Treating Muscle Injuries with Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization Therapy
Massaging the body with a metal, wood, bone or stone instrument to speed up healing is nothing new. This technique can be traced back to ancient Greece and Rome and to traditional Chinese practices dating back thousands of years.
Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization, or IASTM, continues to be used in modern physical therapy and occupational therapy practices. In this article you鈥檒l learn what IASTM is, how it works, who it can help and whether there are any risks involved. After reading, you鈥檒l be better informed and can decide if IASTM is right for you.
What is IASTM and how does it work?
IASTM is a technique that typically uses a hard, smooth instrument with rounded edges, usually metal, to reduce stiffness in soft tissue. This intervention is usually chosen to speed up the healing of muscle and joint issues. Studies show that IASTM can also reduce pain and improve range of motion in joints.
After an injury occurs to muscle or tendons, a thick, fibrous collection of collagen fibers forms, causing the affected area to become painful and lose elasticity and circulation. This may limit the tissue鈥檚 ability to receive the valuable oxygen and nutrients it needs to heal properly. It also may increase the risk of reinjury, because the area hasn鈥檛 fully healed.
When an IASTM tool is applied to a painful area, it creates a beneficial inflammation response in that particular spot. This response stimulates your body to reorganize the bound-up collagen fibers, improving circulation to the damaged tissue, which helps to properly heal the affected area. That is how IASTM works.
Who can benefit from IASTM?
IASTM can be used almost anywhere on the body where there are muscles, tendons or ligaments. It鈥檚 commonly used to treat injured tendons, muscle pulls and ligament strains, trigger point pain, general muscle and tendon tightness or pain due to trauma or overuse. It may also compliment post-operative rehabilitation.
Is IASTM safe?
Yes, IASTM is generally safe for the majority of people. The largest risk is soreness and potential bruising to the treated area.
However, it may not be the best choice for people with open wounds, unhealed stitches, skin infections, areas where there is a bruise, myositis ossificans (bone growth in muscle or other soft tissue), suspected blood clots and unstable fractures.
萝莉社 Jacksonville Rehabilitation has many qualified therapists who perform IASTM. If you think you could benefit from this technique or have more questions, visit 萝莉社HealthJax.org/specialties/rehabilitation/locations to find your nearest outpatient rehabilitation location.
About the author
Edwin Rivera received his doctor of physical therapy degree (DPT) from the University of North Florida in 2012. He is a board-certified clinical specialist in orthopaedic physical therapy. He works at 萝莉社 Rehabilitation 鈥� Emerson, where he treats patients with a variety of orthopaedic-related issues, from tendonitis and chronic pain to post-surgical treatment after traumatic accidents or sports-related injuries.
References
Fran莽a MED, Amorim MDS, Sinhorim L, Santos GM, do Nascimento IB. Myofascial release strategies and technique recommendations for athletic performance: A systematic review. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2023 Oct;36:30-37. doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2023.04.085. Epub 2023 May 10. PMID: 37949575.
Kim J, Sung DJ, Lee J. Therapeutic effectiveness of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization for soft tissue injury: mechanisms and practical application. J Exerc Rehabil. 2017 Feb 28;13(1):12-22. doi: 10.12965/jer.1732824.412. PMID: 28349028; PMCID: PMC5331993.