The Discovery of a new fascial Cell, The FasciaCyte

FasciaBlasting, the Fasciacyte, & the Fascial System

In 2018, at the Fascia Congress in Berlin, Dr. Stecco, Professor of Anatomy, presented her fascia research with the discovery of a new cell.¹ That’s right, in modern medicine, we do not know everything, and we certainly know little about fascia as a system.

What is the Difference Between a Fibroblast and a Fasciacyte

To expand on the definition of a fibroblast, it was basically believed, before this discovery, to produce fascia or Extracellular Matrix ECM. Fibroblasts also release collagen fibrils, enzymes, elastin, and growth factors. Bear in mind that the fascia definition is still evolving. In fact, when I hear words like matrix or XYZ “substance,” I realize that the people writing the books literally had no idea what they were talking about. Like,” It looks like a spider web, so let’s call it arachnoid mater,” or “it is something we don’t recognize, so we will just call it substance.” The closer you look at cellular biology, the more you will realize we missed the forest while studying and naming the trees. 

Some people use the word fascia interchangeably with the term Extracellular Matrix. But even this generalization doesn’t sit well with me. I would personally argue that fascia is extra and intracellular - but that’s for another blog and that fascia needs a better definition in medical textbooks. Other things that are called fascia, like retinaculum, aponeurosis, membranes, etc., should be given their proper fascia title- because that would provide us with a more accurate picture of human biology. #rantover #for now.

So, where did we go wrong? In the assumption that the fibroblast produced the hyaluronan or hyaluronic acid. So why is hyaluronic acid important? According to Harvard Medical Journal, hyaluronic acid is a “humectant — a substance that retains moisture — and it is capable of binding over one thousand times its weight.” It’s a sponge, which I have extensively discussed in the What is Fascia Part 1 and Part 2 blogs. It’s also what gives fascia glide, i.e., movement.¹

So, to wrap it up, hyaluronic acid lubricates the fascia, giving it the ability to glide and absorb nutrients to deliver to cells. AND that this is not performed by the fibroblast; it’s performed by our new friend - the FasciaCyte. How cool!

What is the Impact of the FasciaCyte on Our Understanding of FasciaBlasting, Myofascial Release, and Other Manual Therapy?

Okay, people, here’s where things get interesting. So we know that Fibroblasts produce the more structural stuff of the fascial web and that FasciaCytes produce the more viscous and liquid part of fascia, but what accelerates this process?

According to the Fascia Congress¹, the “Fasciacytes are stimulated by shear while the fibroblasts respond to load and stretch.” So, they are antagonists. This tremendously impacts TREATING fascia because you would want to use techniques to stimulate both the fibroblasts and the fasciacytes.

1. For FibroBlast - load and stretch

2. For FasciaCytes - shearing

So, what do these terms mean in physics?

I want to note that all of this relates to how the FibroBlasts and FasciaCytes are stimulated. This doesn't consider the fascia's electrical or cell transmission component - piezoelectrics. It also doesn't consider that fascia is made primarily of water, which stores information in crystals. Which is a whole other blog... But I still think in terms of how fascia signals to regenerate, it is rooted in the FibroBlast and FasciaCyte.

In short, if the fascia treatment's goal is to stimulate the proliferation or regeneration of fascia, then the techniques that stimulate the FibroBlast and FasciaCytes are your go-tos. FasciaBlasting* is at the top of the list, and here’s why.

How Does this New Knowledge Relate to FasciaBlasting

Simply put, the technique of FasciaBlasting does all 3: Load, Stretch, and Shearing.

By pressing the FasciaBlaster down into the tissue, you are applying load. Blasting on bare skin with oil, the claws pull the tissue in the blasting direction, stretching them and FasciaBlaster shears the fibers by separating them.

I have always wondered precisely WHY? the FasciaBlaster techniques* were so effective for remodeling⁵ fascia tissue, and this understanding is a good differentiator for FasciaBlasting. It is the only tool that works this way.

Also, our nugget tips of the FasciaBlasters shear, load, and stretch at the deeper levels, reinforcing this principle even more.

Even though I had a wonderful career with professional athletes and celebrities flying me all around the world, I wanted to ensure that everyone could FasciaBlast themselves and that anyone could afford to care for their fascia*. So, I recommend the FasciaBlaster to the masses - all blasting is good blasting when performed correctly. And if you really want to harness the power of FasciaBlaster instruments, take a course and learn the highly skilled techniques that will impact your patients' lives.

Cited Works

1. The discovery of a new cell at the 2018 Fascia Research Congress in Berlin

2. Fibroblasts: origins, definitions, and functions in health and disease - PMC

3.  Fibroblasts in fibrosis: novel roles and mediators - PMC

4.  The hype on hyaluronic acid - Harvard Health

5.  The effects of fascia manipulation with fascia devices on myofascial tissue, subcutaneous fat and cellulite in adult women

* The FasciaBlaster tools have not been cleared by the FDA for the treatment of fascia