There has been increasing use of instrument-assisted soft-tissue mobilization (IASTM) with health care professionals. Graston has led the way until they lost their recent patent. They have become the clinicians new "Xerox" or "Kleenex". 

Soft tissue injuries can involve muscles, tendons, ligaments and fascia. Spraining a joint or straining a muscle are the most common soft tissue injures but we can still get damage to the tissue from repetitive micro trauma or even a fall or traumatic event. Or simply stated, injures can occur from one single event or over-use. There is a soft tissue component to any injury. 

IASTM was developed to actually break up tissue abnormalities, like scar tissue, and force the body to start the healing process with better resources. Without fixing the soft tissue, the body will experience less range of motion, increased pain and decreased performance.