I've had some requests over the past few months about what my favorite tools, tips, & tricks are. Today I'm starting with my favorite Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM) tools. Brief note here: in school, one of our professors was super anti-IASTM of any kind, so that largely colored how I began practicing in clinical rotations & performing STM for my patients. However, during my 4th (& oncology) rotation, I saw just how helpful these tools could actually be when working with patients. There's so many different kinds out there, so there's only one way to figure out which ones you like: explore! Try them out!

I've had exposure to various tools through different training courses, colleagues, & even my massage therapist, who is always talking to me about the continuing education she is doing - boom interdisciplinary collaboration & learning! I got to try a few techniques/tools out during clinical rotations, but most of my learning has been done observing others, talking to other practitioners, & lots of perusing through catalogs to see which fun tool to try next.