IASTM – What is it?

Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilisation (IASTM) is a type of manual therapy treatment technique that involves the use of a specially designed stainless steel instrument to treat soft tissue dysfunctions. If you play a competitive sport or have a repetitive strain injury, you may have already been lucky enough to score a treatment session with one of these instruments.

Scar tissue and adhesions often form in the muscle as a result of surgery, immobilisation, repetitive strain or injury. This causes the muscle to shorten, often resulting in reduced mobility, pain and muscle recruitment issues/motor control dysfunctions. IASTM involves gently combing over the area to break down adhesions, ultimately allowing full restoration of the area. When IASTM is combined with other treatment modalities it can hasten rehabilitation/recovery time and reduces the need for anti-inflammatory medication. These are the most common conditions IASTM are used for:

• plantar fasciitis
• Achilles tendonitis
• Shin splints
• Patella tendonitis
• Iliotibial band friction syndrome
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Tennis/golfer’s elbow
• Adhesive capsulitis
• Scars (surgical or traumatic)