to the Fascia Chart

7PhasesofFascia"FreakOut"
AshleyD.Black
What's Happening in the Body:
Condition of the Fascia
Blood/Nerves
Neves
Muscle/Tendon
Symptoms That Present and Diagnosis
Spine / Joints
Cellulite/VisibleDistortions
Brain/Sense of Wellness
•Supportstructuresare
•Brainandnervoussystem
healthy-spine,discs,labrums,
havetheabilitytosenda •Musclesarefully
Brainisaffectedbyfasciabecauseit
meniscus,ligaments,etc.
•IncreasedSpeed
signaltoeverypartofthe accessible,fromoriginto
iscoveredinitandpenetratedbyit!
•Jointsarehealthyand
body.
•IncreasedAgility
insertion,orfromtendonto functional.
•Everyupsidethattherestofthe
•Bodycommunicatesback tendon.
•Bloodisflowingthroughthe bodyisexperiencinginthisstage,the •PeakPerformance
bythebloodtothecells, tothebrainthateverything
•Fasciaandothersofttissues
•Musclesinsideyourjoints joints,preventing
brainisexperiencingaswell.•
•EnergyisStrong
1.Travel
arehealthyandhydrated.
fightingoffdiseaseand
isgood.
areutilizedand
inflammation.•Inthespine, Healthynerveactivitymeansstrong •NoPain
•Bodyisinproperalignment. 2.Dehydration riddingthebodyoftoxins.
•Nervesmessagetothe
strengthenedthroughout nerveactivitytothemultifidus signalstoandfrom
•QualitySleep
•Propermusclesareusedto 3.Over-training
fasciasystemis“Keep
•Duringworkouts,the
movement,supportingtheir (themusclegroupthatcreates thebrain.
performspecificmovements. 4.Injury
•HealthyMentalState
bloodflushestomuscleto functioningproperly-fascia functiontostabilizejoints spaceinbetweenvertebral •Endorphinsaremoreeasily
5.ToxicFood
•NoRestrictions
•SkinhasHealthyGlow
ishealthy.”
released.
andpreventpainandinjury. segments).
achieveatrainingaffect.
•Fasciaglideseasilyoverthe 6.Alcohol
•Fasciaisalsoa
•Belliesofmusclesareable •Bloodflowaroundthespine •Serotoninlevelsaremorebalanced. •VoidofInflammation
7.Stress,etc.
muscles.
•Bloodiscyclingbackand
andinthespinalcordfascia. •BetterMemory
communicatingsystemand tocontract,relax,and
•FeelingsofYouthfulness
•Fasciaisnotadhesed.
forthtothebrainandface-
•ReducedAnxiety
issendingpositivemessage stretch-whichmeansthe Thiskeepsthespinalcord
•OverallStructurallySound
•Fasciafunctionsproperlyand Allareeasilyremediedandyou
wardingoffthesignsof
•BetterSleep
toandfromthebrain.
muscleisabletofunction openandsupportsproper
isabletostretchandcontract. areabletogetbacktowhereyour
•BetterAccesstoNaturalAthleticTalent
•BetterSenseofWell-being
aging.
•Recoilanddistortionsnon- andgrowandbeutilizedas nerveactivity.
•Fasciaasafull-bodyentityis fasciaisnotreactingonadaily
•FEELSGREAT!
•MoreEnergy,etc.
•Blood/fascianerveactivity
basis.FASCIARECOVERS.
exisent.
notsticking,distortingor
partofmovement.
Phase1:OptimalFascia
Healthyfasciahastheabilityto
Thesepeoplearepro-athletes, recoverevenwhenputunder
•Goodcirculation.
topfitnesstrainers,thehighest stress.Thingsineverydaylifethat
•Nutrientsandoxygenare
ofthefitfoodchain.
wouldtypicallyaffectthe
beingproperlydelivered,
functionsoffascia:
•Fasciaissupple.
•Fasciaispliable.
•Fasciaishydrated.
•Novisibledistortions.
•Nodents.
•Nostripes.
•Nohaildamage.
nourishesdiscs.
recoilinganywhere.
Phase2:CoffeeStage
"SomethingBrewing"
Functionalfascia:
•Nopainin“normal
•Minorrestrictionsin
circumstances.”
bloodflow.
•Milddiscomfortswhenyou
•Mayhavemildor
"pushit."
Somethingisbrewing-
temporaryswellingafter
•Stopsfiringsignals
eventhoughpeopleinthis •Micro-compensationshave increaseinactivity.
begun,althoughit'sunfelt.
wheretheremightbea
phasewouldnotidentify
•Maybemicroscopicsites
themselvesas"ATRISK"- •Beginningofthestructure wherebloodisrestrictedin microproblem.
startingtomorph.
•Startsrecruiting
symptomsofearliest
micro-fascialadhesions.
onsetoffasciarecoilare •Micro-misalignmentsare •Earliestonsetofchanging compensatorymuscles.
present.
onthehorizon.Most
theneuro-muscularfiring
•Sendssignalbetweenbrain
peopleinphase2are
patternsformovement.
highlyfitandonlystruggle andbodythatsomethingis
withmildsetbacksorone- notright.
two"troublespots".
Phase3:(60%ofpeopleare
inthisphase)Peopleonly
hurt“when”orit'sjusta
•Fasciaistalking!
matterof“when”something
isgoingtomanifest!(e.g.,I •Fasciaisbeginningtoreact
onlyhurtwhenI...run,lift tothelittlestructural
heavy.Playraquetball,etc.) deficiencies.•Painoccurs
Thesearepeopleho“tryto whenthebodyispushed.
remainphysicallyactive”.
•Nowitisphysicallyvisible.
Mayoscillatewithina10-25 •There’ssomanypullsthat
poundweightzone.
wholesystemisslightly
Knowhowtodiet,exercise
wacked.
andstretchbutarevery
•Fasciaisdistortingthe
busyandhighstress(usually
skeletonis
30-55yearsold).
shifting/twisting/jamming.
•Fasciarestrictions
preventbloodflowtothe
areasthatneeditmost.
•Bloodispoolinginthe
compensatorymuscles
causingswellinginthe
joints(whereverthebody
goestocheatiswhereit
swells).
•Smallspiderveins.
•Smallvaricoseveins.
•Musclememorystarts
changing.
•Slightshiftincenterof
gravity.
•Somemusclesarenot
firingfully.
•Somemusclesareoverfiring.
•Maynothavephysical
painbutstartingtofeel
“tight.”
•Feelsanacheandtakes
anibuprofen.
•Firstadhesionsbetween
musclesoccur,likeITbands.
•First“knots”become
present.
•Jointsarelookingfora
newfunctionaroundthe
micro-structural
deficiencies.
•Notfunctioning
optimallythoughstill
functioning.
•Microshiftsand
rotationswithinthe
vertebralcolumn.
•Jointsarebeginningto
beunitedin
•Somejointsmaybe
jammed,likehipsortoes,
andfeelliketheyneedto
beadjusted.
•Mayhaveoccasional
headaches
•Earlieststagesofmental
processesarestartingtoshift
focustowards
acknowledgementof
discomfort.
•Earliestonsetof"brainfog."
•Headmaynotache,butneck,
traps,andupperbackare
“knotty”andtight.
•Fasciaisprimarilysupple.
•Smalldentsorripplesbegin.
•Microcurveinthespinecausesrareflare- •Youmaybecellulitefree,exceptonespot.
ups.
•Cellulitemaylooklikeasmallstripe(s).
•Shoulder(s)slightlyupcausingtension.
•Feetslightlyturnedout,
supinated/pronatedandoccasional
discomfortwhenchangingshoes.
•Tinyposturalproblemsthatmosthavefelt
theirwholelife.
•Chiropractor/PTmighttellyouyourpelvis
isofforsomethingwith
pronation/supination.
•Mighthavebrieftendonitisspell.
•Briefplantarfasciitisepisodes.
MayhaveanythingfromPhase2and:
•Nervesignalcannotget
•Probablyhavetoiceafterworkingout.
throughthefasciatothe •Whentraining,severe
•Bulgingdisks,ribflares,shoulderoff,and/orknee
lacticacidbuildsup
propermuscle.
•Spineisstartingto
•Startstoringstressinplacesof off.
resultingmuscleswelling.
•Brainsaysviathe
morph.
•Wecanseearotatedhip,anelevatedshoulder
imbalanceinthephysicalbody.
nerves,“That’sgoingto •Musclesareover-
and/orcurveinthespineiswrong.
•Sectionsofthespine
•Whenfeelingstress,
developingandunder-
hurt-don’tuseit!”
doingtoomuch;others compensatorymusclesareover- •Mayhavehadplantarfasciitis.
developing.
