Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization
Soft-tissue injuries occur from strains, sprains, a blow that results in a ruptured blood vessel or bruising, or from overuse of a body part. Evolution Physical Therapy utilizes Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM) to locate and treat patients with soft tissue dysfunction effectively.
Where Can I Get Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization?
Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization is available for patients at all of our physical therapy locations. Find your nearest clinic to schedule an appointment for IASTM today!
West Coast
What is Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization?
Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization is a soft tissue treatment which utilizes various tools that enable the clinician to efficiently locate and treat individuals diagnosed with soft tissue dysfunction. IASTM is performed with instruments that are specifically designed to detect and treat fascial restrictions or increased muscular tone. IASTM is a great adjunct to traditional physical therapy interventions prescribed to correct biomechanical deficiencies.
The introduction of controlled microtrauma to affected soft tissue structure causes the stimulation of a local inflammatory response. Microtrauma initiates reabsorption of inappropriate fibrosis or excessive scar tissue and facilitates a cascade of healing activities, resulting in remodeling of affected soft tissue structures. Adhesions within the soft tissue which may have developed as a result of surgery, immobilization, repeated strain or other mechanisms, are broken down allowing full functional restoration to occur.
Benefits of Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization
IASTM focuses on specific areas of the body to relieve stiffness and improve range of motion. This allows you to effectively perform exercises recommended by your physical therapist to strengthen the injured area, promote healing, and restore normal function. The main benefits of IASTM include:
- Faster pain relief
- Improved mobility
- Quicker rehabilitation and recovery
- Decreased overall time of treatment
- Reduced need for anti-inflammatory medication
- Resolution of chronic conditions
Who Should Consider Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization?
Anyone with soft-tissue pain, injuries, or conditions can benefit from IASTM therapy. Ideal candidates include athletes, warehouse workers and others, who perform a repeated motion several times per day. IASTM is clinically proven to achieve faster and better outcomes in treating the following:
- Excessive scar tissue
- Shin splints
- Trigger finger
- Forms of tendonitis or tendinopathy, including golfer’s elbow and Achilles tendonitis
- Fibromyalgia
- Women’s health
- Running injuries, including plantar fasciitis
Clinical Applications of IASTM
IASTM tools have been shown to effectively break down fascial restrictions and scar tissue. The ergonomic design of these instruments provides the clinician with the ability to locate restrictions, treat the affected area with the appropriate amount of pressure, and to treat the specific direction of restriction. Studies have also shown clinical benefits of IASTM, including improvements in range of motion, strength, and pain perception following treatment.
TJ Melham et al. found that IASTM significantly improved range of motion in a college football player following 7 weeks of IASTM and physical therapy. Melham et al. found that scar tissue surrounding the lateral malleolus was reduced and remodeled structurally following IASTM application. Wilson et al found improvement in pain reduction and impairment scale at 6 and 12 weeks following IASTM application for patellar tendonitis.
Learn More About Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization at Your Nearest Evolution Location
IASTM works like a standard massage, however, our doctors of physical therapy use specialized equipment to allow more direct treatment. Contact us to learn more about IASTM today!
We’re Making People Move Again
At Evolution Physical Therapy, we are committed to providing you with high-quality, personalized care for your injury or condition. Take a look at our reviews to read about other patients’ results after treatment!
I've lived a full active life with frequent Physical Therapy opportunities. I am currently recovering from a full knee replacement. I chose Evolution as a result of a recommendation from my at home PT immediately following surgery. I have been pleased with Evolution overall as they are well run, have convenient locations, clean up-to-date facilities, take insurance etc. However, the most important reason is the therapy itself. I was assigned Anna Lee who is helping me navigate one of the hardest situations I've ever been in. She is knowledgeable, professional, hard working, accountable and most of all, empathetic. This hasn't been easy, but it's likely the best PT experience I've had. I would recommend Anna to anyone and I assure you as I navigate this nasty thing called old age, I will seek her assistance in the future.
Bart Nelson
1712083646
Kara has been amazing. She helped my 10 year old twins be pain free after having leg pain for 5 years. She was so thorough in her evaluation and throughout her therapy with them. She made PT so fun for them they looked forward to going. Kara is the best!
Rashelle L. (R. Lavi)
1711427819
I highly recommend Evolution. Very professional staff who take a personal interest in the patients recovery process. I have been working with Jon who is very knowledgeable and has put together a rehab plan that has me recovering faster than I expected. Thanks so much!
James Smith
1706244445
Jennifer was very professional and helpful in treating my lower back problems. Through her expertise and a variety of techniques and exercises, I am now pain-free. I highly recommend her!
