Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization

Soft-tissue treatment delivered with a rigid hand-held tool rather than the hands alone.

Manual therapy5 of 9 professions covered

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At a glance

The national picture for each profession. Your state can differ; the section below says how to check.

DC, ChiropractorChiropractor
Varies by stateChiropractic acts rarely name instrument-assisted soft tissue work; Oregon's board treats it as part of chiropractic, but whether it is allowed depends on your state board.Updated October 10, 2026
PT, Physical therapistPhysical therapist
Within scopeInstrument-assisted soft tissue work is generally treated as a form of manual therapy within physical therapy.Updated October 10, 2026
PTA, Physical therapist assistantPhysical therapist assistant
Not yet covered
OT, Occupational therapistOccupational therapist
Varies by stateOccupational therapy laws rarely name instrument-assisted soft tissue work; where a rule does, as in Illinois, it is a modality that needs added training, so whether it is allowed depends on your state board.Updated October 10, 2026
OTA, Occupational therapy assistantOccupational therapy assistant
Not yet covered
AT, Athletic trainerAthletic trainer
Within scopeInstrument-assisted soft tissue work is generally part of athletic training manual therapy, within each state's supervision rules.Updated October 10, 2026
LMT, Massage therapistMassage therapist
Within scopeMassage laws generally allow hand-held tools that mimic or enhance the hands, and some states, such as Maryland, require added training before using scraping tools.Updated October 10, 2026
CSCS, Strength and conditioning specialistStrength and conditioning specialist
Not yet covered
CPT, Personal trainerPersonal trainer
Not yet covered

The clinician uses a smooth metal or plastic tool to apply pressure along muscle and connective tissue.

The same technique can carry different names in different practice acts. The word a statute uses can decide who may perform it.

Names for Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization across professions
Profession	Term in practice acts	Note
Across professions	IASTM	The generic abbreviation
Across professions	Branded techniques	Several commercial methods teach their own tools and courses

Position statements, guidelines and consensus documents that address this topic, current first.

Scope is set by each state's practice act and board rules. The national picture above is a starting point, never the answer for your license.

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Searches that open in the literature databases. We point to the evidence; we do not summarize individual studies.

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