinjury/dysfunction.•A“little”arthritis.•Holdingweight(fat)inaspecificarea.•Randomcelluliteappears.

•Thisisusuallytheugliestcellulitestage.•Haildamagedents&gummybearcanbepresent(seeFasciaBlaster.com/cellulite)•Fasciaisgrabbingmusclesandfat,makingyoulook“chunky”.•Mostwomenbegintofeelhopelessatthisstage.•Skinappears“oldanddead”

Phase5:Distruption

Fasciadisruptsqualityoflife.Exerciseisarealstruggle.

Mostpeoplehavegivenupworkouts.OrtheyaretryingPTandyogaorotherrehabilitationprograms.

•MoredysfunctionalthanPhase4•Thefasciaisnowstranglingthetendons.•Palpationoftendonsfeellikerockhardcards.•Fasciaisclampinglikeaboaconstrictor.•Severelylimitedrangeofmotion.•Probably5ormoreplacesonthebodywherethereisseriousriskformajorinjury.

•Flowisseverelyderailedinspecificspotsofthebody.•Limbshaveafeelingoffallingasleep.•Peoplesay,“Thisfeelsheavy”whentheytrain(whichlackofbloodflow).•Skinbeginstolook“dead”orolderthantheindividual.

•Thereisnowatotalre-routingofsignaltothemuscleandMAJORshiftsingravity.•Thisre-routingiscausingmajorexhaustion.•Thenervesareworkingextremeovertimetryingtofirethoughaclampingweboffascia.

MoreextremecompensationstothepointthatthereisSEVEREmuscleimbalanceinthejoint.•Unusedmusclesarenowcompletelyatrophied.•Compensatorymusclesarenowinaconstantstateofspasm.•Placesinthebodythatfeelliketightchords.•Aroundthemusclethefasciaistryingtoprotectandstopthedeterioration•Insidethemusclethefasciacontinuestotighten.

•Fasciaismorphingjoints&spinecausingmoreseverecompressionanddysfunctioninspecificareas.•Multiplebulges•Herniationorrupture.•Maybedevelopingspondylitis(Really,thisisahugewarning.YouneedtostartaddressingyourspineFORSURE.Whenyougetto6or7itishardertoaddress.).•Becausethespineis26independentjointstheytakethebruntofthebody’simbalance.

•Continuationoflevel4butmoresevere.•Havingthoughtsofpainasmuchaseveryhour.•Bothsubconsciousandconsciousawareness.•Notjustalteringactivitiesbutnowneedingtodiscontinueactivities.•Instinctivelyaddressingthepain.•Acknowledgingthatsomethingiswrong.•Consideringasurgery.•Occasionalringingears.•Blurredvision.

MayhaveanythingfromPhases2-4and:•*PeopleareMISDIAGNOSEDatstage5becausesymptomsseemunrelated.•Peoplebegintogetdiagnosedwithmixedtissuedisease,fibromyalgia,lupus,chronicfatigue•Chron’sdiseasecandevelop.•ChronicMigraines•ChronicTendonitis•Bursitis•Arthritis•Mayhavechronicswellingvisible.•Ajointthatdoesn’t“lookright.”•RestlessLegSyndromestartshere.•Anytypeofchronicpaindiagnosismaybegettingchronic.•Notableribshifts.•Scoliosis•Humpatthebaseoftheneck.•SomethingsignificantlyvisibleonanMRI,butnotalways.•Bonespurspondilities,microtears,bursitis,and/orchronicinflammation.

•All4typespresentlesssevere•Beyondboundpossibleinafewcases

Phase6:LosingControlFasciaiswinningthebattle.

ThesepeoplefeelhopelessTheyfeellikethey’ve“triedeverything”

•FasciaisinFULLBLOWNrecoil.•Ifyoureachdowntopinchtheskinawayfromthemuscle,youcan’tpullitup.•Thefasciaislikeaspacebag-clampingfromtheoutside-in•Inflammationisnowtrappedintightfasciaalloverthebody.•Multiplesitesofadhesions-severedisruptionintheoverallfasciaweb.•Allofthefasciasystemissaying,“Weneedtohelp!”

•Severelyrestricted,poolingindifferentpartsofthejoints.•Full-bodycirculationisachallenge.•Maybediagnosedwithhighbloodpressureasaresult.•Mayhavechronicswellingornumbnessinanextremity.

