At Greater Therapy Centers our licensed physical therapists use stretching and soft tissue mobilization (STM) to help restore function to injured muscles and tissue. STM uses stretching and deep pressure to break up fibrous muscle tissue, also called myofascial adhesions, relax muscle tension and move fluids trapped in the tissues. With this technique our certified physical therapists will determine the area causing the greatest discomfort and work to restore the tissue to its normal texture. This can be done with a variety of tools.
Types of soft tissue mobilization include:
- Strain – Counterstrain
- ASTYM – Graston Technique
- Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD)
- Manual traction
- Trigger Point Therapy / Myofascial Release
- Cross friction
The benefits of soft tissue mobilization include:
- Reduction in pain
- Regeneration of soft tissue
- Increased mobility
- Improve function
- Faster recovery
What conditions can be treated with soft tissue mobilization?
- Ankle sprains
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Chronic back pain
- Chronic neck pain
- Hip pain
- Knee pain
- Muscle sprains and strains
- Plantar fasciitis
- Scar Tissue
- Shoulder pain
- Shin splints
- Tendinitis
- Post-surgical scarring
- Epicondylitis
- De Quervain’s tenosynovitis
Is stretching and soft tissue mobilization safe?
When performed by a licensed physical therapist soft tissue mobilization is a safe and effective form of physical therapy.
