Instrument Assisted
Soft Tissue Mobilisation (IASTM)
Precision treatment for stubborn soft tissue conditions.
Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilisation - commonly referred to as IASTM - is an advanced manual therapy technique that uses specially designed stainless steel instruments to detect and treat restrictions, adhesions, and dysfunctional tissue within the muscles, tendons, fascia, and ligaments of the body.
At Mountain Sports Therapy, Elliot uses the HawksGrip system - a clinically validated set of IASTM tools used by sports therapists, physiotherapists, and athletic trainers across professional sport and elite performance environments worldwide. IASTM is offered as a standalone technique or as part of a broader sports therapy or rehabilitation programme, and is particularly effective for conditions that haven't fully responded to conventional hands-on treatment.
How does IASTM work?
The instruments are designed with specific contours, bevels, and edges that allow the therapist to work with exceptional precision across different anatomical areas and tissue depths. When the edge of the tool is guided across the skin over dysfunctional tissue, it creates a controlled microtrauma in the targeted area - breaking down fascial restrictions, scar tissue, and adhesions that have built up as a result of injury, overuse, poor movement patterns, or surgery.
This controlled stimulus triggers the body's inflammatory healing response - recruiting fibroblasts (the cells responsible for producing collagen and rebuilding connective tissue) to the area. The result is a remodelling of the dysfunctional tissue into healthier, more functional tissue over the days and weeks following treatment. Unlike aggressive manual techniques, IASTM allows the therapist to deliver targeted stimulus to specific tissue layers with a level of precision that hands alone simply cannot replicate.
What does IASTM feel like?
IASTM is performed directly on the skin, usually with a small amount of cream or oil to reduce friction. The sensation varies depending on the area being treated and the degree of restriction present - most clients describe it as a firm, focused scraping feeling that can be quite intense over areas of significant dysfunction, but rarely painful in the way a deep tissue massage might be.
It is completely normal to see some redness or light bruising in the treated area following IASTM - this is the inflammatory response being stimulated and is a positive sign that the treatment is working. Any skin reaction typically fades within 24-48 hours.
What conditions can IASTM help with?
IASTM is particularly effective for conditions involving chronic soft tissue restrictions, scar tissue formation, or tendon dysfunction. Common presentations that respond well include:
-
Tendinopathy - Achilles tendon, patellar tendon, rotator cuff, lateral epicondyle (tennis elbow)
-
Plantar fasciitis and heel pain
-
ITB syndrome and lateral knee pain
-
Scar tissue and post-surgical adhesions
-
Chronic muscle tightness and restricted range of motion
-
Shin splints and tibial stress reactions
-
Rotator cuff dysfunction and shoulder impingement
-
Carpal tunnel syndrome and forearm pain
-
Hamstring and quadriceps strains — particularly recurring injuries
-
Hip flexor tightness and groin conditions
-
Post-injury rehabilitation where tissue quality is compromised
IASTM is also commonly used in athletic populations for performance maintenance and injury prevention - regular treatment helps to keep soft tissue healthy, mobile, and free from the adhesions that can accumulate with high training loads over time.
How is IASTM used alongside other treatments?
IASTM is most effective when integrated into a broader treatment and rehabilitation plan. At Mountain Sports Therapy, Elliot typically uses IASTM in combination with hands-on soft tissue work, joint mobilisation, exercise rehabilitation, and where appropriate, acupuncture or cupping. This multimodal approach ensures that the tissue stimulated by IASTM is then supported by progressive loading through targeted rehabilitation exercises, which drives the remodelling process and produces more lasting results.
IASTM is rarely used in isolation as the sole treatment approach. Its power lies in what it does to the tissue at a structural level - the manual therapy and rehabilitation work that follows completes the recovery process.