Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization- Rehabilitative Therapies at Portland Backsmith

Why Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM)?

Instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASMT) is a manual therapy that we commonly use at Portland Backsmith to treat soft-tissue dysfunction. Recently, the use of this technique has increased throughout a wide range of fields such as sports medicine, pregnancy, and post-surgical rehabilitation. Some proposed benefits of IASTM include faster recovery, pain reduction, less treatment time, improved mobility, and increased blood flow1. IASTM is known for its ability to quickly and effectively address the pain, tension, and dysfunction that is commonly associated with soft tissue injury and fibrotic tissue.

How It Works and What to Expect

Most IASTM techniques involve using rigid tools of varying shape in order to address myofascial adhesions, scar tissue, and chronic inflammation. Here at our office, we use stainless steel instruments and a manual therapy lotion as a skin lubricant. Treatment lasts anywhere from 2-30min and may result in mild bruising or soreness. IASTM has shown effectiveness in improving range of motion and many patients experience decreased tension and stiffness following treatment2. The exact reason IASTM works is still up for debate, but there are many proposed mechanisms that can explain the benefits that we see with using this treatment. The most common explanation is that the rigid instruments break down fibrotic tissue and cause a kind of “controlled microtrauma” that stimulates a local inflammatory response3. Adhesions and fibrosis may occur with surgery, chronic injury, or faulty healing processes and can result in lingering symptoms. IASTM allows for this excessive and inappropriate scar tissue to be reabsorbed and soft tissue (muscle, skin, ligaments, tendons) is then able to remodel in a more functional pattern. 

Treatable Conditions

There are many different conditions that can benefit from IASTM and the literature has proven it to be especially effective in some specific situations. There are some contraindications to IASTM so be sure to consult with a professional if you are interested. Conditions that have been studied and are thought to be positively affected by IASTM include4,5:

  • Post surgical scar tissue

  • Women’s health (pregnancy, post-mastectomy and Caesarean scarring)

  • Tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow

  • Shin splints

  • Neck pain

  • Back Pain

  • Knee pain (patellofemoral syndromes)

  • Fibromyalgia

  • Postural correction

  • Sprains and strains

  • Carpal tunnel syndrome

  • TMJ disorders

  • Sports injuries

  • IT band syndrome

  • Shoulder tendinopathies

  • Plantar Fasciitis 

  • Headaches

References:

  1. Kim, J., Sung, D. J., & Lee, J. (2017). Therapeutic effectiveness of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization for soft tissue injury: mechanisms and practical application. Journal of exercise rehabilitation, 13(1), 12.

  2. Laudner, Kevin et al. “Acute effects of instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization for improving posterior shoulder range of motion in collegiate baseball players.” International journal of sports physical therapy vol. 9,1 (2014): 1-7.  

  3. Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization. (2020, April 10). Physiopedia, . Retrieved 22:46, June 28, 2020 from https://www.physio-pedia.com/index.php?title=Instrument_Assisted_Soft_Tissue_Mobilization&oldid=235150.

  4. Cheatham, S. W., Lee, M., Cain, M., & Baker, R. (2016). The efficacy of instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization: a systematic review. The Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association, 60(3), 200.]

  5. Karmali, Arif, Ali Walizada, and Kent Stuber. "The efficacy of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization for musculoskeletal pain: A systematic review." Journal of Contemporary Chiropractic 2 (2019): 25-33.