•Earlyonsetsoftendonitis.
•Nervoussystem
contracted-worseningthe
notdoingenoughcauses
•Increaseinmuscle
•Trapsarealwaystight.
condition.•
changesthemuscle
curvesandscoliosis.
imbalance.
•IftheITbandsarenotrolledout-knee(s)hurt.
Mentalcapacityisdivertedto
memoryforentirebody. •Musclesspasmsbegin
•Fasciacrossingthe
•Ifabraceiswornitdoesn’thurt.
pain.
•Dramaticshiftsincenter (whenthemuscleisused jointstighten-closingthe
•TensionHeadaches
•Bodyissendingamessagetothe
ofgravity.
toomuch,itclampsupand jointsalittlebitallover.
•MildArthritis
brain,“I’mnotdoingwellallover-
•Mayhavehadabackstrain.
•*Musclememoryisno shutsdown.Eventually,you •Rangeofmotionis
helpmeout.”•Brain •JointSwelling
createmusclesthatdon’t
longerefficientand
restricted.
hastoprocess"I'mnotdoing
•MuscleSpasmsandCramps
everletgo—alwaystight).
workoutshurtvs.feel
well,"whichfurtherdeteriorates •Orthopedicsoftenprescribed.
•Youmaybegintoweara
betteratleastsomeof
mentalfaculties.
•Manydiagnosisliketenniselbow,runnersknee,
brace/acebandage.
thetime
plantarfasciitis,hippointer,ordegenerativedisc
•Fasciaisre-coiling.
•Celluliteispresent.
•Bodyfeelstight.
•Skincanbepinched,butsomeplacesarechunks.
arebeinghandedout.
•Seriousrestrictionof
•Fasciacontinuingtotighten bloodflowduetofascia
andrestrictmovement,nerve adhesions.
function,andbloodflow.
•Bloodwilleither
Phase4:Trouble•Fasciaisadheringinthe
completelybypassthe
FasciasysteminSERIOUS joints.
area,makingitfeelnumb,
•Fasciaispuckeringand
TROUBLE!
oritwillpoolaroundthe
Mostpeoplebegintoget pinchingallover.
•Fasciaispullinglikea"tug-of- areamakingitswell(e.g.,
hurtandtimethey
war"betweenstructures
poolinginthekneeequals
exercise.
causingmajordysfunction.
numbfeet).
Thesearepeoplewhosay •Regulardiscomfort.
•Commontoget
"Ican'tbelievethisismy •SpurtsofPain.
diagnosedwithperipheral
body",or"Iusedtobe…." •Surfaceadhesions.
vasculardisease
•Muscletomuscleadhesions.
•Varicoseveinspopping
•Intermuscularadhesions.
up.
•Nervepathwaysgoes
COMPLETELYaroundthe
affectedareaand
completelyshutsoffthe
muscles.
•Bodylearnstofunction
dysfunctionally.
•Morelimitedtospecific
siteareasversusentire
body.
•Pinchednerves
common.
•Boutsofsciatica.
•Youaresignificantly
over-trainingthe
compensatorymuscles.
•Musclesneededfor
properformoractivity
arevirtuallyoff.
•Brainsensesissuesand
beginstofunction
severelydysfunctional.
•Belliesofthemuscles
can’tcondition.
•Tendonsoverfire.
•Tendonsswell.
•Tendonstwist/jam
joints.
•ChronicITbands.
Furtherjointcompression
leadsto:
•Neckisbecomingflat.
•Ribsarestartingtoget
encasedinfasciaandlose
mobility.
•Discsaredehydrating,
bulgingandmoredisc
damageisonthehorizon.
•Spineistakingthebrunt
ofimbalancesexistingin
otherjoints.
•Scoliosisisvisible.
•Lordosisisaproblem.
•Kyphosisisaproblem.
•Jammedhips.
•Thisisusuallytheugliestcellulitestage.
•Beginningtofeeltiredonregular
•Haildamagedents&gummybearcanbepresent(see
MayhaveanythingfromPhases2-3and:
basis.
FasciaBlaster.com/cellulite)
•Manyarelabeledwithfibromyalgia.
•Disruptioninthethoughtprocess.
•Fasciaisgrabbingmusclesandfat,makingyoulook“chunky”.
•Atthispoint,mosthaveconsultedaphysician.
•Morenegativeenergydevotedto
•Mostwomenbegintofeelhopelessatthisstage.
