Astym Treatment

Astym treatment (or Astym therapy) is a revolutionary technique that promotes tissue regeneration and healing in muscle tissue. It can also be used on certain tendons and ligaments. Astym tools provide muscle regeneration and healing to muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Astym treatment is a non-invasive procedure with over a 90 percent success rate in healing damaged muscle tissue. It is known to work when other approaches have failed.

This is just one of the many PT tools we offer our patients at Peake Physical Therapy, Baltimore, MD. If you’d like to explore if Astym® treatment is right for you, schedule an appointment for a free consultation:

Appointments

What is Astym treatment?

ASTYM® is the proprietary acronym for Augmented Soft Tissue Mobilization. Astym treatment promotes muscle healing by breaking down damaged muscle tissue and jumpstarting the healing process to create healthy muscle. Astym is an abbreviation for “stimulation.” This is because its purpose is to stimulate your body’s healing ability. It is the outcome of a collaboration between leading healthcare professionals at major hospitals and investigative scientists at top research institutions.

Therapists offering Astym treatment undergo a highly advanced educational program to become certified. More than 10,000 cases have been treated successfully with Astym. However, Astym treatment is generally only one element of a comprehensive physical therapy plan. It is administered with a treatment plan consisting of stretching, targeted exercises, and one-on-one work with a physical therapist.

Reference: astym.com

Graston Technique

At Peake PT, we may use various tools for Astym therapy, such as Graston tools (or Graston Technique).

How does Astym treatment work?

Astym treatment regenerates damaged tissue and muscle fibers to promote healing and the development of healthy muscle tissue and tendons by eliminating scar tissue. It applies moderate pressure to stimulate the creation of healthy tissue. The Astym tool glides back and forth over the affected muscle area and breaks down the damaged muscle and scar tissue under your skin.

Your muscles are made up of fibers that should normally run parallel to each other for optimal function. However, if your muscle is injured, damaged, or simply dysfunctional in various ways, those fibers stop running parallel. Astym treatment works to straighten your muscle fibers out. The result is rapid healing of your muscles. This healing can give you a stronger muscle with more normal movement. A controlled study found that Astym treatment can produce immediate positive muscle performance results. It is a relatively simple, non-invasive process that can help you avoid injections. It takes just about 10 to 15 minutes and is typically administered twice weekly. A treatment plan typically takes about 4 to 5 weeks, depending on the issue you are addressing. Astym is also often one portion of a holistic physical therapy treatment plan.

When do I need Astym treatment?

Astym treatment is a good option if you have damaged soft tissue, scarring, limited mobility, or are injured in various ways. It is known for promoting the healing and regeneration of damaged muscle tissue, even when other approaches have failed. It can also help you avoid surgery, injections, disability, and activity limitations. You may turn to Astym treatment when you and your physical therapist are working to target and actively treat underlying symptoms of soft muscle tissue problems rather than just relieving the symptoms. This may include:

Multiple hamstring sprains
Issues of muscle overuse
Chronic shin splints
Sprains and strains
Joint stiffness
Surgical scarring
Tennis elbow
Sports-related muscle issues
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Limited muscle mobility
Loss of muscle function after surgery
Tendon issues
Scar tissue buildup

What does it cost?

Astym treatment should come at no cost if your insurance plan includes physical and occupational therapy, as long as you have met your deductible. However, if you want to pay out of pocket, the cost will vary depending on the specific issue you want to treat and the number of sessions your physical therapist recommends. It is best to consult your physical therapist to determine the out-of-pocket costs.

Does insurance cover it?

If your insurance covers physical therapy, Astym treatment should be covered. It is a subform of physical therapy, and if your healthcare provider recommends it as part of your medical treatment, it will likely be covered. After your initial assessment, you should consult your healthcare provider and physical therapist to see if it’s recommended as part of your treatment plan. You can pay out of pocket if your insurance doesn’t cover Astym treatment therapy.