IASTM tools are underutilized in the treatment of soft tissue injuries; part of this is due to lack of available training or the cost of IASTM tools.
M2T-Blade is an instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM) is a soft tissue mobilization technique that uses hand held tools, it is closely related to Gua sha. This type of treatment has gone by many different names in the past, including: coining, scraping and spooning. Below is just a brief selection of the many tools available, please contact me if there are other tools you would like to see included on this list
How Can Massage Therapists Incorporate IASTM into Treatments?
Formal training before you incorporate IASTM into your assessment and treatment protocols. Once you therapists are familiar with using the tools IASTM techniques are frequently combined with other techniques, exercises, positions or different types of stretching.IASTM tools are an extension of touch they provide feedback and a different type of contact.
There are two techniques we recommend at the M2T-Blade Training:
- Short Sweeping Strokes
- Cross-Frictional Massage
IASTM with the M2T-Blade can be used in a Massage Therapy setting to assess and treat myofascial adhesion.
Another popular technique is cryo or heat therapy using IASTM. The therapist can "chill" a tool down or "warm" it up then apply to tissue to create a cryotherapy effect to the targeted tissues.
