ASTYM® / IASTM / Cupping

ASTYM®, IASTM, and Cupping are all forms of soft tissue therapy used to reduce and treat areas of pain. After an injury or accident, these treatments have been proven to effectively regenerate healthy soft tissues and remove unwanted scar tissues that can restrict movement. Get back to being you with one of our soft tissue treatments today.

ASTYM & IASTM Stimulate A Healing Response In Muscle, Tendon, And Scars

The staff at Red Canyon Physical Therapy is certified in a specialized form of therapy called ASTYM®. This therapy works quickly to address issues caused by scarring of the muscle, ligament, or tendon. ASTYM therapy can be performed on most areas of the body, and we have had great success treating conditions such as muscle strains, tendonitis tennis elbow, and post-surgical scarring.

Scarring can occur on the surface of the skin, but often bigger issues come from scar tissue that develops inside the body around muscles, joints, tendons, and ligaments. Some injuries trigger a response in the body where it naturally creates scar tissue. This fibrous, strong tissue is meant to reinforce an area but often results in restricting movement and causing pain.

ASTYM is a type of manual therapy that treats this tissue. This therapy uses specially designed tools to transfer pressure to the soft tissue, particularly on and around the area of the problem, and a specifically trained protocol is performed in a particular sequence that is unique to the ASTYM technique. This treatment stimulates a healing response in muscle, tendon, and scars.

In addition to the ASTYM treatments administered by your therapist, you will receive a customized stretching and strengthening program that will encourage your body to heal correctly. This stretching is vital as it helps the new fibers to heal and strengthen, allowing your symptoms of pain and discomfort to decrease.

The great news is that ASTYM treatment allows you to stay active. It has been discovered that if patients continue to work, play sports or participate in other physical activities while you are engaged in ASTYM therapy, the tissue remodeling will occur in a way that supports these activities and reduces the pain previously experienced. By remaining active during the ASTYM process, your injured area will become stronger.

ASTYM does not just treat symptoms or offer a temporary recovery. Instead, ASTYM therapy stimulates the body to regenerate healthy tissue while staying active. Many ASTYM therapy patients experience a significant change in their symptoms after just three or four visits.

Red Canyon Physical Therapy is an independently-owned practice that is certified to offer ASTYM manual therapy to patients in Frederick, Hagerstown, Columbia, and Owings Mills. We work with insurance companies to determine copays, deductible amounts and keep patients informed of their status. We are happy to files claims on patients’ behalf, and also offer sliding payment scales and payment plans. Contact us today for more information.

Therapeutic Cupping

Cupping therapy is a form of alternative medicine that can be very effective in treating and relieving pain without the use of drugs and medications. Although only recently adopted and practiced in the states, this form of treatment can be traced back as early as 1,550 B.C. in Egyptian culture.

Previously, ancient cultures would use glass cups which are heated with fire and, after the flame goes out, the cup is applied to the skin creating a suction effect. More recently, physical therapists and other healthcare practitioners have used silicon cups. These cups are placed directly on the skin and air is removed from underneath using a suction gun. The number and size of the cups depends on the level, area, and amount of pain. The silicone cups are generally left on the skin for 3-5 minutes depending on the time it takes the tissue under the cup to change color. What the practitioner is looking for is the color of the tissue to turn a deep red, which indicates a lack of oxygen in the treatment area.

This lack of oxygen flow created is how the treatment causes the body to, in a way, heal itself. Whenever the body detects a lack of oxygen to an area, it sends increased blood and nutrients to that area for healing purposes. Interestingly, the areas of tissues that are injured or not functioning properly will remain whiter under the cup, indicating the lack of blood flow to that tissue. Cupping helps to restore the proper blood flow to that area, as well as separate different layers of tissue and allows for a myofascial release.

Cupping is performed in 3 different methods:

1. Static on Static Cupping – The cups are applied to the treatment area and left in place.
2. Dynamic on Static Cupping – The cups are applied to the treatment area and are subsequently moved around with the help of a lubricant over the tissue.
3. Static on Dynamic Cupping – The cups are applied to the treatment area and they remain in place while the patient moves through a specific AROM to create the therapeutic effect.

Your Healthcare provider will decide which method best suits your needs. Cupping assists in increasing blood flow, increased ROM, decreased pain and increased function. If you think Therapeutic Cupping may benefit you or are interested in learning more about our procedures, please contact Red Canyon Physical Therapy HERE or schedule an appointment at one of our locations throughout Maryland.