•Nervestrugglestosignalforbasicmovement-bodyisjusttryingtohangon.•Probablyhavesomesortofalteredgait,alimp,adropfoot,oranarmthatdoesn’tswing.•Can’tmoveandexercise.•Can’tgettheenergytostart.•Centerofgravityisseverelyalteredandvisible.•Balanceischallenged.•Nervepatternissodysfunctionalthatmusclesarejustwastingaway.

•Bodycannolongerstabilize.•Notgettingadequatebloodornervesupply,atrophyingandwastingaway.•Tendonsarenon-functioningandrecruitingbelliesofmusclestoperformjointactions.

•Mostlikelythereisconstantpainintheupper,mid,orlower,andlikelyallthree.•Thefasciaisstranglingthebodyoftheinnerstructures.•Spondylitisisusuallypresent.•Back“miles”.•SevereSIdysfunction.

•Discontinuingphysicalactivity-completelychangingyourlifearoundthepain.•Bodyisfreakingoutallover.•Sleepisaffected.•Skinbecomessensitivetothetouch.•Anystrenuousactivitycanmakeonebedriddenforadayortwo.•Evensimpletasks,likesustainedwalking,cancauseafasciafreakout.•Maybeonpainkillers.•Maybemedicatingformigraines.•Significantproblemswithmentalfocus.•Painwearsontheface.•Ringinginears.•Severeproblemswitheyeopening.

MayhaveanythingfromPhases2-5and:•Fibromyalgiais“goto“diagnosis•ChronicFatigueSyndrome•Migraines•ShinSplints•Spondylitis,spondylarthritis,allthe"spondies."•Numbnessandshootingpaininmultipleplaces.•Neuromasinthefeetandhands.•ChronicInflammatoryDisease•Mixedtissue•Lipedma•Lymedisease•Hypothyroid•Dystonia•Scleroderma

•All4typespresentseverely•Earlystagesofbeyondbound•Onebigchunk

Phase7:FreakOut

Fasciainterventionisofutmostimportance.

Thesepeoplearebasicallyrevolvingtheirlivesaroundtheirpain.

•FullBlownFasciaFreakOut!•Fasciaissolockeddown-chronicallyinpainallover.•Everythingfeelshot.•Can’tbetouched.

•Extremelydifficulttopumpbloodthroughthebodyandexhausting.•Probablyhaveaheartcondition.

•Systemsofthebodyareshuttingdown.•FasciaSystemhashadenoughandisnotcommunicating.

•BarelyFunctioning

•Fasciaissotightthatjointsarecompletelyjammed.•Bonesarestartingtofuse.•Thesepeoplehavesoughtsurgeryoralreadyhadmultiple.

•Confinedtoabedandtakingpainpills.•Entireliferevolvesaroundpain.•Popping5-6-7vicodinadayandcan’tgetoutofpain.•Migrainesoutofcontrol/vomiting.•Hopelessness.•ZEROenergy.

MayhaveanythingfromPhases2-6and:•Painfulfull-bodysensitivity.•Backpainraging.•Nothingiscomfortable.•Hottothetouch.•Can’tsleep.•Mostconsideredas“mystery”cases.•AnythingChronic•Everydiagnosisinthebookrelatedto“symptoms”isgiven.

•All4typescanbepresent.•Mostlikelybeyondbound.•Can’tpinchskin.•Bodyisonesolidchunk.•Skinispainful.•FascialtotaldisasterIMMEDIATEinterventionneeded

•Mayhaveoccasionalheadaches•Earlieststagesofmentalprocessesarestartingtoshiftfocustowardsacknowledgementofdiscomfort.•Earliestonsetof"brainfog."•Headmaynotache,butneck,traps,andupperbackare“knotty”andtight.

•Microcurveinthespinecausesrareflare-ups.•Shoulder(s)slightlyupcausingtension.•Feetslightlyturnedout,supinated/pronatedandoccasionaldiscomfortwhenchangingshoes.•Tinyposturalproblemsthatmosthavefelttheirwholelife.•Chiropractor/PTmighttellyouyourpelvisisofforsomethingwithpronation/supination.•Mighthavebrieftendonitisspell.•Briefplantarfasciitisepisodes.

Functionalfascia:•Nopainin“normalcircumstances.”•Milddiscomfortswhenyou"pushit."•Micro-compensationshavebegun,althoughit'sunfelt.•Beginningofthestructurestartingtomorph.•Micro-misalignmentsarepresent.•Sendssignalbetweenbrainandbodythatsomethingisnotright.

