Anyone looking at these photos might think the person had been involved in a scrap or fallen down a flight of stairs. But it’s actually the result of a physical therapy that aims to help anyone from office workers to athletes.
The technique, called instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilisation (IASTM), is carried out by Rick Haworth at his clinic in Bolton.
Known as the ‘Muscle Scraper’ on social media, the 40-year-old uses a special steel bar to release tension from scar tissue and knots.
And although the photos look pretty gruesome, Rick says the redness is a sign the technique has actually worked. Rick, from Farnworth, got inspired to launch his own business after being treated with IASTM himself in 2018.
Read more on manchestereveningnews.co.uk