Many people expect to feel lighter, freer, and better after bodywork.
But some leave feeling exhausted, foggy, achy, or even flu-like.
While this reaction can be confusing and frustrating, it may indicate something important about how fascia, the immune system, and the lymphatic system interact.
Fascia: More Than Structural Tissue
Fascia is the connective tissue that surrounds and connects muscles, organs, nerves, and blood vessels. Traditionally, it’s been viewed as a structural support system, but emerging research and clinical observations suggest fascia may also play a protective role.
One theory is that fascia can act as a containment or buffering system, potentially retaining viral particles, bacteria, or other inflammatory byproducts a protect the body from constant immune activation.
What Happens When Fascia Is Released
When fascia is mobilized through manual therapy, movement, or stretching, its contents don’t simply disappear. Instead, they may be released into the lymphatic system, which filters waste and supports immune responses.
If lymphatic drainage pathways are open and functioning well, the body can usually handle this increased load.
If they are not, the immune system may become overwhelmed.
Why You Might Feel Worse Before You Feel Better
When the lymphatic system can’t keep up, the immune system may ramp up its response. This can look like:
Fatigue or heaviness
Brain fog
Flu-like symptoms
Flare-ups of conditions such as Epstein-Barr virus or Lyme
A general feeling of being “hit by a train.”
This doesn’t mean bodywork was harmful — it means the systems supporting the work weren’t prepared.
Why Drainage Must Come First
At R3 Physio, we prioritize opening major drainage pathways before performing deeper fascial work. These include areas like:
The thoracic outlet
The abdomen
The pelvis and groin
By restoring movement and space in these regions first, we support the body’s ability to process and eliminate the released material.
Healing isn’t just about loosening tissue.
It’s about making sure the body can handle the change.