Soft Tissue Release (STR)

Soft Tissue Release (STR) is a form of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) performed at Anatomy Physiotherapy Clinic. Our Ottawa physiotherapists or registered massage therapists use specialised tools to gently move and scrape against the skin to relieve pain, decrease inflammation, and promote the healing process. These ASTR instruments are used to heal injuries to soft tissues, such as sprains, strains, subluxations, and repetitive use injuries.

Are you suffering from a soft tissue injury? Do you have a sports injury or injury from a car accident? Do you have scars or adhesions that are causing pain and limiting your movement? If so, then ASTR can help you.

How do I know if ASTR will help me?

You may be wondering if ASTR is right for you. There are a vast number of conditions that ASTR can treat, including:

• Back pain
• Neck pain
• Hip pain
• Heel pain/Achilles tendonitis
• Myofascial pain and restrictions
• Muscle imbalances
• Rotator cuff tendonitis
• Patellar tendonitis
• Muscle strains
• Ligament sprains
• Shin splints
• Chronic joint swelling associated with sprains/strains
• Bursitis
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Tennis and golfer’s elbow
• Post-surgical and traumatic scars
• Plantar fasciitis
• Trigger finger
• IT band syndrome

As you can see, Advanced Soft Tissue Release can also be used to treat numerous other conditions. To learn more about how ASTR can benefit you, request an appointment at Anatomy Physiotherapy Clinic today!

How can the Advanced Soft Tissue Release help me?

Scar tissue is a type of fibrous connective tissue that receives less blood than normal tissue and stretches much less. It tends to be thick and may build up around the ligaments, tendons, and muscles after an injury. The buildup of soft tissue is referred to as adhesions. Injuries that may result in adhesions include shin splints, pulled hamstrings, meniscal tears and much more. When you are injured, adhesions and scar tissue may occur either in the tissues or in the skin, all of which can be relieved with the Graston Technique.

It is believed that scar tissue and adhesions prevent the underneath body structures from moving properly. This is because ligaments, tendons, and muscles are unable to move freely. It’s problematic because scar tissue and adhesions may bend to fascia and cause a condition known as fascial restriction. Adhesions and scar tissue can also occur on a smaller scale as a result of a cross-linking of muscle fibers.

Over time, even the wear and tear of everyday life can cause muscle fibers to adhere to each other irregularly. With the ASTR technique, the treatment causes muscle fiber separation, which reduces pain and increases functional mobility.

What can I expect with ASTR?

You may be wondering, “why is it necessary to use instruments in physiotherapy and massage therapy?” Most manual physiotherapy and massage therapy treatments are done with the hands, but there are many benefits that instruments can bring. For example, these special instruments can effectively break down fascial (connective tissue) restrictions and scar tissue across the body. These instruments are also designed to act as an aid for physiotherapists or registered massage therapists, so they can find and treat affected areas with more accuracy.

There are a number of different speeds and pressures that an ASTR-trained physiotherapist may use while conducting this specific technique, and it will be based on the nature of your condition and your specific needs. These different speeds and pressures work to facilitate a contraction (also known as turning a muscle on) or inhibit a muscle (also known as turning a muscle off).

When using certain levels of pressure through ASTR on the affected muscles, tendons, or ligaments, a mild inflammatory response is initiated. While this may seem counterintuitive, inflammation helps promote the body’s natural healing process, so you can recover and get back to your life faster.

This also helps break down adhesions or scars that may have occurred, due to a surgical operation, repetitive use injury, or immobilization. By breaking these down, ASTR allows functional restoration to occur.

ASTR has been proven to help with:

• Reduction in pain, for a better quality of life
• Reduction in inflammation
• Increased mobility and ability to perform daily tasks
• Increased rate of volume and blood flow to affected areas to enhance healing
• Boost in cellular activity for good health
• Breakdown of collagen cross-links

How can I get started with ASTR?

Do you have one of the symptoms listed above? Are you suffering from pain? Are you not able to breeze through your daily tasks anymore? If so, ASTR may be for you.

Contact our Ottawa physiotherapy and massage therapy office today to request your appointment and meet with one of our dedicated physiotherapists or registered massage therapists who will determine the best course of treatment for you. Don’t suffer through life any longer – take a stand with physiotherapy and massage therapy!

We have 4 convenient locations serving Ottawa, Stittsville, Orléans, Westboro and the surrounding areas.

Call our St. Laurent clinic at 613-680-4477, our Orleans clinic at 613-424-4488, our Westboro clinic at 613-909-8871 or our Stittsville clinic at 613-836-5844 to speak to one of our Ottawa physiotherapists or registered massage therapists. You can also click here to request your appointment online.