Soft Tissue Mobilization in Webster Groves, MO | IASTM | Physical Therapy

Soft tissue mobilization in Webster Groves, MO. Instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization is crucial for treating many musculoskeletal conditions. This therapeutic approach, aimed at stimulating and relieving soft tissue including the muscles, ligaments, and tendons, doesn’t just help reduce pain short term, but brings back functionality and improves the body’s natural healing process, assisting our Webster Groves, MO patients get better faster and more effectively. Soft tissue mobilization is ideal for Webster Groves, MO patients looking for alternative treatments to surgery.

Axes Physical Therapy is run by a group of local Webster Groves, MO physical and occupational therapists. We combine our expertise with enhancing our patients’ lives with research-supported treatment methods to get Webster Groves, MO residents back to the activities they love. Whether you’re grappling with an acute injury, chronic discomfort, or post-surgical rehab, Axes Physical Therapy will form a team with you to create a treatment plan tailored to your unique needs and goals. Get in touch through our website, call the Axes location nearest you, or come to any location for a free injury screening to get started today.

About Soft Tissue Mobilization

Soft tissue mobilization is a therapeutic treatment method 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, depending on your specific needs. It’s a crucial element in the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders, providing relief and restoring 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 refined 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 involves tools constructed of materials like stainless steel or hard plastic. Designed to fit to different anatomical areas, these tools are aimed to effectively break down scar tissue and fascial restrictions. IASTM techniques allow 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 discover adhesions and restrictions in the soft tissues, and exerts precise pressure to facilitate optimal tissue repair and mobility.

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

Soft tissue mobilization encompasses a range of techniques, each designed to tackle specific types of tissue issues and patient needs:

Manual Soft Tissue Mobilization Techniques

Massage: One of the most well-known forms, massage involves various strokes and pressures to manipulate soft tissues. 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 apply 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 lead to pain and discomfort. Pressure is applied to these points to alleviate tension and reduce pain.
Active Release Techniques (ART): ART integrates patient movement with soft tissue mobilization to break up adhesions in muscles and other soft tissues, striving to bring back range of motion.
Cross-Friction Massage: A perpendicular massage technique applied perpendicular to the affected tissue. It’s commonly employed for tendons and ligaments to increase 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 frequently incorporated into manual soft tissue mobilization to improve flexibility and movement. They can be active (performed by the patient).
Joint Mobilization: Consists of passive movement of a joint by the therapist to increase range of motion and reduce pain. It’s regularly used in combination with other soft tissue techniques.

Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM) Techniques

Astym® Therapy: Utilizes specific protocols and instruments to restore healthy soft tissues and clear away unwanted scar tissue.
Graston Technique®: Employs stainless steel instruments to alleviate restrictions by stretching connective tissues so that their structure is rearranged.
HawkGrips® Therapy: Utilizes a range of precision-engineered tools designed to decrease pain in minutes, increase range of motion, and reduce need for medication and surgery.

Each of the listed treatment modalities has been proven by peer-backed studies to have its specific applications and benefits, and one of our qualified Webster Groves, MO physical therapists can adapt these methods to the condition affecting you and your lifestyle goals. We’ll employ these techniques, in combination with other therapies and patient education, to assist in your healing and get you back to the activities you love.

Benefits of Soft Tissue Mobilization for Webster Groves, MO Patients

Soft tissue mobilization, when carried out by qualified Webster Groves, MO physical therapists such as those at Axes, offers a multitude of benefits to Webster Groves, MO patients dealing with various musculoskeletal conditions. Here’s a detailed look at some of the key advantages:

Accelerated Healing Process —
- Improved Blood Flow: Soft tissue mobilization techniques enhance blood flow to the affected area, supplying essential nutrients and oxygen to injured areas, thus accelerating the healing process.
- Reduced Inflammation: These techniques aid in minimizing inflammation and swelling in affected areas, which is essential for healing.
- Breakdown of Scar Tissue: Specifically with instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization, the breakdown of scar tissue encourages faster healing of healthy tissue.
Better 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 improved flexibility and strength in the muscles, tendons, and ligaments.
- Alignment Correction: These methods can aid 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 minimizing chronic pain and discomfort associated with various conditions.
- Increased Mobility: By addressing 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 be instrumental in preventing future injuries by ensuring healthy, supple tissues.

The benefits of soft tissue mobilization, especially when coupled with Axes Physical Therapy’s comprehensive and personalized approach to care in Webster Groves, MO, are far-reaching. When you collaborate with us, you’ll not only find relief from your current ailments but also appreciate an improved quality of life with improved physical function.

Soft Tissue Mobilization | Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization | IASTM

Conditions Treated with Soft Tissue Mobilization in Webster Groves, MO

Axes Physical Therapy employs soft tissue mobilization, including IASTM techniques, to treat a wide spectrum of conditions, each with its own challenges and requirements. Here’s how these techniques are used across multiple types of injuries and conditions in Webster Groves, MO:

Acute Injuries

Acute injuries are sudden physical traumas to the body, often resulting from accidents or specific incidents during activities, like sports injuries. These injuries commonly involve sudden pain, swelling, and loss of function. The use of instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization and other soft tissue mobilization techniques play a vital 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 arise over time, frequently due to ongoing stress or prolonged wear and tear on the body. These injuries are characterized by continuous pain, stiffness, and usually a gradual onset. Soft tissue mobilization is helpful in these scenarios for breaking down 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 commonly face challenges like adhesions and restricted mobility. Soft tissue mobilization, notably instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization, is crucial in these situations for promoting 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 utilizing soft tissue mobilization techniques properly, Axes Physical Therapy successfully treats a vast array of conditions, assisting Webster Groves, MO patients in their road towards recovery, better quality of life, and getting back to the activities they enjoy.

Other services we offer in Webster Groves, MO include:

Call Axes Physical Therapy for Your Soft Tissue Mobilization in Webster Groves, MO Today

Axes Physical Therapy in Webster Groves, MO integrates experience, passion, and a patient-centered approach to deliver optimal results in soft tissue mobilization. Choosing Axes signifies entrusting your treatment to a team that values your health and wellbeing, working not just for immediate relief but for long-term functional improvement that brings you back to the activities you enjoy the most efficiently and effectively. Don’t let pain or mobility issues stop you any longer. Reach out to Axes Physical Therapy in Webster Groves, 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.