The Reproducibility and Consistency of Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Manipulation
The overall purpose of this study is to objectively describe and test the consistency and reproducibility of instrument-assisted soft tissue manipulation (IASTM).The specific aims of this current study are to: a) Analyze IASTM stroke patterns using objective metrics; b) Test the consistency of force application, with and without visual monitoring of objective metrics, and; c) Determine the reliability of dynamic pressure pain threshold assessment. The ultimate goal of this continuing line of research is to improve soft tissue manual therapy practice in research, education, and clinic for use as a non-invasive modality in soft tissue assessment and treatment. Results from this protocol will inform future clinical trials, including studies exploring the effects of different IASTM dose-loads in various musculoskeletal pain conditions. The specific hypotheses are as follows: a) Common characteristics (e.g. signature profiles) of basic stroke patterns (e.g. linear, curved), as performed by experienced manual therapists, including the stroke rate, angle of application, and direction, can be identified and described for potential use and replication in education, research, and clinical practice; b) Intra- and inter-therapist consistency of IASTM force application will improve with use of objective metrics; c) Therapists can reliably assess dynamic pressure pain threshold.
Supervisor: Mary T. LoghmaniDepartment: Physical Therapy