Soft tissue mobilization in Midtown St. Louis, MO. Instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization is vital for treating various injuries, conditions, and disorders. This treatment method, focused on activating and relieving soft tissue including the muscles, ligaments, and tendons, doesn’t just help reduce pain momentarily, but restores functionality and boosts the body’s natural healing process, aiding our Midtown St. Louis, MO patients recover faster and more effectively. Soft tissue mobilization is especially useful for Midtown St. Louis, MO patients who want to avoid surgery or medications.
Axes Physical Therapy is locally owned and operated by a team of expert Midtown St. Louis, MO physical and occupational therapists. We combine our passion with bettering our patients’ lives with evidence-backed treatment methods to get Midtown St. Louis, MO residents back to the activities they love. Whether you’re grappling with an acute injury, chronic discomfort, or post-surgical rehabilitation, Axes Physical Therapy will form a team with you to create a treatment plan customized to your unique needs and goals. Get in touch online, call the Axes most convenient to you, or come to any location for a complimentary injury screening to start on your road to recovery today.
What Is Soft Tissue Mobilization?
Soft tissue mobilization is a therapeutic technique used in physical therapy to treat conditions affecting the soft tissues of the body, such as muscles, tendons, and ligaments. This approach incorporates various hands-on methods spanning gentle strokes to deeper pressure, depending on what condition or injury you’re ailing from. It’s a crucial element in the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders, offering relief and re-establishing function to areas impaired by injury, surgery, or chronic conditions.
About Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM)
Instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) is a sophisticated form of soft tissue mobilization that uses specialized tools for deeper and more targeted tissue manipulation. Drawing from James Cyriax‘s deep friction massage, this method uses tools crafted from materials like stainless steel or hard plastic. Designed to fit to different parts of the body, these tools are aimed to effectively break down scar tissue and fascial restrictions. IASTM techniques permit therapists to identify and treat areas with soft tissue fibrosis or chronic inflammation. Using these instruments enhances the physical therapist’s ability to uncover adhesions and restrictions in the soft tissues, and delivers precise pressure to encourage optimal tissue repair and mobility.
Soft Tissue Mobilization and Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (ISTYM) Techniques
Soft tissue mobilization includes a range of specific therapies, each designed to address specific injuries or conditions:
Manual Soft Tissue Mobilization Techniques
- Massage: A popular method, massage includes various strokes and pressures to manipulate soft tissues. It can boost circulation, relieve muscle tension, and promote relaxation.
- Myofascial Release: This technique targets releasing tension in the fascia. Practitioners apply gentle, sustained pressure to release fascial restrictions and improve mobility.
- Trigger Point Dry Needling and Trigger Point Therapy: This method addresses trigger points, which are hyperirritable muscles that cause pain and discomfort. Pressure is applied to these points to alleviate tension and reduce pain.
- Active Release Techniques (ART): ART combines patient movement with manual therapy to break up adhesions in muscles and other soft tissues, striving to bring back range of motion.
- Cross-Friction Massage: A transverse massage technique performed perpendicular to the affected tissue. It’s commonly employed for tendons and ligaments to improve circulation and promote healing.
- Lymphatic Drainage: A light technique aiming to stimulate the lymphatic system, which carries waste away from tissues and minimizes inflammation, especially in patients with lymphedema.
- Stretching and Range of Motion Exercises: These are often incorporated into manual soft tissue mobilization to enhance flexibility and movement. They can be active (performed by the patient).
- Joint Mobilization: Involves passive movement of a joint by the therapist to enhance flexibility and reduce pain. It’s commonly used in combination with other soft tissue techniques.
Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM) Techniques
- Astym® Therapy: Uses specific protocols and instruments to rejuvenate healthy soft tissues and clear away unwanted adhesions.
- Graston Technique®: Involves stainless steel instruments to alleviate restrictions by stretching connective tissues so that their structure is rearranged.
- HawkGrips® Therapy: Utilizes an array of precision-engineered tools designed to decrease pain in minutes, increase flexibility, and diminish need for medication and surgery.
Each of the above techniques has been proven by research to have its specific applications and benefits, and one of our qualified Midtown St. Louis, MO physical therapists can adapt these techniques to the condition affecting you and your lifestyle goals. We’ll use these techniques, in combination with other therapies and patient education, to help heal you and get you back to what you love doing most.
