What is Astym?:
Astym (A-stim) is a manual therapy approach that addresses problems such as scarring, fibrosis and degeneration that occur in soft tissues as the result of trauma, surgery or overuse. The name “Astym” describes the mechanism by which the treatment works, by causing “a-stimulation” of the body’s natural healing response to regenerate soft tissues, decrease pain, and improve your movement. Astym is effective for new injuries as well as chronic, nagging conditions.
Astym treatment is safe and effective:
Astym is one of the most researched and effective therapy treatments available. It was developed by a skilled team of medical professionals, scientists, universities, and large hospital systems and has consistently shown extraordinary clinical success. It is unmatched in its ability to resolve tendinopathies, scar tissue problems, and other soft tissue dysfunctions. Common injuries treated are plantar fasciitis, tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, trochanteric bursitis, patellar tendinitis, rotator cuff tendinosis, muscle strains, and post-surgical scarring. Doctors regularly prescribe Astym treatment specifically for their patients, who often prefer Astym therapy to treat their condition rather than undergoing surgery, injections or other invasive treatments. A typical course of treatment lasts only 4 to 6 weeks (8-10 visits), and you get to stay active, typically being encouraged to continue most normal activities during the course of treatments.
Astym really fixes the problem:
Astym treatment doesn’t just treat the symptoms or hide a problem with a temporary solution. Instead, the Astym process stimulates the body to regenerate and remodel tissues. Response rates to Astym therapy are high, and most patients experience improvement.
Certified providers:
Only certified Astym therapists offer this therapy. These certified clinicians undergo intensive training to give you the results you expect from Astym treatment.
What you can 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 resorption of scar tissue and the 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.
Rick Cimaglia, MPT; [email protected]
Rick is a certified Astym therapist working at Rivergate Physical Therapy located upstairs at the Animas Surgical Hospital. He moved to Durango 5yrs ago from Prescott, AZ, and is very active with cycling, hiking, and skiing. He received a Master’s degree in Exercise Science in 1994 from Northern Arizona University, and then on to a Master of Physical Therapy Degree in 1997. He has been certified in Astym since 2007. He has extensive experience in outpatient orthopedics, emphasizing manual therapy techniques and exercise progression.
