Manual Therapy

Manual Therapy

The ASTYM® (A-stim) system is a specialized manual therapy treatment that addresses acute and chronic soft tissue problems such as scarring and fibrosis. ASTYM therapy stimulates the natural healing response of the body by gently disrupting abnormal soft tissue. The body sends new collagen to the area being treated, replacing dysfunctional tissue with healthy tissue.

How Does ASTYM Manual Therapy Work?

Stimulates Healing

An ASTYM-certified physical therapist follows specific treatment criteria to initiate the healing process. The therapist runs instruments firmly along the patient’s skin, following the direction of the muscle, tendon, or ligament. Patients eventually feel bumps as the instrument moves along their skin. These bumps are the injured or damaged soft tissue.

The first few ASTYM manual therapy treatments can be uncomfortable, but as the body heals, bumps decrease and the area around the old injury flattens out, indicating healing. There also may be some mild bruising in the treated area, which means the body is absorbing the old tissue and laying down healthy new tissue.

Stretches and Strengthens

An ASTYM-certified physical therapist provides each patient with a customized stretching and strengthening program designed to encourage the body to heal correctly. Stretching tells the new tissue fibers to line up properly in parallel lines. Strengthening makes the fibers stronger, alleviating symptoms of pain and discomfort.