7 Common Conditions That Benefit From IASTM Tools
As author and disability rights advocate Helen Keller once wrote, “Although the world is full of suffering, it is full also of the overcoming of it.” Pain is an inevitability of life, the body’s natural automatic response to harm, hurt, or injury. While pain induces dynamic suffering worldwide, its pangs and pricks differ greatly in severity. Those who experience lingering or chronic pains often deal with discomfort that won’t go away.
Is there a solution to this mobility problem? Can we overcome the suffering? With the right treatment or therapeutic approach, anything is possible. Individuals who experience painful movement sensations from common conditions and injuries can utilize instrument-assisted tissue mobilization to restore optimal musculoskeletal function. Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) is an advanced manual form of myofascial mobilization therapy that manipulates and loosens connective fascia tissue.
Generally speaking, anyone with soft-tissue pain, injuries, or limiting conditions can benefit from the use of IASTM to improve blood flow and promote healing. Yet, those with specific conditions are prime candidates for this type of therapy. Let’s take a closer look at some of the typical pains that IASTM effectively targets and relieves. Here are seven common conditions that benefit from IASTM tools.
Sprains or Strains in Muscles, Tendons, and Ligaments
Accidents and mishaps happen, causing minor trauma to interior ligaments, tendons, and muscles. Ligament sprains and muscle strains are common injuries that can occur to anyone on any day of the week—most especially athletes and fitness enthusiasts, that is. Strains in the back, neck, leg, or arm muscles often occur when immense pressure is put directly on the muscle or when an individual extends the muscle too far. Sprains to ligaments occur during an injury, such as twisted ankles, knees, or wrists.
Fortunately, specialized IASTM tools can help repair the damaged, stretched, or torn soft tissue and increase one’s range of motion. Through applying longitudinal pressure along muscle fibers—a manual therapeutic approach—quicker rehabilitation and recovery are attainable.
Excessive Scar Tissue
IASTM is a practical treatment technique for highly prevalent causes of scarring. IASTM comprehensively strives to remove bad scar tissue and facilitate healthy tissue production. In the case of excessive scar tissues, IASTM can help with the common afflictions of post-surgical scarring, post-mastectomy scarring, cesarean scarring, and more.
Many people have found IASTM to work more effectively than traditional healing solutions and treatment interventions. Whether used by a clinician, physical therapist, or yourself, these instruments help achieve greater mechanical force transmission to reabsorb excess scar tissue and fibrosis.
Forms of Tendinitis or Tendinosis
Tendonitis is an issue that occurs in the tendons—aka the flexible tissue attaching the muscle to the bone. However, this condition occurs most commonly in a smaller quantity of the hundreds of tendons spread throughout the human body.
These forms of tendonitis are found in the biceps, shoulders, elbows, hands, knees, wrists, ankles, and calves. Why? The general pain felt is the result of irritation and inflammation. The tendons in question typically face problems from repetitive stress activities and reduced ease of avoidance. Common types of tendonitis include golfer’s elbow, tennis elbow, jumper’s knee, achilles tendonitis, bicep tendonitis, wrist tendonitis, or rotator cuff tendonitis.
Thankfully, individuals who experience these sensations do not need to prolong discomfort or delay treatment. IASTM tools apply the necessary pressure to the affected tendons to initiate a response that promotes a speedier healing process.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Those who experience this condition commonly feel numbness, weakness, tingling, and pain in their hand, arm, or fingers. Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve becomes compressed on the palm side of the wrist. As an efficient non-surgical treatment option to cope with these symptoms, IASTM is proven to help ease limited motion and pain with movement.
Trigger Finger
Trigger finger—or trigger thumb—is a common condition caused by swollen flexor tendons in the fingers. The structure of these tendons normally helps one’s fingers bend properly, but inflammation in their lining or pulley system can cause numerous problems. Ergo, tendons in the affected fingers will either lock, click, or snap, becoming a stubborn and painful irritation.
Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization tools help improve tissue mobility caused by Stenosing Tenosynovitis. The goal is to improve the tendon and its pulley system’s health and restore the finger’s flexibility through the release of fascial adhesions. After effective treatment sessions—that strengthen the affected area—the tendon’s function can return to normal.
Plantar Fasciitis
Heel pain is a common occurrence for people who’re continuously on their feet in a wide array of occupations. Athletes and runners especially deal with the condition of an inflamed plantar fascia—the ligament stretching from the heel to the toes. When tissue inflammation occurs from repetitive motion, the pain felt on the heel or arch of one’s foot is inevitable. Fully bearing weight, the plantar fascia supports the arch of the foot.
IASTM tools are a key intervention technique to deeply penetrate the tissue and alleviate the symptoms of plantar fasciitis. By targeting and stretching localized trauma in the tissue, IASTM can reduce viscosity and improve foot function.
Glutei or Piriformis Syndrome Pain
Piriformis syndrome is another ailment on our list of seven common conditions that benefit from IASTM tools. How so? This condition affecting the narrow piriformis typically occurs when the muscle presses on the sciatic nerve, causing numbness, pain, and tingling in the lower body. The pain tends to worsen during activities that cause the muscle to press against the piriformis, such as running, walking up stairs, or sitting down.
Those experiencing this off-balance discomfort, soreness, and disability can turn to IASTM therapy. Generally difficult to treat, an IASTM tool can help with glutei and piriformis pain by stretching, massaging, and loosening up that tight fascia.
Why Mobilization Magic?
Are you searching for a quality instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization tool? Specially designed by a professional physical therapist to help individuals restore sore muscles and reduce pain levels, Mobilization Magic™ is an exclusive IASTM tool that uses a material science concept known as ‘creep.’ Delivering direct pressure exactly where it’s needed, the MMT works wonders to break free blockages caused by common injuries and conditions.
As a hamstring stretch, trigger point therapy, or piriformis massage tool, the MMT is a versatile instrument for particular joints and muscles. Learn more about this 24/7 therapist elbow for your own self-massage therapy on our website today. As our reviews declare, you’ll find the results to be truly transformational—no matter the nature of the injury or condition.