•PulledHamstring
pain.
•Skinappears“oldanddead”
•Wristhashurtfor3weeksstraight.
•Messagefromthebodytothebrain
•Havebackpain,blowitout,itgetsbetter,blowit
is,“Wearemessedup,soweneedto
outagain.
changethingsupabit.”
•Mysterypainsthatcomeandgo.
•Bythisphase,youarechangingup
•Inyourback-herniation’s,bulges,ACjoint
yourroutine;it’saffectingyour
impingement.
workout.
•Inyourneck-headachesandTMJ.
•Maynotbeinpain,butprobably
•Plantarsfasciitis-achy,throbbingfeeling.
haveadiscissueora“naggingthing"
•Radiatingpainfromoriginalsiteof
inyourbody.
injury/dysfunction.
•Afteractivity,takesamuscle
•A“little”arthritis.
relaxer.
•Holdingweight(fat)inaspecificarea.
•Maybeonaregulardoseofananti-
•Randomcelluliteappears.
inflammatory.
MayhaveanythingfromPhases2-4and:
•Moredysfunctionalthan
•Flowisseverelyderailed
Phase5:Distruption
Phase4
inspecificspotsofthe
•Thefasciaisnowstrangling
body.
Fasciadisruptsqualityof thetendons.
•Limbshaveafeelingof
life.Exerciseisareal
•Palpationoftendonsfeel
fallingasleep.
struggle.
likerockhardcards.
•Peoplesay,“Thisfeels
•Fasciaisclampinglikeaboa
heavy”whentheytrain
Mostpeoplehavegiven constrictor.
(whichlackofbloodflow).
upworkouts.Ortheyare •Severelylimitedrangeof
•Skinbeginstolook
tryingPTandyogaor
motion.
“dead”orolderthanthe
otherrehabilitation
•Probably5ormoreplaces
individual.
programs.
onthebodywherethereis
seriousriskformajorinjury.
•Thereisnowatotalreroutingofsignaltothe
muscleandMAJORshifts
ingravity.
•Thisre-routingis
causingmajorexhaustion.
•Thenervesareworking
extremeovertimetrying
tofirethoughaclamping
weboffascia.
Moreextreme
compensationstothepoint
thatthereisSEVEREmuscle
imbalanceinthejoint.•
Unusedmusclesarenow
completelyatrophied.
•Compensatorymuscles
arenowinaconstantstate
ofspasm.
•Placesinthebodythat
feelliketightchords.
•Aroundthemusclethe
fasciaistryingtoprotect
andstopthedeterioration
•Insidethemusclethe
fasciacontinuestotighten.
•All4typespresentlesssevere
•*PeopleareMISDIAGNOSEDatstage5because •Beyondboundpossibleinafewcases
•Fasciaismorphingjoints
symptomsseemunrelated.
&spinecausingmore
•Continuationoflevel4butmore •Peoplebegintogetdiagnosedwithmixedtissue
severecompressionand
disease,fibromyalgia,lupus,chronicfatigue
severe.
dysfunctioninspecific
•Havingthoughtsofpainasmuch •Chron’sdiseasecandevelop.
areas.
•ChronicMigraines
aseveryhour.
•Multiplebulges
•ChronicTendonitis
•Bothsubconsciousand
•Herniationorrupture.
•Bursitis
consciousawareness.
•Maybedeveloping
•Arthritis
•Notjustalteringactivitiesbut
spondylitis(Really,thisisa
•Mayhavechronicswellingvisible.
nowneedingtodiscontinue
hugewarning.Youneedto
•Ajointthatdoesn’t“lookright.”
activities.
•RestlessLegSyndromestartshere.
startaddressingyourspine
•Instinctivelyaddressingthepain.
•Anytypeofchronicpaindiagnosismaybegetting
FORSURE.Whenyougetto
•Acknowledgingthatsomethingis chronic.
6or7itisharderto
wrong.
•Notableribshifts.
address.).
•Consideringasurgery.
•Scoliosis
•Becausethespineis26
•Occasionalringingears.
•Humpatthebaseoftheneck.
independentjointsthey
•Blurredvision.
•SomethingsignificantlyvisibleonanMRI,butnot
takethebruntofthebody’s
always.
imbalance.
•Bonespurspondilities,microtears,bursitis,
and/orchronicinflammation.
Phase6:LosingControl
Fasciaiswinningthe
battle.