Ava Ku
1706156564
Very professional from the moment you walk in through the whole experience. Everyone getting help is on a journey, and you see them being encouraged by caring PTs to get better, try a little harder. Erika is very knowledgeable and has helped me tremendously through many running injuries over a lot of years.
Dionne McNeff
1704949898
I'm very pleased with Kara's attitude and care. I recommend her.
Nestor Otazu
1701887941
Lindsay and the whole staff of Evolution P/T are very knowledgeable, patient and friendly.
SUSAN MANN
1700812991
Carole is amazing at what she does. She is really helping me recover from 2 ankle surgeries. I can really feel the difference from other therapist I’ve had.
Aaron Medina
1699637209
Daniel is an amazing physical therapist - his knowledge and care for his patients far surpasses anywhere else I’ve been. He fine tunes his programs to suit his patients’ daily needs, which means he pays attention!
Jessica Sokolove
1699420970
Excellent help for my problem from Daniel
Betty Halac
1698332612
Very knowledgeable and experienced staff
Jeanie Butler
1698073885
I had a great experience at Evolution PT. The facilities are clean & everyone is so friendly. My therapist, Mitchell, was super knowledgeable, professional and patient with me. He helped me develop an exercise plan for my torn meniscus that has so far helped me avoid the need for surgery. Highly recommend Evolution PT.
Melinda Minoofar
1694123948
I came to Evolution from a doctor’s recommendation after a knee injury prevented me from running. 8 weeks later I am back to running pain free!My physical therapist Jen was super knowledgeable and taught me a lot about my body and what I need to do to be able to run and operate at peak performance for the rest of my life! I had to work hard for it but with Jen’s guidance my progress was very consistent!
Lorenzo Gentile
1693325086
The instructor Ted is awesome.
Revital Amir
1691296242
I have chronic back and hip issues; although a candidate for surgery postponing indefinitely. After a few searches and reviews decided to try this location. Front desk team were helpful and informative regarding insurance plan (Medicare+supplemental). Easy to schedule. There is metered and side street parking. I always found a spot. Be prepared and patient though.Erica Seto was awesome; she reviewed my both MRIs provided comforting feedback, explained her process. I had my own patient portal so I could continue the recommended exercises at home.I practice Tai Chi regularly, she helped identify why I had issues with some of the poses; easy corrections.Highly recommend Erica and this location. This is an active and lively location. Very upbeat and positive team.
Bobbi ODonnell
1690560824
Hello. My name is Vivian Chinelli. I highly recommend my physical therapist, Jonathan Bernfeld. He is extremely knowledgeable, professional, encouraging and fun! He's helped me move through my range of motion issues caused by frozen shoulder very quickly. Just a few more tweaks and I'll be free and clear of movement and pain issues.
Rick Chinelli
1690222183
Mitchell McLaughlin has truly helped me by taking the time to access my injury and by continually adjusting my stretching/strengthening routine. His knowledge of the body and concern and care for my injury make him a truly effective physical therapist. My injury is 5 years old and he’s the first one to address the root causes of my injury. I’m stronger and in less pain after only 4 weeks of pt. The environment at Evolution PT is open and easy going. Always greeted with a smile, and cancelling/rescheduling (w/24 hours notice) is simple. There is ample street parking in all directions.
Joe Feldman
1689355287
Jonathan Bernfeld is a truly knowledgeable and gifted physical therapist— he understands anatomy and is highly skilled. And he really cares about his patients. Jonathan substantially improved my pain and stiffness. I would definitely recommend John for anyone in need of physical therapy.
Stewart levin
1688622446
Único
Julian Dominguez
1688456256
Lauren great!!!
Eugene Tuch
1687880998
I came to Evolution Physical Therapy to heal a knee injury so I could get back to training for my next marathon. Dr. Carole Gong has been absolutely wonderful in assessing my weaknesses and teaching me the exercises I need to build strength and heal quickly. She is compassionate and, as a runner herself, understands how important the sport is to me. More importantly, having a reliable physical therapy program gives you the confidence and freedom to know that you are on the path to recovery so you can get back to doing the life activities you love. The patients here come from a wide spectrum of backgrounds in their physical needs, from post-surgery healing to age-related mobility issues to athletic people recovering from injuries. Everyone is welcome. The Evolution facilities in Beverly Hills are clean and well maintained, and the front desk is well organized and efficiently run with scheduling and billing. Highly recommended!
Baolu Lan
1684872356
Jennifer is a life saver. She is kind, patient, methodical and professional. If you need physical therapy, don’t look elsewhere. I have been there and done that.
Daniel Elihu
1684550091
Evolution PT has been excellent for strengthening my neck to return to running.Carol Gong has been my PT therapist. She’s very professional and experienced. I’ve gotten the tools /exercises to become aware of what I can do myself @ home to relieve neck pain, strengthen neck/shoulders/back and continue my running routine. Evolution works with you with exercises @ each session. It gets you into the routine of doing the important exercises!
