After reading Compendium of Materia Medica, would you be brave enough to try the fascia knife?

How is everyone's training going recently? Can Dragon Fist Boy and Vivi Girl continue to persevere?

After doing aerobics, your whole body will be sore. Some people will choose to use tools to relieve the pain after exercise, hoping to "fight" for another day.

I believe many people have heard of the fascia gun. It is a tool for soothing muscles, using high-frequency vibration impact to reduce local tissue tension and promote blood circulation.

Fascia gun, source: pixabay

In addition to daily exercise, athletes, fitness people and some people who love other sports will be more exposed to fascia guns. However, in addition to this tool, there is a more refreshing way to relax, that is, fascia knife technology.

Fascia knife relaxation, source: Douyin-online observation

What is fascia?

Fascia refers to the tough part outside the muscle, which can be divided into superficial fascia and deep fascia. It is the most common type of connective tissue in the human body and can be found everywhere.

The superficial fascia is composed of loose connective tissue, attached to the surface of the muscle and under the skin, with many nerves passing through it, while the deep fascia is composed of tight connective tissue, used to wrap muscles, blood vessels, nerve bundles and internal organs.

Fascia, source: Stecco Carla, Macchi Veronica, et al

In terms of material composition, fascia is mainly composed of three components: matrix, collagen and elastin. These three substances affect the toughness, strength and elasticity of fascia and are the most important components of fascia.

Among these three components, the matrix is ​​more important. It is mainly composed of mucopolysaccharides and is a fluid colloid. It can exist not only in liquid form, but also in solid or semi-solid form. The change of this form is mainly affected by temperature, movement and hydration movement.

Connective tissue, source: pixabay

After exercise, the body generates heat, and the matrix in the fascia tends to be in a liquid state. After taking a shower, people feel physically and mentally happy, which is also related to the liquid nature of the matrix.

On the contrary, lack of exercise will make the matrix in the fascia tend to be solid, and then people will feel stiffness, back pain, and this is the reason for sitting or lying for a long time. Excessive exercise will also make the matrix in the fascia stiff.

Plantar fasciitis, source: pixabay

Emerging fascia knife technology

Based on the understanding of fascia, "MNT fascia knife technology" came into being. MNT is the abbreviation of Machete Nation Technology, and what they use is the fascia knife.

Unlike ordinary knives, it is made of medical-grade stainless steel, using a combination of laser cutting and hand-polishing technology, which makes the blade look sharp, but it actually hides a secret.

Fascia knife, source: Taobao

According to different usages, fascia knives can be divided into five types: Type A, Type B, Type C, Type S and Type M.

A-type knives are also called shark knives and are mainly used for smaller muscle groups. B-type and S-type are similar in usage and are mainly used for columnar parts, such as the cervical spine and arms. M-type knives are the largest and are used for larger parts of the body, such as the back, thighs, buttocks, etc.

Each knife has its own shape, weight, angle, etc., so as to better meet the treatment needs of different parts.

The fascia knife technique has not been around for long, but it has been loved by many sports enthusiasts. The fascia knife treatment process is very painful, especially for those who need to do strenuous exercise for a long time. Pressing, pressing, tapping and scraping the stiff and swollen muscles with a knife is very painful just thinking about it.

Fascia knife technology, source: Taobao

Fascia Knife Principle

In terms of usage, the fascia knife is very similar to scraping in traditional Chinese medicine, but the two are not the same.

The development of fascia knife technology is mainly based on the research on fascia. It uses the ductility and plasticity of connective tissue and the effect of force to affect the differentiation and arrangement of tissues inside the fascia, thereby promoting cell regeneration, repair and remodeling, improving the body's self-healing ability, and solving problems such as pain and strain from the inside out.

Gua Sha is mainly used to dredge Qi and blood, acts on the surface of the skin, and is widely used for health care and wellness.

Fascia knife technology, source: pixabay

In addition, unlike scraping, the fascia knife technique cannot be performed by yourself. It requires high professionalism, and if it is not performed properly, it will be counterproductive. Moreover, if the skin is damaged, the fascia knife treatment cannot be performed. It is precisely because of these reasons that the fascia knife is not as popular as the fascia gun.

The use of fascia knife provides a new idea for scientific exercise and body recovery. It can not only be used to relieve various fascia inflammations, but also can be used to improve posture and relax the body. It is a more scientific treatment method.

But everything is too much or too little. Whether it is a fascia gun or a fascia knife, you must strictly abide by the rules of use, otherwise it will cause adverse consequences such as skin redness, swelling, muscle spasms, etc. Not only that, it is best to avoid using it on some fragile parts, such as the head, neck, knees, etc., so as not to hurt yourself.

END

Reviewer: Wang Linjue, deputy chief physician of the Department of Orthopedics, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Tadpole Musical Notation original article, please indicate the source when reprinting

Editor/Xiao Xitushuo