Chronic pain or ongoing discomfort quickly depletes your energy, productivity, health, and ability to be your best self, but there is help with IASTM physical therapy. The physical therapists at ProMet PT can help with a customized approach to your recovery. We assess your unique situation and offer a variety of treatment methodologies for a hands-on, tailored plan that works for you. Learn more about ProMet PT and how IASTM works to help get you back to living your best life without the pain.
What is IASTM Physical Therapy?
IASTM, or Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization, is a type of physical therapy that uses specialty instruments to manually treat your pain. It comes with many benefits, including its ability to hyper-target specific areas with more precision. The therapy works to prompt regeneration and repair through blood flow and cellular activity. People use it to help with scar tissue and impacted areas that are causing chronic pain. The results can help improve your range of motion and flexibility, which can help with your everyday routine or athletic performance.
What Conditions Does IASTM Address?
Depending on your situation, the team at ProMet PT may recommend IASTM physical therapy to treat some of the following conditions:
- Muscle strains
- Scar tissue buildup from surgery or injury
- Sprains
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Plantar fasciitis
- Tendonitis and tendinopathies, such as tendinitis or tennis elbow, are common conditions.
- Myofascial pain and restrictions
- Chronic pain conditions
Your physical therapist at ProMet PT will assess your condition, listen to your feedback, and come up with a tailored plan that may incorporate IASTM.
Will IASTM Treatment Hurt?
IASTM Physical Therapy should not feel painful or overwhelming to deal with. However, the pressure and manual mobilization of your soft tissue may lead to some discomfort and you may experience light bruising. Your therapist can work with you to find the right level of pain and pressure for you to help you recover. Our goal is to help address your chronic pain, tendonitis, mobility issues, and more to get to the root cause of the problem and not just treat the symptoms.
What Is the History of IASTM Physical Therapy?
IASTM is not a new treatment option and dates back to ancient Chinese tradition. The medical treatment all started as Gua Sha, which translates to “scraping.” Ancient people used jade or stones to scrape the skin, promoting increased blood flow and cell regeneration. Over time, jade was replaced with stainless steel to glide across soft tissues and areas that needed help healing.
ProMet PT uses IASTM tools that come in different shapes and sizes, including single or double-bevelled edges. We carefully choose a tool designed to target superficial areas of your body and adjust the level of pressure according to your treatment plan.
Tailor IASTM with Other Therapies
There are many physical therapy techniques that could benefit your condition, including IASTM physical therapy. However, we often recommend a variety of techniques, such as cupping. Similar to the roots of IASTM, cupping also dates back to ancient Chinese medicine. Therapeutic cups are placed strategically on your body and the superficial layer of your skin is briefly sucked into the cups with a powerful suction to help release tightness and body toxins. Or we may suggest a technique like Kinseo taping that moves with your body while distributing the force of impact on other parts of your body.
Is IASTM Treatment Used On Everyone?
No, not necessarily. IASTM Physical Therapy can be a powerful way to foster relief and finally get on the path to recovery. However, it’s not the right treatment option for everyone. If you have artery disease or specific types of skin conditions or cancer, we may recommend a different option for you. Contact ProMet PT today to schedule your assessment and find a customized treatment plan that works for you.
Next Steps
The ProMet Physical Therapy team offers a unique style with a common focus on YOU. Our treatment plans take into consideration every aspect of your condition, life, and goals to help you heal your body and mind, not just the area with the injury. We’re here to help you reconnect to the real you with a personalized approach to healing. Ready to take control of your recovery with IASTM Physical Therapy? Call us at (718)880-2385 or request an appointment here.
