What is Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM)?
Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (aka IASTM) is a myofascial technique to treat soft tissue disorders.
These soft tissue disorders include:
• Bursitis
• Epicondylitis
• Iliotibial Band Friction Band Syndrome
• Musculoskeletal imbalances due to compensation patterns
• Myofascial pain and restrictions due to injury or joint replacements
• Plantar Fascitis
• Scars
• Tendinitis, Tendonosis, and Tenosynovitis
The instrument typically used is stainless steel with beveled edges and contours that conform to specific body parts to penetrate deeper into the tissue.
IASTM has been said to be evolved from the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) technique called Gua sha.
Why Should I Consider Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization?
Most people do not seek treatment for their chronic pain until weeks, months, or years after the initial injury. By this point, your body has completed most of its healing process. During this time, adhesions, fascial restrictions, and scar tissue have formed within the tissue, which limits your range of motion and causes increased pain.
Adhesions, fascial restrictions, and scar tissue are formed during your body’s natural healing process. These act like shrink wrap around your muscles and joints. After an injury, scar tissue is formed by new cells laying down in a disorganized pattern. This disorganized pattern prevents your muscle or tissue from lengthening properly.
In order to remodel the scar tissue, it is crucial to restart the healing process by causing microtrauma to the tissue so the new cells can lay in a more organized direction that allows you to move more freely with less pain.
How Does Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization Work?
Your therapist first applies a lubricant (lotion, gel, or oil) to the area they will be working on. The lubricant allows the tool to glide across your skin without causing friction. Your therapist will then apply firm pressure to the tool as it glides along your skin in a scraping motion. These stainless steel tools effectively break down adhesions, fascial restrictions, and scar tissue by releasing your superficial fascia.
Your therapist will scrape the area in multiple directions to see where the adhesions, facial restrictions, and scar tissue are. After a couple of passes in multiple directions, your therapist will be able to tell if there are any facial restrictions by the presence of small broken blood cells under the skin.
This act of scraping causes controlled microtrauma to the soft tissue, which causes the body to stimulate a local inflammatory response to the site. This addresses the tissue at a cellular level. It increases fibroblast proliferation, the most crucial part of tissue regeneration.
Fibroblasts are responsible for migrating to the site of tissue damage, where they deposit new collagen and facilitate the healing process. Over time, IASTM helps break down scar tissue, adhesions, and fascial restrictions, allowing complete functional restoration to the tissue to occur.
Studies have shown improvements in range of motion (ROM), strength, and pain perception following treatment of IASTM.
What Can I Expect During My Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization Treatment?
During your treatment, you may experience mild discomfort, especially over the areas where adhesions, fascial restriction, and scar tissue formed. You might even notice some bruising in the area. The bruises can last week after the treatment depending on how angry the tissue is. Most clients start to notice less pain and increased range of motion after the third or fourth treatment.
Your therapist might even consider combining Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization with some Massage Cupping.
