Journal
What is IASTM, and does it hurt?
4 minute read. Written by the team at Back in Health, Kelowna.
In short
IASTM, instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization, is a hands-on technique where a registered massage therapist uses a smooth-edged tool instead of fingers to work over tight or thickened soft tissue. It is usually a few minutes within a normal massage, aimed at one stubborn area. It should feel like firm scraping pressure, not sharp pain, and some redness afterwards is normal.
How it works
The tool, usually stainless steel or a hard polymer with a bevelled edge, glides over the skin with a little lotion. Its rigid edge lets the therapist feel texture in the tissue underneath and apply focused pressure along the length of a muscle or tendon. Graston is one well-known brand of the technique; the general approach is the same across tools.
What it is used for
Therapists reach for IASTM on areas that feel dense or stuck and have not changed much with ordinary hands-on work: the outside of the thigh, the calf and Achilles, the forearm in tennis or golfer's elbow, the bottom of the foot, and the upper back and shoulders. It is a tool within a treatment, not a treatment on its own, and it sits alongside stretching and exercise.
What it feels like, and afterwards
Expect firm, scraping pressure that your therapist adjusts as you go. Tell them if it becomes sharp. The skin often goes pink or red for a few hours, and occasionally there is light bruising, so it is not used over broken skin, recent injuries, varicose veins or for people on blood thinners without a conversation first.
At Back in Health, Derya Welder and Olivia Szombathy are both trained in IASTM. Ask for it when you book, or mention it at the start of your session.
Key points
- A smooth tool replaces fingers for a few minutes on one stubborn area
- Firm scraping pressure, never sharp pain
- Redness afterwards is normal; light bruising is possible
- Ask for Derya or Olivia if you want it included
General information, not a diagnosis or a treatment plan. If something is getting worse, or you are unsure whether it is right for you, speak to a clinician.