ASTYM Therapy - A Breakthrough in Soft Tissue Treatment

1. ASTYM Therapy: A Breakthrough in Soft Tissue Treatment I know what you are thinking, “Jeff, I thought Mobile Spine Specialist is all about exercise. All I hear you preach about is exercise and how that is the first thing that should be considered when treating pain or injury; no soft tissue work or anything else is needed.” To that, I would say, “Yes, exercise whether it’s strengthening, stretching, or cardiovascular work, ideally is the first thing that should be considered because of all the benefits it provides. But there are times when working on soft tissue can lead the way to maximizing the benefits from the exercises that we do.” ASTYM therapy is FDA-approved and has emerged as a powerful tool in treating various soft tissue disorders. It has been developed through rigorous scientific research and clinical studies through research partners at Ball State University, Purdue University, University of Indiana, and the Cleveland Clinic to name a few. This non-invasive treatment has shown remarkable success in addressing a wide range of conditions. Conditions Treated ASTYM therapy has demonstrated effectiveness in treating a variety of soft tissue disorders, particularly those that have not responded well to other treatments. Some of the key conditions that respond positively to ASTYM include: 1. Tendinopathies: ASTYM has shown significant success in treating various tendon disorders, including Achilles tendinitis, patellar tendinitis, tennis elbow, and golfer’s elbow. 2. Post-surgical complications: ASTYM is proven to be particularly effective in addressing issues related to post-surgical scarring and fibrosis seen in total joint replacements which can limit range of motion and cause pain. 3. Joint stiffness: Patients with limited joint mobility from osteoarthritis, often experience improved range of motion with ASTYM treatment. 4. Plantar fasciitis: This common cause of heel pain responds well to ASTYM therapy. 5. Carpal tunnel syndrome: This condition affecting the wrist and hand has shown positive responses with actual improvement in grip strength by 10-15%. The Physiology It works by stimulating the body’s natural healing processes at a cellular level. The treatment involves the use of specially designed instruments that are applied to the skin, transferring mild to moderate pressure to the underlying soft tissue structures. This process initiates several physiological responses: 1. Tissue regeneration: ASTYM stimulates the production of healthy soft tissues, including muscles, tendons, and ligaments. 2. Scar tissue remodeling: The treatment helps to break down and remodel excessive scar tissue, which can cause pain and restrict movement. 3. Improved blood flow: ASTYM increases blood circulation to the treated areas, promoting healing and reducing inflammation.

2. Unlike some other soft tissue treatments (IASTYM) that focus on symptom relief that breaks up scar tissue leaving you bruised, inflamed, and needing you to stop training, ASTYM targets the underlying causes of soft tissue dysfunction by promoting the resorption of that scar tissue and laying down new viable tissue with immediate exercise. This approach leads to more comprehensive and long-lasting results. Expected Outcome Measures Patients undergoing ASTYM therapy can expect improvements in these key outcome measures: 1. Pain reduction: Many patients report significant decreases in pain levels, even in chronic conditions that have not responded to other treatments. 2. Improved range of motion: ASTYM therapy has been shown to increase joint mobility and flexibility, particularly in cases of post-surgical stiffness or chronic tendinopathies. For example: improvement in knee flexion by 20 plus degrees in post-op total knees after one treatment session is fairly common. 3. Enhanced function: Patients typically experience improved ability to perform daily activities and return to sports or work-related tasks. 4. Increased strength: Studies have shown improvements in muscle strength following ASTYM treatment, particularly in lower extremity conditions; up to 10-15% improvement. 5. Faster recovery times: ASTYM therapy often accelerates the healing process, allowing patients to return to normal activities more quickly than with traditional treatments. The effectiveness of ASTYM therapy is supported by both clinical studies and patient outcomes: 1. High success rate: According to documented outcomes, ASTYM-certified providers achieve a 96.5% success rate across various conditions. Check them out here. (Devaney et al., 2019). 2. Evidence-based approach: ASTYM was developed through scientific research and has been subject to Level I clinical studies, demonstrating both its safety and effectiveness (Chughtai et al., 2019). 3. Versatility: ASTYM has shown success in treating a wide range of soft tissue disorders, including chronic conditions that have not responded to other treatments (Astym, 2024b). 4. Non-invasive nature: As a non-surgical option, ASTYM provides an effective alternative for patients looking to avoid more invasive procedures (Astym, 2024a). 5. Active recovery: Unlike some other treatments, ASTYM allows patients to remain active during the treatment process, which can be beneficial for overall recovery (Astym, 2024a). ASTYM therapy offers a highly effective, scientifically backed approach to treating soft tissue disorders. If it didn’t, we wouldn’t be using it. Its ability to address both acute and chronic conditions, coupled with its non-invasive nature and high success rate, makes it a valuable tool in physical therapy and rehabilitation.

3. References: Astym, 2024a. How Astym Therapy Works | Effectively Resolve the Toughest Cases. [online] Available at: https://astym.com/for-clinicians/how-it-works/ Astym, 2024b. What is Astym treatment?. [online] Available at: https://astym.com/what-is-astym- treatment-astym-treatment-is/ Chughtai, M., Mont, M.A., Cherian, C., Cherian, J.J., Elmallah, R.D., Naziri, Q., Harwin, S.F. and Bhave, A., 2019. A systematic review of current evidence of Astym therapy for the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders. Annals of Translational Medicine, 7(4), p.70. Devaney, L.L., Denegar, C.R., Thigpen, C.A. and Sevier, T.L., 2019. Astym® therapy improves FOTO® outcomes for patients with musculoskeletal disorders: an observational study. Annals of Translational Medicine, 7(22), p.639.