Also known as Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization, is a technique used to break up scar tissue resulting from injury or surgery and promote healing.
Treatment may include traditional chiropractic manipulation (an adjustment), instrument-assisted adjusting (Activator), stretching, muscle work, or other techniques.
IASTM uses a hand-held tool to diagnose and treat soft tissue dysfunction. It originates from a technique in Traditional Chinese Medicine called Gua Sha and has become increasingly popular recently due to its effectiveness and efficiency.
Dr. Natasha Hayden has level 1 Graston certification, a technique that is well known and sought after by athletes but has benefits beyond athletic performance.
Stainless steel or polycarbonate are commonly used for IASTM Tools because they resonate. Information provided by the tissue about agitated structures can be felt by the therapist through the tool. The therapist scans the condition of the tissue by stroking the skin with the tool. In that way, they can feel where blockages are present that need to be treated. By stroking the skin with the tools, you can detect superficial adhesions and irregularities located deep underneath the skin. The feeling can be compared to stroking sand.
The Instrument effectively breaks down scar tissue and fascial restrictions in areas exhibiting soft tissue fibrosis, chronic inflammation, or degeneration.
Conditions treated include:
- Medial Epicondylitis/osis
- Lateral Epicondylitis/osis
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Neck and Back Pain
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Rotator Cuff Tendinitis/osis
- Patellar Tendinitis/osis
- Tibialis Posterior Tendinitis/osis
- Heel Pain
- Post-Surgical and Traumatic Scars
- Myofascial Pain and Restrictions
- Chronic and Acute Sprains/Strains
- Non-Acute Bursitis
- IT Band Syndrome
- Wrist Tendinitis/osis
- Reduced range of motion (ROM) due to Scar Tissue
- Achilles Tendinitis/osis
IASTM enhances results from exercises and joint mobilization and thus pairs well with chiropractic treatment.
Research Supported
There is a large body of research confirming that chronic low-back pain is the number one reason patients seek out chiropractic care, and IASTM focuses on the therapy as it aids chiropractic care. A 2016 article in the Journal of Physical Therapy Science examined the effects of IASTM and exercise on pain and lumbar range of motion in a group of patients with chronic low back pain.
Thirty patients were divided into two groups of 15 (IASTM + exercise and exercise only). At the end of the four-week study, both pain and lumbar range of motion significantly improved for both groups. However, those patients who also underwent IASTM showed greater improvement in both interventions.
A 2017 study in the same journal focused on hamstring pain and extensibility in patients with low-back pain.
For this study, 12 patients underwent IASTM on their hamstring muscles, while another 12 were given static exercises to perform. Similar to the earlier study, both groups showed improved hamstring extension and reduced pain at the end of the intervention. However, patients in the IASTM group were able to stretch their hamstring muscles significantly further than could those in the exercise group.
Chiropractic Care is a science-based, drug-free alternative that is effective in alleviating a number of conditions, including back and neck pain and headaches, to name a few.
As a holistic medicine model, Dr. Natasha Chiropractor, will form a health treatment plan individually tailored to achieve your health and wellness goals.
Dr Natasha Hayden is a pediatric and prenatal chiropractor that is passionate about helping her community discover just how good their bodies are designed to feel, so they can do more of what they love.
Your health goals are within reach with the support of our team.
