Soft Tissue Mobilization in St. George, MO | IASTM | Physical Therapy

Soft tissue mobilization in St. George, MO. Instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization is crucial for treating numerous injuries, conditions, and disorders. This treatment method, focused on working on and smoothing out soft tissue like the muscles, ligaments, and tendons, doesn’t just help reduce pain the day of your appointment, but brings back functionality and boosts the body’s natural healing process, helping our St. George, MO patients recover safely and properly. Soft tissue mobilization is especially useful for St. George, MO patients seeking non-invasive treatment methods.

Axes Physical Therapy is operated and owned locally by a team of expert St. George, MO physical therapists. We blend our expertise with enhancing our patients’ lives with evidence-backed treatment methods to get St. George, MO residents back to the activities they love. Whether you were recently injured, suffer from a chronic condition, or are in post-surgical rehabilitation, Axes Physical Therapy will form a team with you to develop a treatment plan tailored to your condition, lifestyle, and goals. Contact us through our website, 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 involving the soft tissues of the body, such as muscles, tendons, and ligaments. This approach entails various hands-on methods including gentle strokes to deeper pressure, tailored to your specific needs. It’s a crucial element in the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders, offering relief and bringing back function to areas affected by injury, a medical condition, or chronic conditions.

What Is Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization?

Instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) is an advanced form of soft tissue mobilization that employs specialized tools for deeper and more targeted tissue manipulation. Drawing from James Cyriax‘s deep friction massage, this method involves tools crafted from materials like stainless steel or hard plastic. Designed to fit to different anatomical areas, these tools are intended to effectively break down scar tissue and fascial restrictions. IASTM techniques enable therapists to identify and treat areas with soft tissue fibrosis or chronic inflammation. The application of these tools enhances the physical therapist’s ability to detect adhesions and restrictions in the soft tissues, and exerts precise pressure to encourage optimal tissue repair and mobility.

Soft Tissue Mobilization and Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (ISTYM) Techniques

Soft tissue mobilization includes an array of techniques, each designed to address specific types of tissue issues and patient needs:

Manual Soft Tissue Mobilization Techniques

Massage: A widely recognized technique, massage entails manual pressure and strokes with a therapist’s hands. It can enhance circulation, relieve muscle tension, and promote relaxation.
Myofascial Release: This technique targets releasing tension in the connective tissue that surrounds muscles. Practitioners utilize gentle, sustained pressure to ease fascial restrictions and boost mobility.
Trigger Point Dry Needling and Trigger Point Therapy: This method targets trigger points, which are tight knots within muscles that result in pain and discomfort. Pressure is applied to these points to stimulate blood flow and healing and reduce pain.
Active Release Techniques (ART): ART melds patient movement with soft tissue mobilization to break up scar tissue in muscles and other soft tissues, striving to restore free movement.
Cross-Friction Massage: A transverse massage technique executed perpendicular to the affected tissue. It’s frequently utilized for tendons and ligaments to enhance 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 improve flexibility and range of motion. They can be passive (performed by the therapist).
Joint Mobilization: Entails passive movement of a joint by the therapist to increase flexibility and reduce pain. It’s often used in combination with other soft tissue techniques.

Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM) Techniques

Astym® Therapy: Utilizes specific protocols and instruments to regenerate healthy soft tissues and remove unwanted adhesions.
Graston Technique®: Employs stainless steel instruments to minimize restrictions by stretching connective tissues so that their structure is rearranged.
HawkGrips® Therapy: Utilizes an array of precision-engineered tools intended to decrease pain in minutes, increase range of motion, and reduce need for medication and surgery.

Each of the listed treatment methods has been confirmed by peer-backed studies to have its particular uses and benefits, and one of our professional St. George, MO physical therapists can customize these techniques to your individual needs. We’ll employ these techniques, in concert with other therapies and patient education, to aid in your recovery and get you back to the activities you love.

Advantages of Soft Tissue Mobilization for St. George, MO Patients

Soft tissue mobilization, when conducted by licensed St. George, MO physical therapists such as those at Axes, offers a multitude of benefits to St. George, MO patients facing various musculoskeletal conditions. Here’s a comprehensive look at some of the key advantages:

Kickstart the Body’s Natural healing Process —
- Enhanced Blood Flow: Soft tissue mobilization techniques enhance blood flow to the affected area, delivering essential nutrients and oxygen to injured areas, allowing the body to heal itself more effectively.
- Reduced Inflammation: These techniques help in reducing inflammation and swelling in the injured areas, which is crucial for healing.
- Breakdown of Scar Tissue: Specifically with IASTM, the breakdown of scar tissue encourages quicker regeneration of healthy tissue.
Improvement in Tissue Alignment and Function —
- Restoration of Normal Tissue Function: By easing tension and restrictions in soft tissues, these techniques re-establish 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 aid in realigning collagen fibers and better the overall structure of soft tissues.
Reduction of Pain and Increased Mobility —
- Pain Relief: Soft tissue mobilization is effective in minimizing chronic pain and discomfort related to various conditions.
- Increased Mobility: By tackling the underlying causes of stiffness and immobility, these techniques help patients restore their full range of motion.
- Prevention of Future Injuries: Regular treatment can also play a role in preventing future injuries by maintaining healthy, supple tissues.

The benefits of soft tissue mobilization, especially when combined with Axes Physical Therapy’s comprehensive and individualized approach to care in St. George, MO, are extensive. When you partner with us, you’ll not only find relief from your current ailments but also appreciate an enhanced quality of life with enhanced physical function.

Soft Tissue Mobilization | Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization | IASTM

Conditions Treated with Soft Tissue Mobilization in St. George, MO

Axes Physical Therapy utilizes soft tissue mobilization, including IASTM techniques, to treat a wide spectrum of conditions, each with its specific challenges and requirements. Here’s how these methods are used across various types of injuries and conditions in St. George, MO:

Acute Injuries

Acute injuries mean sudden physical traumas to the body, usually resulting from accidents or specific incidents during activities, like sports injuries. These injuries commonly involve sudden pain, swelling, and loss of function. Advanced soft tissue mobilization and other soft tissue mobilization techniques play a crucial role in lessening inflammation, facilitating healing, and reestablishing 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 prolonged wear and tear on the body. These injuries are characterized by persistent pain, stiffness, and frequently a gradual onset. Soft tissue mobilization is effective in these scenarios for dissolving scar tissue, relieving pain, and increasing function.

Common chronic injuries treated include:

Tendonosis
ITB Syndrome
Plantar Fasciitis

Post-Surgical Conditions

Following surgery and in post-surgical rehab, patients often face challenges like adhesions and restricted mobility. Soft tissue mobilization, particularly IASTM, is essential in these situations for enhancing tissue healing, lessening scar tissue formation, and assisting 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 using soft tissue mobilization techniques properly, Axes Physical Therapy successfully treats a wide array of conditions, helping St. George, MO patients in their path towards healing, enhanced quality of life, and returning to the activities they enjoy.

Other conditions we treat in St. George, MO include:

Call Axes Physical Therapy for Your Soft Tissue Mobilization in St. George, MO Today

Axes Physical Therapy in St. George, MO combines expertise, compassion, and a personalized approach to achieve optimal results in soft tissue mobilization. Choosing Axes means entrusting your care to a team that values your health and wellbeing, working not just for immediate relief but for ongoing functional improvement that gets you back to the activities you cherish efficiently and effectively. Don’t let pain or mobility issues hold you back any longer. Reach out to Axes Physical Therapy in St. George, MO and take the first step towards a healthier life. Contact us online, call the Axes location nearest you, or come to any location for a free injury screening to get started today.