Fascial Abrasion Technique® (F.A.T. Tools)

Fascia is a layer of fibrous, connective tissue that surrounds individual and groups of muscles, blood vessels, nerves, and other structures.  It binds some structures together, while permitting others to slide smoothly over each other.

Various types of fascia have been classified according to their distinct layers, their functions and their anatomical location:

• superficial fascia: found below the skin and above the muscles
• deep (or muscle) fascia: dense fibrous connective tissue that interpenetrates and surrounds the muscles, bones, nerves and blood vessels of the body
• visceral (or parietal) fascia: suspends the organs, wrapping them in layers of membranes

Fascia is dense regular connective tissue containing tight bundles of collagen fibers oriented in wavy patterns parallel to the direction of pull, making it a flexible structure.  It is able to resist great unidirectional tension forces until the pattern has been straightened out by the pulling forces.

These collagen fibers are produced by cells called fibroblasts located within the fascia, capable of producing contraction of a previously believed ‘non-contractile’ tissue

Function of Fascia

Fascia transmits mechanical tension generated by muscular activities or external forces throughout the body. Some research suggest that fascia may contract independently, actively influencing muscle dynamics. The function of muscle fasciae is to reduce friction to minimize the reduction of muscular force. In doing so, fasciae:

• Provide a sliding and gliding environment for muscles.
• Suspend organs in their proper place.
• Transmit movement from muscles to bones.
• Provide a supportive and movable wrapping for nerves and blood vessels as they pass through and between muscles.

What is the Fascial Abrasion Technique®?

This techniqes uses tools to mobilize soft tissues withgout causing skin and lymph damage/bruising. The Fascial Abrasion Technique® Tools (FAT-Tools) is inherinently different from the vast majority of soft tissue mobilization tools available to health care practitioners. Unlike tools such as Graston®, SASTM®, or the Fibroblaster which have smooth treatment surfaces, the FAT-Tools has a patented textured surface that allows for significant tension on fascial tissues without the need for excess pressure. The resulting treatment will allow for results similar to a myofascial treatment called “skin rolling”, but without the treatment soreness that can be associated with this effective fascial treatment modality.