What is instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization?
If you've been to physical therapy before, you may have seen us break out some wild and crazy looking tools - chances are those are IASTM tools.
IASTM is a modified version of traditional soft tissue mobilization where an instrument is used to push or scrape the skin, increasing the blood flow to the soft tissue (muscles, tendons, and ligaments). You may have heard about the Graston technique or augmented soft tissue mobilization. IASTM includes all of these - just with different names for the different materials or shapes of the instrument used.
Whether you are a weekend warrior or an athlete, soft tissue injuries can occur from excessive tension or overuse. After an injury, inflammation and the creation of new cells occur, during which scar tissue is formed in the injured soft tissue. This can lead to less elasticity and more adhesions in your muscles, tendons and ligaments, which can lead to decreased function and pain.
The first big role of IASTM is the removal of scar tissue which allows for a functional normalization in the muscles and tendons. The second role is to create a localized inflammation which restarts the healing process by increasing blood and nutrient supply to the injured area and migration of cells called fibroblasts that produce collagen. Then, this new collagen is created and realigned which helps with the healing and regeneration of the injured tissue.
One of the patient populations that IASTM has gained popularity with is the chronic tendon injuries (Achilles tendonitis, tennis elbow, golfer's elbow). Because tendons have lower oxygen consumption and metabolism, they demonstrate slower healing after an injury. So IASTM can be a great treatment technique to "restart" the healing process in bringing blood flow and nutrients to the tendon, as well as improving collagen realignment and elasticity in tight and painful tendons.
IASTM has also been very useful in ligamentous injuries, like your chronic ankle sprain or knee ligament injuries. The first picture is an intact ligament in the knee; the second is that same ligament untreated 4 weeks after an injury; and the third is the same ligament that has been treated with IASTM 4 weeks after an injury. (1) You can definitely see a difference in collagen alignment and scar tissue between the 2nd and 3rd ligaments!
(1) Loghmani, M. Terry, and Stuart J. Warden. "Instrument-assisted cross-fiber massage accelerates knee ligament healing." journal of orthopaedic & sports physical therapy 39.7 (2009): 506-514.
Contact us if you have any questions about IASTM and how it can benefit you!
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