Information for Medical Professionals

“In my years of practice, few approaches have changed the way that I deliver care. The ASTYM system has changed the way that I treat my athletes and patients.”

Don A. Chu, PhD, PT, ATC, CSCS

	How Does the ASTYM System Work?
	What's Different About the ASTYM System?
	DiagnosesThat Respond Well to the ASTYM System
	What Do I Do Next?
	Outcomes and Research
	Course Information
	Locate a Provider
	Contact Us

What is the ASTYM System?

The ASTYM system is a non-invasive treatment which effectively treats a wide variety of musculoskeletal disorders. The ASTYM system* allows the clinician to stimulate the body’s own capacity for healing in patients with soft tissue degeneration, scarring/fibrosis or chronic tendinopathy.

The ASTYM system has demonstrated remarkable results in an expanding variety of patient populations including sports medicine, orthopedics, industrial medicine, and hand patients. It integrates well with other rehab techniques and is often effective for patients whose previous forms of therapy have failed.

Clinical and histological research, and outcomes collection guided the development of this treatment and documents its effectiveness. Further investigation and study is ongoing to explore anecdotal evidence supporting new applications for the ASTYM system.

*The ASTYM system originated as Augmented Soft Tissue Mobilization or “ASTM” and was then known as ASTM AdvantEDGE before the name was shortened to ASTYM^TM

The ASTYM Treatment (Click on image to enlarge)

How Does the ASTYM System Work?

Scientific research and clinical experience indicate the following process:

• Adhesions, scar tissue, or other inappropriate fibrosis within soft tissue can result from trauma, surgery, immobilization, repetitive strain, or other stresses. In other instances (e.g. tendinopathy) degeneration occurs. Most treatments ignore these soft tissue dysfunctions, and therefore are not effective in treating the problems resulting from them. The remarkable success of the ASTYM system is due to the fact that it directly addresses dysfunctional soft tissue, the underlying source of many problems.
  
• A clinician certified in the ASTYM system uses patented instruments to evaluate the tissue, locating the dysfunctional soft tissue through the resonance of the instruments.
  
• After locating the dysfunctional tissue, the clinician non-invasively treats the problem areas with the instrumentation. The body responds to the stimulation from the instruments by initiating the healing cascade. Research indicates that there is an increase in fibroblast recruitment and activation following treatment.
  
• As the treatment and healing process progress, a customized exercise program is prescribed to encourage optimal tissue healing and collagen remodeling.
  
• Throughout treatment, patients are encouraged to stay active in their work, sport or daily activities. This facilitates stronger and more functional tissue healing, prepares the tissue to handle the stress of the patient's normal activities, and decreases the risk of re-injury.

What's Different About the ASTYM System?

Scientific research and outcome collection provide the foundation that is often absent for many other forms of treatment. Considerable research utilizing the ASTYM system protocol and instruments has been conducted.

• Through our partnerships with universities, industry, healthcare facilities and other research institutions, significant study of the physiology and the clinical application has been performed and demonstrates the effectiveness of the ASTYM system.
  
• The extensive outcomes database provides specific guidelines for the number of therapy sessions and probable outcomes for each diagnosis.
  
• The outcome data may be analyzed through a number of factors, including diagnosis, patient classification, comorbidities and much more.
  
• Visit our Outcomes and Research area on this site for references to peer-reviewed journals and other scientific publications. This area also provides access to samples of outcome data.

The ASTYM system demonstrates great success as a first-choice treatment, and it also frequently demonstrates success after other treatment approaches have failed.

• The resonance of the instruments allows clinicians to identify and treat contributing and compensatory areas, even if they are not symptomatic. Other treatments often ignore these components of dysfunction.
  
  
• Patients remain active throughout the treatment process. This optimizes their function and prevents the recurrence of injury often seen when patients return to activity after having restrictions. This freedom of activity makes increases patient satisfaction with the course of treatment. Many other treatments restrict patients from activity.

Patients are kept on their job and active whenever possible to encourage their body to adapt to the demands of their activities.

• The use of restrictions, splints, and braces is minimized to prevent inappropriate physical compensation and adaptation.

Patients are compliant with the treatment process, even if they have not been compliant in the past.

• Because the patients are able to feel the texture of their dysfunctional tissue and how it improves over the course of the treatment, they can better understand their condition and the rehabilitation process.
  
• As tissue texture changes over the course of the treatment, the patient experiences decreased pain and increased function.
  
• Patient home programs are kept to a minimum with most patients spending less than 10 minutes a day on home exercise.
  
• Patients are encouraged to do the activities they enjoy, which places emphasis on their abilities rather than their limitations.
  

Diagnoses That Respond Well to the ASTYM System

Patients with the following diagnoses have demonstrated excellent results when treated with the ASTYM system. Any patient that may have fibrosis, scaring or soft tissue degeneration as a component of their dysfunction may benefit as well.

• Pain or loss of motion & function following surgery, injury, or cumulative trauma disorders
• Lateral epicondylitis
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• DeQuervain’s tenosynovitis
• Trigger finger
• Joint contractures
• IT band syndrome
• Patellar tendinitis
• Anterior knee pain
• Shin splints
• Chronic ankle sprains
• Plantar fasciitis/heel pain
• Achilles tendinitis
• Other forms of tendinitis & tendinopathies

What Do I Do Next?

Physicians: Locate a provider in your area by clicking here.

Rehab Professionals: Learn more about the Performance Dynamics Network by clicking here. To view the schedule of upcoming certification courses click here.

ASTM is a registered trademark of The American Society for Testing and Materials ("ASTM"). Performance Dynamics is not affiliated in any way with ASTM and its System is not sponsored by ASTM nor related to any ASTM standard.

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