PTCS has created a dynamic home study course entitled “Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Manipulation (IASTM).” This is a course designed for physical therapists and physical therapist assistants teaching the foundational material that most PTs and PTAs did not learn while in school.
Why use IASTM?
- Significantly increases range of motion (ROM)
- Decreases peripheral resistance whereby increasing tissue temperature
- Decreases pain
- Increases microcirculation
- Increases tissue perfusion and alters micro vascular morphology in the vicinity of healing knee ligaments
- Accelerates tissue and ligament healing
- Reduces the compression forces on the clinicians hands, especially the DIP joint
Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Manipulation For PTs & PTAs
This course was designed to be systematic, evidenced-based and most importantly, have direct application that can be used immediately with your patients. The course material nicely compliments a one or two-day live seminar on IASTM offered by other CEU providers. In 2021-2022, it is our intent to also offer both a one-day and two-day IASTM live seminar courses that will compliment the home study course. It will provide the attendee with the ability to gain and understand new knowledge on IASTM, learn how to assess more efficiently and practice the skills learned from the home study course. The course comes with the following:
- A 150 page comprehensive CEU approved course manual that has over 240 references is divided into twelve distinct and separate chapters. The course is filled with over 100+ illustrations and graphics to enhance the learning experience. Deliverly is sent electronically from PTCS to the customer or a physical manual can be shipped at an additional fee.
- The student will have access to 20 videos that compliment and review each of the twelve chapters of the IASTM Home Study Course. To access these videos, contact PTCS.
- All examination costs are included. To earn respective CEUs, a student must sign in on our secure website verifying to PTCS who they are. Once verified, PTCS requires every student to take an online 25 question multiple-choice examination. This examination can be taken anytime or are your leisure. Once the examination is complete and the student earns a score of 75%, the CEU certificate is sent directly to the student from PTCS.
The course is divided into twelve separate chapters. Which are listed below. The reason we choose this order, is that the material synergistically blends and compliments the previous chapter.
Chapter 1: Foundation and why behind of IASTM
Chapter 2: Research and effectiveness of IASTM
Chapter 3: Principles and benefits of IASTM
Chapter 4: Physiologic and neurophysiologic responses of IASTM
Chapter 5: Type of tools available
Chapter 6: Type of strokes, application and use
Chapter 7: Indications, precautions and contraindications with IASTM
Chapter 8: Fascia, fascial chain and the fascial slings
Chapter 9: Trigger points and adaptive shortening
Chapter 10: Clinical Patterns of Movement Dysfunctions and using IASTM
Chapter 11: IASTM techniques for upper body including cervical, shoulder, thoracic and elbow regions
Chapter 12: IASTM techniques for lower body including lumbar, hip, knee and ankle regionsAt the end of this course, the participant will be able to:
- Interpret and list two sources on the foundation and origin of Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Manipulation (IASTM) and the latest research as it applies clinically.
- Apply the fanning stroke with a patient who has active or latent trigger points in their upper trapezius muscle.
- Independently defend selection of one IASTM tool and treatment plan for a specified clinical condition.
- Correctly compare mechanical and physiologic responses of IASTM when provided with a case study.
- Explain three key differences between a fascial resriction and muscle tightness.
- Identify two indications and two contraindications of IASTM for an instructor named clinical condition.
- Explain the rationale behind IASTM by comparing mechanical vs. neurological responses using the most current research.
- Understand what fascia is, how to identify common fascial restrictions using the IASTM and latest research.
- Based on instructor specified example indicating evaluation findings, will accurately choose the IASTM technique to manage the condition.
- Compare the difference between the clinical patterns of spinal stenosis, spondylosis and lumbar radiculopathy in terms of each diagnoses behavior of symptoms, clinical findings, and common muscle imbalances.
- Compare an active trigger point vs. a latent trigger point for patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia.
- Justify the IASTM tool selected based on the presence of trigger points in a therapy evaluation.
- Design a plan of care, including the IASTM, for a patient diagnosed with either a rotator cuff repair, subacromial decompression, shoulder impingement or similar diagnoses.
The policies created by PTCS are in place to assess each students knowledge of the information learned. The scoring process is consistent each time where the student is required to sign in to the PTCS website(under examination tab) and provide verification of their identity. Once the identity of the test taker is confirmed, the student will be required to take a 25 multiple-choice standardized online examination. The student can take this online examination whenever is convenient with them. As soon as the examination is completed, the score is sent to PTCS immediately.
The examination is standarized where every student receives the same formatted examination. When the student passess the online examination, earning a score of 75% accordingly. The CEU Certificate will be electronically sent to the student receiving the appropriate CEUS earned for their respective state.Course creator: Chris Gellert, PT, MMusc & Sportsphysio, MPT, CSCS, C-IASTM
Chris has been a practicing physical therapist for 18 years, uniquely is also a personal trainer with over 20 years experience and has taught seminars, courses and at conferences to personal trainers, massage therapists, physical therapy assistants and physical therapists for the past 15 years. He has developed over 15 home study courses, 5 live seminars and webinars teaching the foundation science, functional assessments and application science on human movement.
His expertise is in orthopedics, particularly the spine, but has a insatiable desire teaching allied health professionals and fitness professionals on human movement, post rehabilitation training and related topics. Chris will be pursuing a Fellowship in Orthopedics and Manual Therapy as well as an advanced Doctorate of Science (DSc) in the near future.If a student/customer can not access or download either the home study course or related
videos that support the course, the student/customer must contact PTCS through email or phone accordingly.
As soon as PTCS receives communication from the student/customer, PTCS willlook into the technical issue
and will directly communicate with the student/customer to fix and remedy the situation as efficiently as possible.In order to obtain a refund, the student/customer must have first reached out to PTCS for support as stated above. Then must be able to provide indisputable proof to PTCS. After these
steps has been taken and PTCS is unable to assist, provide the customer/student access to downloadthe home study course, receive a physical copy, or access related videos, then PTCS will offer a full refund accordingly.
