Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilisation or simply IASTM, is a safe and effective technique which enables clinicians to efficiently locate soft tissue dysfunction. The technique itself is said to be a modern evolution from Traditional Chinese Medicine called Gua Sha . IASTM is a manual therapy which is performed with ergonomically designed instruments that detect and treat fascial restrictions, encourage rapid localization and effectively treat areas exhibiting soft tissue fibrosis, chronic inflammation, or degeneration. As in many manual therapy treatments ,exercises play a pivotal role in conjunction with additional modalities such as joint mobilization which are designed to correct biomechanical deficiencies while addressing musculoskeletal strength and muscle imbalances throughout the kinetic chain.

 

How does it work?

Instruments effectively break down fascial restrictions and scar tissue. The ergonomic design of these instruments assists in locating soft tissue restrictions and allows the clinician to treat the affected area with the appropriate amount of pressure.

The introduction of controlled microtrauma to affected soft tissue structures causes the stimulation of a local inflammatory response. Microtrauma initiates reabsorption of inappropriate fibrosis or excessive scar tissue and facilitates a cascade of healing activities resulting in remodeling of affected soft tissue structures. Adhesions within the soft tissue which may have developed as a result of surgery, immobilization, repeated strain or other mechanisms, are broken down allowing full functional restoration to occur.