Effects of Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization on Healthy Tissue Regarding Range of Motion and Grip Strength

Effects of Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization on Healthy Tissue Regarding Range of Motion and Grip Strength

The goal of this clinical trial is to study the effects of instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) in healthy adult volunteers. The main questions it aims to answer are:

• Does IASTM treatment have an effect on range of motion (ROM) as measured in the elbow, wrist and thumb?
• Does IASTM treatment have an effect on grip strength? Researchers will compare pre-test and post-test IASTM treatment intervention data to the pre-test and post-test data of the no treatment control intervention to see if IASTM works to change ROM and/or grip strength.

Participants will:

• Complete a questionnaire on medical history and injury background
• Have elbow, wrist, and thumb range of motion (ROM) measurements taken on both upper extremities using a goniometer
• Undergo grip strength testing using a JAMAR hand dynamometer in three positions on both upper extremities
• Be randomly assigned to either IASTM first treatment group or the wait/control first group
• Receive IASTM treatment techniques including application of emollient to the skin to reduce friction on the surface followed by scanning the forearm wrist flexors and wrist extensors and the biceps and triceps using the HG8-Scanner tool and then the concave tool corresponding to the size of the structure being treated will be used (HG6-Large Multi-Curve, HG5-Medium Multi-Curve, HG4-Small Multi-Curve) in each direction for a total treatment time of 20 minutes for both upper extremities in all listed areas.
• Simply wait for 20 minutes (the duration of time treatment with IASTM would require) when assigned to the control group.
• Complete elbow, wrist and thumb range of motion and grip strength measurement testing at the end of the first session.
• Return within fourteen days after the first session in order to undergo the opposite experience (IASTM first means wait/control second and vice versa).
• Undergo the same baseline pre-test measurements for range of motion and grip strength as the first session.
• Experience the opposite treatment group for the same time period as the first session.
• Undergo the post-test range of motion and grip strength testing at the end of the second session for data comparison.

No further information to note than what is described in the summary or elsewhere

Inclusion Criteria:

• A volunteer from a small regional university student body, faculty or staff may participate.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Acute spinal cord injury with neurological deficits
• Neurological disorders
• Acute upper extremity injury such as sprain or strain
• Any type of upper extremity fracture within the past 12 months
• Cervical disc pathology with radicular symptoms
• Use of blood thinning or clotting medications
• Known connective tissue disorder