Sheila Walton
1684421385
One wonderful thing about by terrible bike accident has been getting to work with the best PT in L.A., Dr. Ethan. The charisma he brings to his work is beyond compare. Ethan doesn't just treat his patients he forms relationships with them; you'll feel his support and care from the moment you walk in. Watching him nurture junior staff and help young kids recovering from injuries during their jr. sport career with passion and presence is simply a joy. His slappin playlists, lively personality and humor keep every session fresh and fun. I wouldn't have kept up with my recovery with out this sensational human <3
Melissa Braxton
1682735224
I had the pleasure of working with Lauren Lee and highly recommend her to anyone looking for a PT. From our initial evaluation, she correctly diagnosed my injury (later proven correct through an MRI) that my primary care doctor had misdiagnosed, and she properly designed my treatment plan accordingly. She is also extremely easy to work with, caring, encouraging, and knowledgeable. Definitely 5/5 and would return myself for my next injury.
Joshua P
1681917388
I am having Physical Therapy to help reduce the pain in my shoulder. I am getting great attention... helping me work on better form with everyday exercises (bench press) and simple exercises that help build the smaller shoulder muscles. Carole has been great. I have just started but already seeing improvement in mobility.
Robert Fogarty
1667935522
Great place for PT. Krysia is fantastic.
Raymond Fitzgerald
1665331457
Kara Pilar is a great PT! Very knowledgable and patient--highly recommend!
Kathryn Weber
1665258656
Can't ask for better care. Nick Davis has been nothing but amazing since I've started working with him. I highly recommend him. I've tried other physical therapists before and none of them come close.
meir gohary
1663551583
Great local office for PT. Clean facilities and good therapists.
David Golbahar
1661355710
Working your way back from an injury can be a long and lonely road. And that's why I'm so grateful evolution is helping me back. Parmis greeted me on my first day and immediately put me at ease. She's designed a really smart schedule to get me healed. I actually look forward to coming as I feel better after each session. Parmis is really skilled and knows what you should be doing at various points of healing and makes sure you do exercises right. She also has an intuition of how hard you can push yourself. Her guidance is invaluable as she helps you push yourself to get maximum benefit, but not to the point of doing more harm than good. I'm thankful she's been so patient with me and just a few sessions in, I'm already seeing great results. And I'm confident to make a solid recovery following her plan!
Matt Krantz
1660456102
Great PT
Jeff Selick
1658866573
If you are a professional athlete or athletic hobbyist with an injury – Bo is the PT you need! I am a passionate aerialist who tore my distal bicep tendon (intermediate tear) from an unrelated accident. To say I was devastated is an understatement. I went from flying on silks to not being able to lift a glass! Anyone with a serious injury that may limit your day to day, let alone prevent you continuing with your athletic career or passion, can understand that shattering feeling that your old life is over. My surgeon suggested trying PT before the risk of surgery, and I will admit I was skeptical on what I could get from PT after a lifetime of dance, yoga and aerial has given me a decent knowledge of muscles and fitness - but the tendon injury was another beast and the more I learned about the injury the more depressing it seemed. In researching for PT with aerial-like and athletic expertise, I found Evolution and specifically Bo who is a climber and paraglider in his own time among other athletic pursuits.My experience has been beyond what I could have hoped for. Bo is wonderful for anyone with an injury, but definitely for athletes that need a bit more. Throughout my healing journey, Bo has been such a positive force. He listened so carefully at each session and tailored exercises skillfully to the precise muscles I needed to strengthen (or rest), always adjusting creatively as needed. Evolution also has more advanced techniques like BFR which certainly helped in the early stages of healing. I was amazed how quickly Bo got me back to functionality, and he has not stopped until I regained the strength and confidence needed for the aerial silks, working not just the injury but all of the necessary supporting muscles to get me safely back to flying circus style! There are no words for how relieved and grateful I am to be able to get back to my happy place in the aerial silks – and without surgery!!Evolution in general is outstanding and you can’t go wrong with the PT’s there. The staff are all wonderful, the atmosphere welcoming and the sessions always flew by. They handle all kinds of PT patients of all ages but treat everyone with equal patience and encouragement, whether you are just trying to get back to everyday functionality or more advanced athletic pursuits. But if you are a serious athlete that needs help from an injury or surgery, I can’t recommend Bo highly enough to get you back on your feet…or swinging from your arms 😉
Saraswati Yogi
1658694473
I felt so much better after my first visit.
Jany Davenport
1654787072
Excellent place to go if you need physical therapy. Been working with Parmis and she's great. In fact, all the staff are super-helpful and pros.
Bill Groak
1654125520
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March 20, 2024
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