What is Fascial Scraping?

Fascial scraping — more formally known as Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Manipulation (IASTM) — uses specialized tools to detect and break down scar tissue, adhesions, and fascial restrictions that are limiting movement or causing pain. You may have heard of this category of treatment under brand names like Graston Technique®; at Innate Chiropractic, Dr. Cohen uses Rockblades and FAKTR instruments is a Certified FAKTR practitioner, having studied directly with Dr. Thomas Hyde and Dr. Greg Doerr, the chiropractors who developed the FAKTR concept — applying a more advanced, function-based approach to this style of treatment.

What Is IASTM (Fascial Scraping)?

IASTM involves applying specialized instruments to the skin with gentle pressure and specific strokes, detecting and treating areas of soft tissue dysfunction. This process is designed to break down scar tissue and fascial restrictions while stimulating the body's natural healing response — increasing blood flow, prompting collagen remodeling, and supporting tissue regeneration. By addressing dysfunction at a deeper tissue level than hands alone can typically reach, IASTM can help alleviate pain, improve range of motion, and restore normal movement patterns.

FAKTR: A More Advanced Approach to IASTM

Dr. Cohen is a Certified FAKTR practitioner — FAKTR stands for Functional and Kinetic Treatment with Rehab. The concept was developed by Dr. Thomas Hyde, DC and Dr. Greg Doerr, DC, and Dr. Cohen trained directly with them to earn his certification. FAKTR isn't a single technique so much as a comprehensive approach to working with the fascial system, combining manual work with myofascial instruments. It's built around five treatment steps:

• Treatment in the position of provocation — where pain, tightness, or restricted range of motion is felt, both at rest and during motion
• Treatment through the motion of provocation itself
• Eccentric loading with resistance
• Specific functional activities performed with resistance
• Treatment while adding proprioceptive input
• This layered, movement-based approach is what distinguishes FAKTR from more basic scraping techniques — rather than just treating a static area, it addresses how tissue behaves during the actual movements that cause a patient's symptoms.

Conditions IASTM and FAKTR May Help With

• Scar tissue and post-surgical adhesions
• Chronic tendinitis and tendinopathy
• Muscle strains and overuse injuries
• Restricted range of motion
• Plantar fasciitis
• Tennis elbow and golfer's elbow
• Chronic muscle tightness that hasn't responded to other treatment

What to Expect During a Session

Dr. Cohen uses Rockblade and FAKTR instruments to assess the treated area, feeling for areas of restriction, adhesion, or abnormal tissue texture. Specific strokes are then applied to those areas, often combined with active movement or resistance as part of the FAKTR approach. Some redness or mild discomfort in the treated area is common and typically resolves within a day or two. Results are frequently seen in the form of improved range of motion, better overall movement and coordination, and reduced pain.

Why Choose Dr. Cohen for Fascial Scraping in Albany

Dr. Cohen trained directly with Dr. Thomas Hyde and Dr. Greg Doerr, the developers of the FAKTR concept, so his approach to IASTM goes beyond basic instrument scraping — it's built around restoring function during real movement, not just treating tissue in isolation. Combined with his training in ART, PDTR, and Myofascial Decompression, Dr. Cohen can layer IASTM with other techniques to address both the tissue-level restriction and the movement pattern driving it.


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is fascial scraping the same as Graston Technique®? Graston Technique® is one specific trademarked brand of IASTM. Dr. Cohen uses Rockblade instruments and is a Certified FAKTR practitioner, which is a related but distinct approach to instrument-assisted soft tissue work.

Does fascial scraping hurt? Most patients feel pressure and some mild discomfort during treatment, especially over areas with significant scar tissue or restriction. It shouldn't be sharp or unbearable, and pressure is adjusted to your tolerance.

Does it leave marks? Some redness or mild bruising can occur in the treated area, particularly where tissue restriction is significant, and typically resolves within a day or two.

What's the difference between IASTM and FAKTR? IASTM is the general category of instrument-assisted soft tissue treatment. FAKTR is a specific, more advanced approach within that category that combines instrument work with functional movement, resistance, and proprioceptive input.

Who developed FAKTR, and where did Dr. Cohen train? FAKTR was developed by Dr. Thomas Hyde and Dr. Greg Doerr, two chiropractors with decades of combined experience in soft tissue and rehabilitation. Dr. Cohen trained directly with both of them in LA to earn his FAKTR certification.

How many sessions will I need? This depends on the chronicity and severity of the tissue restriction. Some acute issues respond within a few sessions, while longstanding scar tissue or chronic tendinopathy may benefit from a longer series of treatments.

Can fascial scraping be combined with other treatments? Yes. It's often combined with chiropractic adjustments, ART, or PDTR to address both the soft tissue restriction and any underlying structural or neurological factors.

Does insurance cover fascial scraping? Yes. IASTM falls under the umbrella of myofascial release which is billed using insurance code 97140.

How do I get started with fascial scraping at Innate Chiropractic? Book a consultation with Dr. Cohen to determine whether IASTM/FAKTR is the right fit for your condition, alongside or instead of other techniques he offers.

Both Dr Cohen & Dr Jenn are trained in IASTM.