4 Myths of IASTM
Instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) is really a great manual therapy skill to have in your tool box. However, there are many myths and misconceptions regarding IASTM that I really believe are holding people back from getting started and seeing the benefits of IASTM in their practice.
In this video, Erson Religioso and I discuss some of the myths of IASTM that led us to develop our online educational program at IASTMtechnique.com to teach people how and why we use IASTM:
4 Myths of IASTM
To summarize some of the myths of IASTM discussed in the video:
IASTM does not have to be expensive to learn or perform. You do not need to spend tons of money on certification courses and crazy expensive tools. Erson and I have a quick and easy online educational program at IASTMtechnique.com that will get you started right away. We even talk about how you can get useable tools for as little as $5!- IASTM does not have to be complicated to learn. If you are already performing manual therapy or massage, you know everything you need to know to start using IASTM.
- IASTM should not make everyone black and blue! Let me actually rephrase that for emphasis, IASTM is not about being so aggressive that you leave large purple marks and essentially produce superficial capillary hemorrhage. Some redness and petechia is OK, but the over aggressive black and blue is not ideal.
- IASTM tools do not provide as much feedback as my hands. IASTM is a way to compliment your hands, it is not a replacement! In fact, it gives you a different feel that really helps your palpation skills.
IASTM does not have to be expensive to learn or perform. You do not need to spend tons of money on certification courses and crazy expensive tools. Erson and I have a quick and easy online educational program at IASTMtechnique.com that will get you started right away. We even talk about how you can get useable tools for as little as $5!
Learn How to Start Performing IASTM Today!
Erson Religioso and I’s online educational program will teach you everything you need to know to start using IASTM today! IASTM does not have to be complicated to learn or expensive to start using. Learn everything about IASTM including the history, efficacy, tool options, different stroke patterns, basic techniques, advanced techniques, and how to integrate IASTM into your current manual therapy skills and treatment programs!
IASTM Technique 2.0 has now be released with updated research, new content, and now includes how to perform cupping and use mobility bands! Get started today!
This month’s Inner Circle webinar was on Integrating Manual Therapy Techniques. This is essentially my manual therapy system.
Overhead shoulder mobility is one of the things that a large majority of people could all improve on if addressed appropriately. This seems to be limited in a very large percentage of people, especially in those with shoulder pain and dysfunction. Perhaps it has to do with our seated postures or our more sedentary lifestyles, but regardless limited overhead shoulder mobility is probably going to cause issues if not addressed.
One of the major points that I wanted to get across in my new online program teaching you 
Buffalo horn is probably the cheapest and easiest way to get started with IASTM. It is easy to find on the internet, cheap, lightweight, and effective. If you are new to IASTM or just want to test it out, this is a great tool to begin with while being very budget friendly. It doesn’t feel or resonate very well, the more expensive tools feel SO MUCH better, but buffalo horn is certainly an acceptable material to use for your first IASTM tool. Certainly not the best option but I would rather you use a $5 tool than not perform IASTM at all. If budget is your primary concern, start here, otherwise move down the list!
Jade is a gemstone and a definite step up from buffalo horn. They come in many different colors, though there does not seem to be a big difference in quality between the colors. I also like the shape in the image to the right, which gives you a few useful edges. Jade tools are heavier than buffalo horn, but also more slippery if you get too much lubricant on the tool. They certainly resonate more than buffalo horn but still not nearly as much as the higher cost tools, such as stainless steel. Jade is more fragile than buffalo horn, so keep this in mind. It isn’t the best if you are worried you are not going to be able to protect it well. It is an option and another good beginner tool, but you’ll want to upgrade soon.
I would put Bian a mild step up from Jade. They tend to be smooth but not shiny, so have a better grip to it. I feel it resonates more than jade or horn, and actually have a decent feel to them, but again nothing like stainless steel. Although not the cheapest, these are a great low-cost option and work well. You will certainly feel a difference between these and the cheaper tools above. These also are more fragile than other tools and should be protected like jade. Don’t drop them! Considering the mild increase in cost and the fragility of the stones, I again say this is a good beginner tool, but you’ll likely want to upgrade soon. These are getting harder to find on Amazon too.
There is a clear winner in polycarbonate tools in my mind, the Dolphin by IAM Tools, based in the UK. This is a “training” version of their stainless steel dolphin tool, but trust me, this is not just a training tool. I love the shape, edges, and ability to grip. Plus it is a bit larger than the above tools so you can work many different body parts. This a good tool, but still nothing like stainless steel.
The first is the EDGE tool. This is my recommended tool. I think everyone should own one of these and it’s a great tool to start. Think of this as the Swiss Army Knife of IASTM tools. It has a bunch of different edges and a great ability to grip using the middle hole. At only around $100, it is pretty hard to compete and is often most people’s first stainless steel tool. It is a pretty versatile tool.
Lastly, another great stainless steel option is a set of tools from Hawk Grips. If the EDGE tool is the Swiss Army knife of IASTM tools, the Hawk Grips tools are the entire top-of-the-line Craftsman tool set! These tools look really, really, familiar, right? They are based off the most popular Graston stainless steel tools on the market but Hawk Grips are actually better than those tools! They added a nice hash grip surface on each that really makes a big difference.