•Minorrestrictionsinbloodflow.•Mayhavemildortemporaryswellingafterincreaseinactivity.•Maybemicroscopicsiteswherebloodisrestrictedinmicro-fascialadhesions.•Earliestonsetofchangingtheneuro-muscularfiringpatternsformovement.

•Stopsfiringsignalswheretheremightbeamicroproblem.•Startsrecruitingcompensatorymuscles.

•Musclememorystartschanging.•Slightshiftincenterofgravity.•Somemusclesarenotfiringfully.•Somemusclesareover-firing.•Maynothavephysicalpainbutstartingtofeel“tight.”•Feelsanacheandtakesanibuprofen.•Firstadhesionsbetweenmusclesoccur,likeITbands.•First“knots”becomepresent.

•Jointsarelookingforanewfunctionaroundthemicro-structuraldeficiencies.•Notfunctioningoptimallythoughstillfunctioning.•Microshiftsandrotationswithinthevertebralcolumn.•Jointsarebeginningtobeunitedin•Somejointsmaybejammed,likehipsortoes,andfeelliketheyneedtobeadjusted.

•Fasciaissupple.•Fasciaispliable.•Fasciaishydrated.•Novisibledistortions.•Nodents.•Nostripes.•Nohaildamage.

Cellulite/VisibleDistortionsWhat's Happening in the Body:Condition of the Fascia Symptoms That Present and Diagnosis

Healthyfasciahastheabilitytorecoverevenwhenputunderstress.Thingsineverydaylifethatwouldtypicallyaffectthefunctionsoffascia:

1.Travel2.Dehydration3.Over-training4.Injury5.ToxicFood6.Alcohol7.Stress,etc.

Allareeasilyremediedandyouareabletogetbacktowhereyourfasciaisnotreactingonadailybasis.FASCIARECOVERS.

•Goodcirculation.•Nutrientsandoxygenarebeingproperlydelivered,bythebloodtothecells,fightingoffdiseaseandriddingthebodyoftoxins.•Duringworkouts,thebloodflushestomuscletoachieveatrainingaffect.•Bloodiscyclingbackandforthtothebrainandface-wardingoffthesignsofaging.

•Brainandnervoussystemhavetheabilitytosendasignaltoeverypartofthebody.•Bodycommunicatesbacktothebrainthateverythingisgood.•Nervesmessagetothefasciasystemis“Keepfunctioningproperly-fasciaishealthy.”•Fasciaisalsoacommunicatingsystemandissendingpositivemessagetoandfromthebrain.•Recoilanddistortionsnon-exisent.

•Musclesarefullyaccessible,fromorigintoinsertion,orfromtendontotendon.•Musclesinsideyourjointsareutilizedandstrengthenedthroughoutmovement,supportingtheirfunctiontostabilizejointsandpreventpainandinjury.•Belliesofmusclesareabletocontract,relax,andstretch-whichmeansthemuscleisabletofunctionandgrowandbeutilizedaspartofmovement.

•Supportstructuresarehealthy-spine,discs,labrums,meniscus,ligaments,etc.•Jointsarehealthyandfunctional.•Bloodisflowingthroughthejoints,preventinginflammation.•Inthespine,nerveactivitytothemultifidus(themusclegroupthatcreatesspaceinbetweenvertebralsegments).•Bloodflowaroundthespineandinthespinalcordfascia.Thiskeepsthespinalcordopenandsupportspropernerveactivity.•Blood/fascianerveactivitynourishesdiscs.

Brainisaffectedbyfasciabecauseitiscoveredinitandpenetratedbyit!•Everyupsidethattherestofthebodyisexperiencinginthisstage,thebrainisexperiencingaswell.•Healthynerveactivitymeansstrongsignalstoandfromthebrain.•Endorphinsaremoreeasilyreleased.•Serotoninlevelsaremorebalanced.•BetterMemory•ReducedAnxiety•BetterSleep•BetterSenseofWell-being•MoreEnergy,etc.

•IncreasedSpeed•IncreasedAgility•PeakPerformance•EnergyisStrong•NoPain•QualitySleep•HealthyMentalState•SkinhasHealthyGlow•VoidofInflammation•FeelingsofYouthfulness•OverallStructurallySound•BetterAccesstoNaturalAthleticTalent•FEELSGREAT!