What Is Fascia, and Why Are Wellness Influencers Obsessed With ‘Releasing’ It?

You may be plenty familiar with muscles and fat, but a lesser-known type of body tissue is suddenly a social media darling among the health conscious: fascia. Ever heard of it?

Fascia is a continuous web of fibrous tissue that wraps around and supports organs, muscles, bones, and every other structure of the body. It provides stability and strength so that these body parts can smoothly glide against each other without friction or pain.

Recently, social media users have been claiming that “releasing” tight or dry fascia can cure all manner of ailments, both physical and emotional.

One TikTok user, @holisticwellness1111, says that fascia can become “stagnant” and sometimes requires release. Another user, @rafamovement, says fascia not only holds muscles but also “stress, trauma, and tension.” Releasing fascia, they say, “helps shift your nervous system, unwind deep-seated tension, and create real, lasting freedom in your body.”

Many others are demonstrating how to release fascia on TikTok, saying this can relieve pain, tension, and stiffness. But before you try it at home, here’s what experts want you to know.

“Fascia is a thin, connective tissue made of collagen that surrounds and supports tissues like muscles, bones, blood vessels, nerves, and organs,” says Michael Swartzon, MD, a family and sports medicine physician at Baptist Health South Florida in Plantation, Florida.

• Superficial fascia is the outermost layer that’s located directly under your skin. It’s made up of fat, blood vessels, and nerve endings.
• Deep fascia surrounds your musculoskeletal system, covering muscles, bones, tendons, cartilage, nerves, and blood vessels. It’s thick, strong, and fibrous.
• Visceral fascia surrounds the organs in your abdomen, lungs, and heart.
• Parietal fascia covers the area around your pelvis and other body cavities.

Usually, fascia comes up during conversations about tissue surrounding muscles and joints, says Shrey Kanjiya, MD, an orthopedic surgeon at DISC Tarzana in Tarzana, California.

Fascia also provides a barrier between muscle and surrounding tissue, Dr. Kanjiya says. “This allows the muscle to glide smoothly without causing friction in the surrounding areas. The fascia is metabolically active and supports proper muscle activation and recovery.”

Certain massage techniques involve applying gentle, sustained pressure to myofascial tissue to release fascia, increasing its elasticity and mobility, Dr. Swartzon says. Myofascial tissue encompasses both muscles and the fascia surrounding them.

Here are some benefits of myofascial release.

Reducing Pain

“In a sedentary person, the fascia can lose its ability to slide against other fascial layers,” Swartzon says. For an overly active person, “repetitive activity is traumatic to tissues, which leads to inflammation and scarring.”

Fascia also has “receptors that signal pain,” he adds. “Fascial release could benefit someone by reducing pain, improving range of motion, and enhancing circulation.”

Improving Mobility

Overstretched or torn fascia can limit movement, flexibility, and function, says Mark Gugliotti, DPT, an associate professor of physical therapy at the School of Health Professions at New York Institute of Technology in Long Island.

“Similar to a tight muscle or stiff joint, fascia can lose its extensibility and flexibility, often as a result of misuse, disuse, or overuse,” he adds.

Fascia problems could be caused by overtraining, improper exercise technique, and repetitive motions, and may hinder muscle and joint movement, Kanjiya adds.

“In sports medicine, we often say injuries happen because athletes or patients perform exercises too soon, too often, and too much,” Kanjiya says.

Tight fascia may increase muscle or joint tension, and fascia release could increase elasticity, enhance movement, and reduce pain, he says.

Can You Release Fascia in Your Face to Get Tauter Skin?

Some influencers claim that releasing tight fascia in the face can rebuild collagen and lift sagging tissues in the face, leading to firmer skin, but experts are skeptical about any long-lasting benefit.

The fascia in your face may feel tight due to the chronic activation of certain facial muscles, such as when you clench your jaw or furrow your brow, says Beina Azadgoli, MD, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon at The Practice Healthcare in Beverly Hills, California.

As you age, fascia tissues also naturally become lax, as your skin loses collagen and elasticity, which may contribute to wrinkles and sagginess, says Michael E. Hill, PhD, MD, a plastic surgeon at Renuance Cosmetic Surgery and Medspa in Murrieta, California.

Massaging your face with your fingers or using a facial roller or gua sha tool can stimulate blood flow and may “temporarily give a little bit of a glow,” Dr. Hill says. This can also move lymphatic fluid, reducing puffiness and making you look more awake, Dr. Azadgoli says.

So, “there is a kernel of truth” in the claim that fascia release will improve your complexion, Azadgoli adds. “But most of these claims are overstated.”

Does Fascia Hold Stress and Trauma?

Stress causes your body to tense, and that tension can build and persist, affecting the “mind, body, and spirit,” says Shannon Bruin, a regional clinic director at Thriveworks Counseling & Psychiatry Grand Rapids in Michigan.

People hold stress in their bodies in different ways, such as repeated muscle tightening in their neck, shoulders, or lower back, which may affect fascia, she says. This might be particularly apparent if your body was involved in the trauma, such as from abuse or an accident.

“It's important to understand that how trauma is expressed physically is dependent upon the individual, their circumstances, and the levels of both risk and protective factors involved,” adds Alexandra Cromer, a licensed professional counselor at Thriveworks in Richmond, Virginia.

Cromer says there is some validity to the claim that fascia can be influenced by stress and trauma, but she emphasizes that stress and tension aren’t the only factors.

Releasing fascia, such as by stretching or massage, can help reduce anxiety, increase feelings of calm, and regulate sleep patterns, Cromer says. It can also lead to deep breathing and overall relaxation, Bruin says.

“If your body is physically less tense, it sends signals to your brain and nervous system that it's ‘safe' to relax,” Cromer says.

If you have mild tightness, soreness, or pain, “self-treating seems reasonable,” Swartzon says.

Stretching or using a foam roller on sore or tight muscles can apply pressure to the fascia while stretching the limb, Kanjiya says. Yoga and cupping can help, too, Swartzon says, adding that all these methods usually only offer temporary relief.

But Dr. Gugliotti says it’s often “best to work with a trained practitioner who can evaluate where restrictions are and provide a direct treatment, with the goal of improving the local tissue extensibility.”

When pain or other problems linger, despite stretching or other fascia release methods, see a doctor, Kanjiya says. “Fascia is just one culprit for painful limbs and joints.”

You could have a muscle tear or structural issue, Swartzon says. He suggests paying attention to red flags, including numbness, weakness, or swelling.

As for claims about fascia release’s effect on skin, Hill says that using a facial roller or other tool could reduce puffiness and brighten your complexion, but the results are usually subtle and temporary. These methods are generally safe for most people, Azadgoli adds, but they could worsen skin conditions like rosacea or acne.

Before trying any type of fascia release at home, Alexander suggests running it by your primary care doctor to ensure it’s safe for you.

• Fascia plays an important role in holding the body together, and this tissue can become stiff or painful if you’re too sedentary, injure yourself, or overuse your muscles and joints.
• Stretching, foam rolling, or myofascial release therapy can help with pain and stiffness — but it’s important to see a doctor if your problems persist.
• The fascia in the face naturally becomes lax over time. Massaging it may provide subtle, temporary improvements in skin tone.
• People hold stress in the body in different ways; releasing fascia through stretching or massage may help relieve such stress.
• Experts recommend getting proper assessment by a healthcare provider, physical therapist, or somatic therapist to find the most effective treatment.