Tooling Techniques
What is Tooling?
SASTM, ASTYM, Graston, and IASTM are all specialized tool-assisted treatment techniques which work on soft tissue structures such as muscle, tendon, and ligament to promote healing and tissue regeneration, allowing for improved mobility and decreased pain. These tooling therapies work by allowing your physical therapist to easily identify dysfunctional tissue and utilize the highly specialized tools to increase blood flow and reduce scar tissue and soft tissue adhesions.
How does Tooling work?
Following many injuries, including post-surgical, traumatic, repetitive and overuse injuries, the body responds by laying down fibers to assist in the healing process. Often this results in scar tissue and excessive fibrosis that restricts normal mobility and biomechanics and can result in pain and dysfunction. Tooling therapy works by producing controlled microtrauma into the tissue, increasing blood flow and allowing for regeneration of healthy tissues. Paired with specific stretching and exercises, tooling works to restore healthy tissues and decrease pain.
What to expect
Your physical therapist will determine the appropriate pressure and duration for your session based on their initial evaluation and specific training. Some discomfort is common, redness may occur (indicating blood flow) and it is not uncommon to have some bruising in the days following treatment. While there are no quick fixes in the world of health and healing, many report improved symptoms immediately following a single treatment session of tooling.
Benefits of Tooling Therapies
Tooling therapy can decrease tissue restrictions, assist in tissue healing, increase range of motion and improve overall function. Many common diagnoses successfully treated by tooling include achilles tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, patellar tendonitis, IT band syndrome, and lateral epicondylitis.
SASTM, ASTYM, Graston, and IASTM are all specialized tool-assisted treatment techniques which work on soft tissue structures such as muscle, tendon, and ligament to promote healing and tissue regeneration, allowing for improved mobility and decreased pain. These tooling therapies work by allowing your physical therapist to easily identify dysfunctional tissue and utilize the highly specialized tools to increase blood flow and reduce scar tissue and soft tissue adhesions.
How does Tooling work?
Following many injuries, including post-surgical, traumatic, repetitive and overuse injuries, the body responds by laying down fibers to assist in the healing process. Often this results in scar tissue and excessive fibrosis that restricts normal mobility and biomechanics and can result in pain and dysfunction. Tooling therapy works by producing controlled microtrauma into the tissue, increasing blood flow and allowing for regeneration of healthy tissues. Paired with specific stretching and exercises, tooling works to restore healthy tissues and decrease pain.
What to expect
Your physical therapist will determine the appropriate pressure and duration for your session based on their initial evaluation and specific training. Some discomfort is common, redness may occur (indicating blood flow) and it is not uncommon to have some bruising in the days following treatment. While there are no quick fixes in the world of health and healing, many report improved symptoms immediately following a single treatment session of tooling.
Benefits of Tooling Therapies
Tooling therapy can decrease tissue restrictions, assist in tissue healing, increase range of motion and improve overall function. Many common diagnoses successfully treated by tooling include achilles tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, patellar tendonitis, IT band syndrome, and lateral epicondylitis.
