What is IASTM?
Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization, or “IASTM”, is a manual physical therapy technique we perform, as physical therapists, using ergonomically designed tools that detect and treat fascial restrictions. With any Manual therapy treatment, supplementation with exercises and additional modalities is included in our patients’ treatment plans. Think of these tools as an extension of your physical therapist’s hands. Whether the brand is Graston, HawkGrips, or others, the concept is the same: we use a beveled metal edge to detect and treat soft tissue restrictions.
Why use metal instead of just hands? It comes down to sensitivity and specificity.
The “Stethoscope” Effect: When we glide the tool over your skin, the metal vibrates differently when it hits healthy muscle versus “knotted” or scarred tissue. It amplifies the texture of your tissue, allowing us to find restrictions we might miss with just our fingers.
Targeted Treatment: The tool allows us to apply precise pressure to break up scar tissue and fascial adhesions (the “glue” that makes muscles feel stiff) without compressing the healthy tissue around it.
What does it do?
- Increases Blood Flow: The friction brings fresh, oxygenated blood to the area to speed up healing.
- Restarts Healing: It creates a mild, controlled stimulation that tells your body, “Hey, pay attention to this area and repair it.”
- Improves Mobility: By breaking down the “grit” in the muscle, your layers of tissue can slide over each other smoothly again.
Does it hurt? It shouldn’t be painful! You may feel a “scratchy” sensation or some discomfort as we work over a tight area, but it should be a “good hurt.” You might notice some redness (or even light spotting) on the skin afterward. This is a normal histamine response—it means the area is getting the blood flow it needs!
At HealthQuest, we use IASTM not just to rub the pain away, but to restore your range of motion so you can get back to strengthening and moving correctly.
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THE BENEFITS OF SOFT TISSUE
WITH PHYSICAL THERAPY
IASTM tools effectively break down fascial restrictions and scar tissue. The ergonomic design of these instruments provides the clinician with the ability to locate restrictions and allows our physical therapists to treat the affected area with the appropriate amount of pressure. There are a number of different speeds and pressures that an IASTM-trained physical therapist may use while conducting this specific technique, and it will be based on the nature of your condition and your specific needs. These different speeds and pressures help relieve pain, decrease inflammation, and promote the healing process. They also work to facilitate a contraction (also known as turning a muscle on) or inhibit a muscle (also known as turning a muscle off). This also helps break down adhesions or scars that may have occurred, due to a surgical operation, repetitive use injury, or immobilization. By breaking these down, IASTM allows functional restoration to occur.
eliminate/reduce
pain & swelling
improved
mobility & flexibility
increased
strength & endurance
Education &
preventative tools
return to
normal function
proper
alignment
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common conditions
where we use soft tissue massage (IASTM)
IASTM tools effectively break down fascial restrictions and scar tissue. The ergonomic design of these instruments provides the clinician with the ability to locate restrictions and allows our physical therapists to treat the affected area with the appropriate amount of pressure. You may be wondering if IASTM is right for you. There are a vast number of conditions that IASTM can treat, including:
