The Regenerative Medicine of Therapy
A non-invasive, reliable and safe, short treatment course, ASTYM® is known for setting the standard in soft tissue therapy. As the only regenerative medicine approach in physical/occupational therapy, it consistently resolved many frustrating musculoskeletal cases, including tendinopathies and post-op or post-injury scarring. During ASTYM® therapy you are typically encouraged to continue most normal activities.
Generally, chronic soft tissue (muscles, tendons, ligaments) problems are due to scarring or degeneration.
Both scarring and degeneration are common and can result in pain and movement limitations.
ASTYM® treatment was researched and developed by a skilled team of medical professionals, scientists, universities, and large hospital systems. It has consistently shown extraordinary clinical success. One of the main reasons ASTYM® treatment is so much more effective than other treatments is because it was scientifically developed to resolve the underlying cause of soft tissue problems, rather than simply trying to temporarily relieve symptoms.
ASTYM® treatment is a therapy that regenerates healthy soft tissues and eliminates or reduces unwanted scar tissue that may be causing pain or movement restrictions. ASTYM® treatment is a highly effective therapy and has been proven to work when other approaches routinely fail.
Scarring can happen on top of the skin, but often the biggest problems come from scar tissue that forms inside the body around joints, muscles, tendons and/or ligaments.
The body naturally lays down some scar tissue in response to irritation or injury. The fibrous, strong scar tissue is meant to reinforce an area, but often it ends up restricting movement and causing pain.
The causes of problematic scar tissue can be injury (such as a sprained ankle, car accident, etc.), surgery (the body's natural response with scar tissue can prevent a full recovery, even in the instance of reparative surgery), intense or over use of soft tissues (such as sports, repetitive work, activity beyond your fitness level, etc.), sprains or other strains on soft tissues.
- Chronic tendinopathy
- Joint and muscle stiffness
- Sprains and strains
- Post-traumatic or post-surgical scar tissue
- Achilles
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Chronic ankle or wrist pain and stiffness
- DeQuervain's Tenosynovitis
- Golfer's/Tennis Elbow
- Hamstring Strain
- IT Band Syndrome
- Jumper's Knee
- Bursitis
- Low Back Pain
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Post-Mastectomy Scarring
- Rotator Cuff
What Can You Expect?
First they stimulate: An ASTYM® certified therapist will conduct a thorough evaluation, and then follow specific treatment parameters to initiate a regenerative process that encourages the restoration of scar tissue and regeneration of damaged soft tissues. Instruments are run firmly along your skin, following the direction of the muscle, tendon, or ligament. You will feel bumps as the instrument moves along your skin. These bumps indicate defective or damaged soft tissue.
The first couple of treatments may range from being only slightly noticeable to mildly uncomfortable. As your body heals, those bumps will decrease and the area around your injury will smooth out nicely, indicating healing. There also may be some mild bruising and soreness in the area being treated. That is one indication that the body is hard at work, absorbing the old dysfunctional tissue and laying down healthy new tissue. Most patients typically experience a decrease in pain with an increase in movement within the first 3-4 treatments.
Then you stretch and strengthen: It's up to you to guide how your body heals. Your therapist will give you a customized stretching and strengthening program designed to encourage your body to maximize the strength and agility of soft tissue. Stretching tells the new fibers to line up properly, in nice parallel lines, and strengthening makes them stronger.