Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization

Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM) is a popular treatment used by physical therapists and chiropractors to diagnose and treat soft tissue injuries. This technique uses specialized hand-held instruments, often made of metal or hard plastic, to gently massage and manipulate the skin, muscles, tendons, and ligaments.

The instruments allow clinicians to specifically detect and treat areas exhibiting soft tissue fibrosis, chronic inflammation, or degeneration. The goal is to break down scar tissue and fascial restrictions, stimulate the healing process, and increase range of motion.

Methods of IASTM include techniques like the Graston Technique, the Hawkgrips method, and others. Each uses a different set of tools and slightly different procedural approaches, but all aim to achieve similar results.