Service
IASTM
Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization — targeted soft-tissue treatment using specialized tools.
About iastm at Peak
IASTM stands for instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization. Instead of using the hands alone, the therapist uses a contoured instrument to work along a muscle, tendon, or area of scar tissue. The instrument makes it easier to find restricted tissue and to apply treatment precisely.
It is typically used where soft tissue feels thickened, restricted, or sensitive — often around a healed injury, a long-standing tendon problem, or a surgical scar. Treatment is brief and is followed immediately by movement and loading, which is what turns a short-term change into a lasting one.
Some redness in the treated area afterward is common and settles on its own. Your therapist will explain what to expect, check your tolerance as they work, and adjust pressure to what you can comfortably handle.
What to expect
- An explanation of the technique and what it is intended to do.
- Brief, targeted treatment with pressure adjusted to your tolerance.
- Movement and loading immediately afterward to reinforce the change.
- A heads-up about temporary redness or tenderness in the area.
- Reassessment so the effect is measured rather than assumed.
Related care
Other services that often go with this
Manual Therapy
Skilled hands-on treatment used alongside active exercise to improve comfort and restore usable motion.
Strain / Counterstrain
A gentle, passive hands-on technique that uses positions of comfort to settle tender, guarded tissue.
Orthopedic and Spine Rehabilitation
Evaluation and treatment for joint, muscle, and tendon problems, neck and back pain, and recovery after orthopedic surgery.
Educational information only
Questions about iastm?
Call the clinic and we'll talk through your situation and whether an evaluation makes sense.