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Chiropractic treatment using muscle scraping IASTM tool

Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM)

Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization uses a specially designed tool to relieve pain from soft tissue injuries, improve blood flow, and improve healing.

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What is IASTM

Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) is a practical manual therapy treatment to help relieve pain from soft-tissue injuries. Physical therapists use specially designed tools to help remodel scar tissue, increase range of motion, promote tissue healing, and decrease pain. There are multiple types of IASTM products, including ASTYM, Hawkgrips, and Graston Technique. Despite their differences, each instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization technique is designed to improve blood flow and scar tissue mobility, decrease muscle spasms and improve healing.

Is IASTM the right treatment?

For patients experiencing acute or chronic pain, IASTM can help improve blood flow and stimulate healing in and around the pain area, improving function after one to four treatments.

Physiotherapist massaging woman's leg using IASTM tools

Common diagnoses treated by IASTM are:

Painful scars
Tennis elbow
Runners knee (patellar tendinitis)
Golfers elbow
IT band syndrome
Other tendinitis or tendinosis
Shin splints
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Fibromyalgia
Low back and neck pain
Joint sprain
Plantar fasciitis
Post-fracture pain
De Quervain’s Syndrome
Cesarean scarring
Post-mastectomy

instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization device

IASTM therapy benefits

The benefits of IASTM therapy include:

Relieve pain from soft tissue injuries
Improve blood flow
Decrease muscle spasms
Promote tissue healing from injuries

What to expect

Your first physical therapy appointment is about creating a personalized treatment plan based on your health history, diagnosis, and goals. Here’s what you can expect at your first physical therapy appointment:

Your first appointment will last about an hour. Please arrive 15 minutes early.

If applicable, bring your physician referral or prescription, insurance card, paperwork, ID, and co-payment.

At your appointment, we’ll do an initial evaluation and discuss your care plan.

Prepare for your visit

*Services are not available at every location. Visit our Locations page for more details.

Physical therapy insurance & payment options

We work with most major insurance providers. Although coverage will vary from plan to plan, many physical therapy, occupational therapy and speciality therapy programs are covered under insurance. Call now to confirm if your plan is in-network and to learn about our self-pay options.

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