IASTM, Gua sha & Graston Tools in Massage

Therapeutic Massage
Written By Loudia Laarman

Instrument-assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization

IASTM is the use of a tool or instrument to massage and treat soft tissue of the body, IASTM works in conjunction with other massage techniques and is used in place of a therapist’s hands.

Types of IASTM

IASTM tools and instruments come in many different shapes and sizes. Instruments can include:

  • Athletic and Kinesio tape, and stretching straps

  • Foam rollers & balls

  • Stainless steel, aluminum, or plastic blades

  • Plastic, glass, or silicone cups

  • Acupuncture & hypodermic needles

IASTM vs. GuaSha

This photo is of a GuaSha or muscle scraping post-treatment. The treatment goal of muscle scraping is petechia which is bruising and excessive blood flow to the surface of the skin.

IASTM is performed on specific fascia, tendons, muscles, or ligaments and is performed with the goal of improving tissue pliability, increasing local blood flow, and increasing range of motion. Some petechia may still be evident in an IASTM treatment but this is not the treatment goal.

Why IASTM

The use of IASTM can be an invaluable tool for massage and physiotherapists. Not only can it save hands and bring longevity to a therapist’s career but it has many benefits to our clients. Here are my top three benefits of IASTM for clients.

  1. Treatment Specificity

    Think of steel IASTM tools like a stethoscope for the soft tissues of the body, just as the stethoscope allows for improved audio resolution of the heart for a doctor; IASTM can magnify palpatory sensation 100x for a massage therapist. This allows for both the practitioner and client to feel individual fibers and transmission of abnormal gritty, sand-like restrictive collagen cross-links to be felt through vibrations in the instrument. This increased sensitivity can allow for better treatment outcomes for the client, as the therapist can perform more precise and concentrated treatment to an area. This direct contact can also produce treatment dosages as high as 36x that of a treatment using only a therapists hands.

  2. Treatment Time

    Because IASTM treatment dosage is much more specific and higher quality, treatments of IASTM to a specific area typically only last 3-10minutes, allowing the therapists to a treatment with the same or higher quality in less time. For this reason, IASTM specific treatments are shorter here at Advanced Therapeutic Massage, as longer treatments could fatigue and damage tissues.

  3. Treatment Cost

    With reduced treatment times, comes reduced treatment costs. Because IASTM treatments are so effective in such a short time, these treatments can cost you less money while giving you better results.

Is IASTM Right For You?

IASTM may be the treatment for you if you experience any of the following:

  • Sub-acute or chronic soft tissue injuries

  • Loss of ROM or scar tissue

  • Fascial restriction

  • Post-surgical rehabilitation (later stages)

  • Unsuccessful treatment with traditional cross-fiber therapeutic massage

  • Fluid movement to minimize stasis

Individuals that suffer from the following soft tissue conditions may also benefit from IASTM treatment:

  • Scar Tissue

    • Post-surgical or traumatic

  • Ligament sprains

    • MCL/LCL, AC sprain

  • Tendinopathy

    • Lateral & medial epicondylitis (tennis and golfers elbow)

    • supraspinatus tendinopathy (Rotator cuff), DeQuervain’s

    • Achilles or patellar (knee) tendinopathy

  • Fascial Syndromes

    • Plantar fasciitis, ITB syndromes

    • Compartment syndromes, trigger finger/Dupuytren’s contracture

  • Nerve Entrapment

    • Carpal Tunnel, Thoracic outlet syndrome

Benefits and What to Expect

Discomfort and bruising can become apparent during or after the treatment. Bruising results from localized trauma, which may be associated with the separation of adhesions from healthy tissue.Although discomfort and bruising may be experienced, patients who have realized a decrease in symptoms have returned repeatedly for additional IASTM sessions.

Try IASTM as part of your next therapeutic treatment or an IASTM-specific treatment for your next session and experience the many benefits of IASTM for yourself today!

Benefits include:

  • Release of fascial restrictions

  • Breakdown of collagen cross-linkages

  • Increased blood flow (which promotes healing)

  • Increase in regenerative cellular activity

  • Improved range of motion

  • Reduction in tissue viscosity

  • Interruption of pain receptors

  • Improved flexibility of underlying tissue

Loudia Laarman
Previous

Swedish Massage