Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization: A Systematic Review and Effect-Size Analysis

Area of Science:

• Physical Therapy
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Sports Medicine

Background:

• Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) is a therapeutic technique used to address soft tissue restrictions.
• Its effectiveness across various patient populations and clinical outcomes requires comprehensive evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize evidence on the effectiveness of IASTM for improving range of motion (ROM), pain, strength, and patient-reported function.
• To analyze IASTM's impact on injured versus uninjured participants, different body parts, and various tools.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was conducted across multiple databases (1997-2016) using specific IASTM-related keywords.
• Included studies were randomized controlled trials assessing ROM, pain, strength, or function.
• Thirteen articles met inclusion criteria; 12 were included in effect-size analysis after quality assessment.

Main Results:

• Large effect sizes were observed for ROM in uninjured participants.
• Significant improvements were noted in pain and patient-reported function for injured participants.
• Different IASTM tools demonstrated comparable effect sizes across various outcomes.

Conclusions:

• IASTM demonstrates efficacy in enhancing ROM for uninjured individuals.
• IASTM is effective in alleviating pain and improving patient-reported function in injured populations.
• Additional high-quality research is recommended to broaden the applicability and generalizability of IASTM findings.