Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization

Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization is the process of using a medical grade instrument (stainless steel), to perform therapy on a muscle and/or joint complex in order to promote healing and restore normal function. There are many different brands of tools that can be used to perform this method of treatment. During treatment, a lotion is used for lubrication on the skin while the tool is “scraped” over the muscle in order to produce a healing response. While the treatment can be painful, it is not performed at a pressure above what is tolerable and comfortable for the patient, and typically lasts only a couple of minutes on a given area. This technique works well when used with manipulation/adjusting, and can help the patient receive the desired results quicker. Some common conditions that respond well to this technique are plantar fasciitis, shin splints, and IT band syndrome, just to name a few.