What is ASTYM?
What is ASTYM?
If you’ve been hearing about this new form of therapy, but are still uncertain as to what is ASTYM exactly: it’s a form of noninvasive therapy that acts as ‘a stimulation’ to promote your body’s natural healing process. By generating soft tissue in your afflicted areas, your ASTYM treatment works to eliminate pain and facilitate a full range of motion in your muscles and tendons.
This means that it doesn’t just alleviate symptoms for a certain time—it gives lasting results as long as you stick to your physical therapy regime! ASTYM also includes the remodeling and reabsorption of scar tissue.
How it Works
Astym therapy involves hard plastic tools that are worked against the skin deep into the damaged soft tissue to microfracture scarring and encourage blood flow. The highly-trained physical therapists at OSR will also treat the surrounding areas to alleviate tension throughout the kinetic chain of muscles and tissue and provide the best possible outcome.
Your OSR PT will determine how often you should come in for ASTYM, complete supplemental stretching, and exercises, and then discuss this plan with you. They can also help you to decide if you can still complete your everyday activities including work, exercise, and more, along with your therapy. For the most part, you should be good to go, as Astym encourages activeness.
You can expect soreness and redness following your ASTYM treatment: it means the blood flow is increasing and your tissue is repairing itself. Try to drink plenty of water to facilitate this. Once you’re no longer experiencing any pain or related symptoms—and as long as you’ve stuck to your treatment plan—that soreness and redness shouldn’t return.
How is ASTYM Different from IASTYM?
ASTYM therapy is different from instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization techniques (IASTM). While the former jumpstarts tissue repair and growth, IASTM uses tools to harshly break apart your tissue. Its aim is most likely similar to ASTYM’s overall positive outcome on the body but its ability to perform at the same caliber isn’t well-supported. It’s also not well-tolerated by patients because it doesn’t work with the body to achieve healing.
Meanwhile, ASTYM medical devices are FDA-registered; they’re considered safe and effective at treating a wider range of patients and their health conditions.
What ASTYM Treatment Is Used For
You don’t need to bear the discomfort of your diagnosis any longer. Soft tissue dysfunctions, chronic injuries, pain from overuse, post-surgical scarring and ROM, and much more can be managed and even eliminated with ASTYM therapy. It can help you get back to your active lifestyle with improved physical health and peace of mind.
Here is a glimpse of the many conditions ASTYM can help you get through with the assistance of an OSR PT:
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Tendinopathy
- Tendonitis
- Sprains
- Strains
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)
- DeQuervain’s Tenosynovitis
- Tennis Elbow/Golfer’s Elbow
- Impingement
- IT Band Syndrome
- Joint Restriction
- Lower Back Pain
- Epicondylitis
- Scar tissue
- Hip Pain
- Adhesions
- Shin Splints
ASTYM Treatment at OSR Physical Therapy
Now that we’ve covered what ASTYM therapy is, your next step is to visit OSR Physical Therapy to receive treatment for your stubborn scar tissue, plantar fasciitis, and related tissue issues. Request an appointment for ASTYM treatment today! Together, we’ll take a look at the root of your health problems and create a customized treatment solution from our broad variety of PT resources.