IASTM- A Hands Off Approach to Injury
Treating Pain & Tissue DIscomfort with IASTM
If you have been in a physical therapy clinic before you probably noticed that physical therapists have a lot of tools and equipment. Some equipment is used to help patients perform exercises while others are modalities that promote healing. Many of the tools that therapists use to promote tissue healing fall under a category called IASTM which stands for instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization. Basically this means that instead of working on tissues with their hands, the therapist employs a handheld tool to do the work for them. There are many types of tools used in IASTM as well as indications for using this treatment technique. As a patient, it is always a great idea to be educated in the treatments available to you, so, let’s dive deeper into the world of instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization.
WHY DO TISSUES NEED TO BE MOBILIZED?
Our body is made up of many types of tissues. Fat, muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia, nerves, blood vessels, lymph tissue and connective tissue are all examples of body tissues that can be affected by injury or disease. When disease or injury affects one of these tissues it can impact the way that it functions, a consequence that can have large impacts on the body. For example, when lymphatic tissue has trouble draining, a person can experience lymphedema, a pooling or accumulation of lymph fluid in a body area. When tendon tissue becomes misaligned or disrupted, chronic tendon pain may be experienced when a muscle is contracted. We can apply this reasoning to all types of tissues.
Scar tissue and other fascial restrictions and soft tissue impairments can not only restrict movement but have larger effects on the nervous system. They alter sensory perception in the tissue which can induce a cycle of centralized pain in the body. In many of these cases the presence of pain does not actually signal the presence of injury but the nervous system becomes stuck in a cycle of perceived pain which then alters the body's movement and motor output. One goal of IASTM is to alter the abnormal sensory input and interrupt the pain cycle to allow the person to restore normal movement. Another goal is to induce an inflammatory response via microtrauma to the tissue that helps usher in the cells that break down injured tissue and build healthy, more organized tissues.
Attempts to “normalize” or heal these disrupted tissues have been in place for centuries. Massage, for example, is a tissue mobilization technique, albeit a generalized approach. Therapists use their hands to mobilize the soft tissues of a body region when treating a patient with an injury. In more recent years, however, innovative bodyworkers, researchers and therapists have been developing even more specialized tools that can affect tissues when used in a specific manner. These tools are proposed to have both local effects on the fibers and structure of the tissue being mobilized but also on the nervous system and how it sends and receives signals to the area.
Both of these outcomes can facilitate reduction in symptoms like pain, tightness, scarring, restricted mobility and more.
LET’S BREAK IT DOWN
Let’s dive a little deeper into the term IASTM by breaking down each of the terms:
(IA) Instrument-assisted: this means that the therapist is using a hand-held instrument to assist them in mobilizing or treating tissues
(ST) Soft tissue: soft tissue refers to a number of structures in the body from muscles and tendons to fat and connective tissue
(M) Mobilization: generally refers to techniques of stretching, friction, decompression and deep pressure applied to tissues
There are quite a few different tools that fall under the category of IASTM but let’s take a look at some of the more common ones:
Graston® Technique tools, which are made of stainless steel and have beveled edges and contours to better match the contours of the human body, are commonly used by therapists. Therapists use these tools to apply pressure to an area of impaired tissues and by scraping the tool along this area they attempt to mobilize facial restrictions and alter the nervous system activity that can cause a cyclical pain response. A special hypoallergenic massage cream is usually applied first to the area to reduce friction and improve patient comfort.
Gua Sha is an ancient technique thought to originate from ancient China and Southeast Asia wherein a handheld tool is used to scrape along the skin and induce small petechiae. Therapists sometimes use these tools in a manner similar to Graston® Technique tools or to induce an inflammatory response in tissues that can then induce a normal and complete healing cycle.
Cupping, also known as myofascial decompression, is another tool borrowed from ancient medicinal techniques. Modern day cups are often made of plastic or sometimes glass and with a special tool are suctioned to the skin and layers of tissue below. Physical therapists trained in this modality will place a limited number of cups over an area of fascial restriction. Patients will often perform active movements of that body segment which allows for decompression of the fascia, a temporary reduction and then increase in blood flow and a subsequent inflammatory response.
Hawkgrips, Rock Tape, FASCIQ and Myogrip are just a few of the brands that also make their own IASTM tools.
DO YOU NEED IASTM?
Great question, and the answer is…maybe! There are many instances when an individual can benefit from the application of IASTM but it is best to leave it to the experts to determine when that is. Physical therapists are trained to apply these techniques safely as too much pressure or repetition of IASTM can be counterproductive or even injurious. If you are experiencing pain or injury you should ask your therapist about the possibility of incorporating these tools into your treatment plan. Our team at Evolve Physical Therapy would love to discuss with you how we use our diverse toolbox to approach pain and injury. To learn more about our services, call today!
Click here for more information about IASTM physical therapy
About EvolveNY-
Brooklyn's Premier Holistic Physical Therapy Clinics- There’s physical therapy, there’s training, and then there’s EVOLVE. We use the science of biomechanics merged with fitness to help our patients get better and stay better!
First we evaluate, then we heal, then we strengthen our clients so they can reach their goals, feel better, and live happier lives. We do so by utilizing a range of core techniques and specialized treatments to reduce pain, improve mobility, enhance physical strength and deal with the underlying issues, not just the pain itself.
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