Benefits of Soft Tissue Mobilization for Midtown St. Louis, MO Patients
Soft tissue mobilization, when performed by licensed Midtown St. Louis, MO physical therapists such as those at Axes, offers a multitude of benefits to Midtown St. Louis, MO patients dealing with various musculoskeletal conditions. Here’s an in-depth look at some of the key advantages:
- Accelerated Healing Process —
- Improved Blood Flow: Soft tissue mobilization techniques enhance circulation, bringing essential nutrients and oxygen to injured areas, allowing the body to heal itself more effectively.
- Reduced Inflammation: These techniques contribute to lessening inflammation and swelling in affected areas, which is crucial for healing.
- Breakdown of Scar Tissue: Specifically with IASTM, the breakdown of scar tissue encourages faster healing of healthy tissue.
- Better Tissue Alignment and Function —
- Restoration of Normal Tissue Function: By releasing tension and restrictions in soft tissues, these techniques bring back normal function and range of motion.
- Improved Flexibility: Regular soft tissue mobilization can result in increased flexibility and strength in the muscles, tendons, and ligaments.
- Alignment Correction: These methods can assist in adjusting collagen fibers and enhance the overall structure of soft tissues.
- Reduction of Pain and Increased Mobility —
- Pain Relief: Soft tissue mobilization is helpful in alleviating chronic pain and discomfort associated with various conditions.
- Increased Mobility: By targeting the underlying causes of stiffness and immobility, these techniques help patients achieve their full range of motion.
- Prevention of Future Injuries: Regular treatment can also be instrumental in preventing future injuries by ensuring healthy, supple tissues.
The benefits of soft tissue mobilization, especially when paired with Axes Physical Therapy’s comprehensive and individualized approach to care in Midtown St. Louis, MO, are extensive. When you collaborate with us, you’ll not only achieve relief from your current ailments but also appreciate an elevated quality of life with improved physical function.
Conditions Treated with Soft Tissue Mobilization in Midtown St. Louis, MO
Axes Physical Therapy utilizes soft tissue mobilization, including IASTM techniques, to treat a vast spectrum of conditions, each with its specific challenges and requirements. Here’s how these methods are implemented across different types of injuries and conditions in Midtown St. Louis, MO:
Acute Injuries
Acute injuries refer to sudden physical traumas to the body, often resulting from accidents or specific incidents during activities, like sports injuries. These injuries typically involve sudden pain, swelling, and loss of function. Advanced soft tissue mobilization and other soft tissue mobilization techniques play a key role in minimizing inflammation, enhancing healing, and regaining function in these cases.
Common acute injuries treated include:
- Sprains
- Strains
- Fasciitis
- Tendonitis
Chronic Injuries
Chronic injuries form over time, usually due to ongoing stress or long-term wear and tear on the body. These injuries are characterized by ongoing pain, stiffness, and usually a gradual onset. Soft tissue mobilization is beneficial in these scenarios for breaking down scar tissue, relieving pain, and enhancing range of motion.
Common chronic injuries treated include:
- Tendonosis
- ITB Syndrome
- Plantar Fasciitis
Post-Surgical Rehab
Following surgery and in post-surgical rehab, patients often face challenges like adhesions and restricted mobility. Soft tissue mobilization, especially IASTM, is invaluable in these situations for enhancing tissue healing, lessening scar tissue formation, and helping to regain lost motion and function.
Common issues we treat with soft tissue mobilization in post surgical rehabilitation include:
- Excessive scarring
- Adhesions/Fibrosis
- Loss of motion
By applying soft tissue mobilization techniques effectively, Axes Physical Therapy adequately manages a wide array of conditions, helping Midtown St. Louis, MO patients in their journey towards recovery, better quality of life, and returning to the activities they cherish.
Other services we offer in Midtown St. Louis, MO include:
- Hip Replacement Physical Therapy
- Workers Comp' Physical Therapy
- Migraine Relief
- Sprain and Strain Treatment
- Geriatric Physical Therapy
- Injury Rehabilitation
- Pain Management Services
- TMJ Treatment
- Herniated Disc Treatment
- Rotator Cuff Tear Treatment
Call Axes Physical Therapy for Your Soft Tissue Mobilization in Midtown St. Louis, MO Today
Axes Physical Therapy in Midtown St. Louis, MO combines experience, passion, and a personalized approach to provide optimal results in soft tissue mobilization. Choosing Axes entails entrusting your recovery to a team that prioritizes your health and wellbeing, working not just for immediate relief but for ongoing functional improvement that brings you back to the activities you enjoy the most safely and effectively. Don’t let pain or mobility issues stop you any longer. Reach out to Axes Physical Therapy in Midtown St. Louis, MO and take the first step towards a more active life. Contact us online, call the Axes location nearest you, or come to any location for a free injury screening to get started today.
