Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization
A clinician-guided approach for locating and treating soft tissue dysfunction.
What Is IASTM?
Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization is one of the therapy options available at Premier Physical Therapy.
Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) is a hands-on treatment where a physical therapist glides smooth, specially shaped tools over your skin to loosen scar tissue and restricted muscles and tendons. Patients often call it "scraping." At Premier Physical Therapy in Arlington, TX, Eva Bertrand uses IASTM to improve how tissue moves and to ease pain, as part of a plan that includes exercise.
Conditions IASTM Helps With
We use IASTM as part of care for elbow pain, foot and ankle pain, knee pain, shoulder pain, sports injuries and recovery after surgery.
It's used for tendon problems, such as tennis elbow, patellar tendon pain and Achilles pain; scar tissue after surgery or injury; plantar fasciitis; and tight muscles that haven't loosened with stretching.
Why is It Called Scraping?
The tools are made of smooth steel or plastic with beveled edges. The therapist applies a little lotion and strokes the tool along the muscle or tendon, which looks a bit like scraping. The edges help the therapist feel areas of thickened or stuck tissue and treat them with more precision than hands alone.
Why Does It Feel Like?
You'll feel pressure and sometimes mild discomfort over the tight areas. It's common for the skin to turn red for a short time afterward, and some people get light bruising that fades within a few days. Treatment usually takes a few minutes per area, there's no downtime, and you can go about your day afterward.
Why is It Paired with Exercise?
IASTM helps tissue move more freely, but it's the exercise afterward that builds strength and keeps the tissue healthy. We follow IASTM with stretches and strengthening right away while the area is loose, and give you a home program to keep the progress going.
Who Shouldn't Have IASTM?
Let us know about any of these before treatment and we'll choose a different approach, such as myofascial release or other manual therapy.
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People taking blood thinners
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People with fragile skin
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Anyone with an open wound or infection in the area
A Comprehensive Therapy Approach
Your therapist can determine which treatment options fit your rehabilitation needs.
Myofascial Release
Myofascial Release is a hands-on technique that facilitates a stretch into restricted soft tissue by placing low-grade sustained pressure into a restricted tissue barrier.
Dry Needling
Dry Needling is the use of either solid filiform needles or hollow-core hypodermic needles for therapy of muscle pain.
Cold Laser Therapy
Cold Laser is a painless technique using specific wavelengths of light to treat painful and debilitating conditions and speed recovery of damaged cells or tissues.