Thesepeoplefeel
hopeless
Theyfeellikethey’ve
“triedeverything”
•FasciaisinFULLBLOWN
recoil.
•Ifyoureachdowntopinch
theskinawayfromthemuscle,
youcan’tpullitup.
•Thefasciaislikeaspacebag-
clampingfromtheoutside-in
•Inflammationisnowtrapped
intightfasciaalloverthebody.
•Multiplesitesofadhesions-
severedisruptionintheoverall
fasciaweb.
•Allofthefasciasystemis
saying,“Weneedtohelp!”
•Nervestrugglestosignal
forbasicmovement-body
isjusttryingtohangon.
•Severelyrestricted,
•Probablyhavesomesort
poolingindifferentpartsof
ofalteredgait,alimp,a
thejoints.
dropfoot,oranarmthat
•Full-bodycirculationisa doesn’tswing.
challenge.
•Can’tmoveandexercise.
•Maybediagnosedwith •Can’tgettheenergyto
highbloodpressureasa start.
•Centerofgravityis
result.
severelyalteredandvisible.
•Mayhavechronic
•Balanceischallenged.
swellingornumbnessinan
•Nervepatternisso
extremity.
dysfunctionalthatmuscles
arejustwastingaway.
•Mostlikelythereis
constantpaininthe
•Bodycannolonger
upper,mid,orlower,and
stabilize.
likelyallthree.
•Notgettingadequate
•Thefasciaisstrangling
bloodornervesupply,
thebodyoftheinner
atrophyingandwasting
structures.
away.•Tendonsarenon-
•Spondylitisisusually
functioningandrecruiting
present.
belliesofmusclesto
•Back“miles”.
performjointactions.
•SevereSIdysfunction.
Phase7:FreakOut
•FullBlownFasciaFreak
Out!
•Fasciaissolockeddownchronicallyinpainallover.
Thesepeoplearebasically •Everythingfeelshot.
revolvingtheirlives
•Can’tbetouched.
aroundtheirpain.
Fasciainterventionisof
utmostimportance.
•Extremelydifficultto
pumpbloodthroughthe
bodyandexhausting.
•Probablyhaveaheart
condition.
•Systemsofthebodyare
shuttingdown.
•FasciaSystemhashad
•BarelyFunctioning
enoughandisnot
communicating.
•Fasciaissotightthat
jointsarecompletely
jammed.
•Bonesarestartingto
fuse.
•Thesepeoplehave
soughtsurgeryoralready
hadmultiple.
•Discontinuingphysicalactivity-
completelychangingyourlifearound
thepain.
•Bodyisfreakingoutallover.
•Sleepisaffected.
•Skinbecomessensitivetothe
touch.
•Anystrenuousactivitycanmake
onebedriddenforadayortwo.
•Evensimpletasks,likesustained
walking,cancauseafasciafreakout.
•Maybeonpainkillers.
•Maybemedicatingformigraines.
•Significantproblemswithmental
focus.
•Painwearsontheface.
•Ringinginears.
•Severeproblemswitheyeopening.
•Confinedtoabedandtaking
painpills.
•Entireliferevolves
aroundpain.
•Popping5-6-7vicodinaday
andcan’tgetoutofpain.
•Migrainesoutof
control/vomiting.
•Hopelessness.
•ZEROenergy.
MayhaveanythingfromPhases2-5and:
•Fibromyalgiais“goto“diagnosis
•ChronicFatigueSyndrome
•Migraines
•ShinSplints
•Spondylitis,spondylarthritis,allthe
"spondies."
•Numbnessandshootingpaininmultiple
places.
•Neuromasinthefeetandhands.
•ChronicInflammatoryDisease
•Mixedtissue
•Lipedma
•Lymedisease
•Hypothyroid
•Dystonia
•Scleroderma
MayhaveanythingfromPhases2-6and:
•Painfulfull-bodysensitivity.
•Backpainraging.
•Nothingiscomfortable.
•Hottothetouch.
•Can’tsleep.
•Mostconsideredas“mystery”cases.
•AnythingChronic
•Everydiagnosisinthebookrelatedto
“symptoms”isgiven.
•All4typespresentseverely
•Earlystagesofbeyondbound
•Onebigchunk
•All4typescanbepresent.
•Mostlikelybeyondbound.
•Can’tpinchskin.
•Bodyisonesolidchunk.
•Skinispainful.
•FascialtotaldisasterIMMEDIATEinterventionneeded