ArticleMilitary medicine2021
Soft Tissue Manipulation May Attenuate Inflammation, Modulate Pain, and Improve Gait in Conscious Rodents With Induced Low Back Pain.
Article in Military medicine, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 15 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
15 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 24 citations in OpenAlex.
- Effectiveness of the Graston Technique for low back pain and thoracic spinal pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis.The Journal of manual & manipulative therapy · 2026Pooled it
- Guideline
- Visual monitoring in real-time improves consistency of 3D IASTM force applied to humans.Chiropractic & manual therapies · 2026Observational
- Technologies to investigate the mechanisms of force-based manipulations: a narrative methods review.Frontiers in pain research (Lausanne, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- Review
- Soft tissue manipulation enhances recovery of muscle mass in a disuse model of sarcopenia.Journal of osteopathic medicine · 2025Article
- A review and empirical findings of fasciae and muscle interactions in low back pain.Frontiers in physiology · 2025Article
- Rotating-pulling-poking manipulation effectively alleviates pain symptoms of lateral ankle sprain: an animal experimental study.Frontiers in pain research (Lausanne, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Integrated manual therapies: IASP taskforce viewpoint.Pain reports · 2024Article
- Soft Tissue Manipulation Alters RANTES/CCL5 and IL-4 Cytokine Levels in a Rat Model of Chronic Low Back Pain.International journal of molecular sciences · 2023Article
- Yoga and massage are associated with small experimental placebo effects in chronic orofacial pain.European journal of pain (London, England) · 2023Article
- A Handheld Quantifiable Soft Tissue Manipulation Device for Tracking Real-Time Dispersive Force-Motion Patterns to Characterize Manual Therapy Treatment.IEEE transactions on bio-medical engineering · 2023Article
- Subjective assessment and biochemical evaluation of traction therapy in women with chronic low back pain: does body mass index matter? A clinical study.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2023Article
- The Use of Instrument-Assisted Soft-Tissue Mobilization for Manual Medicine: Aiding Hand Health in Clinical Practice.Cureus · 2022Review
- Manual Therapy With Rest as a Treatment for Established Inflammation and Fibrosis in a Rat Model of Repetitive Strain Injury.Frontiers in physiology · 2021Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
introductionLow back pain (LBP) is common in warfighters. Noninvasive interventions are necessary to expedite return-to-function. Soft tissue manipulation, for example, massage, is a method used to treat LBP. Instrument-assisted soft tissue manipulation (IASTM) uses a rigid device to mobilize the tissue. This study explored the effects of IASTM on pain, function, and biomarkers.
methodsSprague-Dawley rats (n = 44) were randomized to groups (n = 6/grp): (A) cage control; (B) 3 days (3d) postinjury (inj), untreated; (C) 3d inj, < 30-minute post-IASTM treatment; (D) 3d inj, 2 hours (2h) post-IASTM; (E) 14 days (14d) inj, untreated; (F) 14d inj, < 30-minute post-IASTM; and (G) 14d inj, 2h post-IASTM. Researchers induced unilateral LBP in Sprague-Dawley rats using complete Freund's adjuvant injection. Conscious rodents received IASTM for 5 min/session once at 3 days or 3×/week × 2weeks (6× total) over 14 days. Biomarker plasma levels were determined in all groups, while behavioral outcomes were assessed in two groups, D and G, at three time points: before injury, pre-, and post-IASTM treatment. Circulating mesenchymal stem cell levels were assessed using flow cytometry and cytokine plasma levels assayed.
resultsThe back pressure pain threshold (PPT) lowered bilaterally at 3 days postinjury (P < .05), suggesting increased pain sensitivity. IASTM treatment lowered PPT more on the injured side (15.8%; P < 0.05). At 14 days, back PPT remained lower but similar side to side. At 3 days, paw PPT increased 34.6% in the contralateral rear limb following treatment (P < .01). Grip strength did not vary significantly. Gait coupling patterns improved significantly (P < .05). Circulating mesenchymal stem cell levels altered significantly postinjury but not with treatment. Neuropeptide Y plasma levels increased significantly at 3 days, 2h post-IASTM (53.2%) (P < .05). Interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha did not vary significantly. At 14 days, regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted decreased significantly <30-minute post-IASTM (96.1%, P < .002), while IL-10 trended upward at 2h (53.1%; P = .86).
conclusionsLBP increased pain sensitivity and diminished function. IASTM treatment increased pain sensitization acutely in the back but significantly reduced pain sensitivity in the contralateral rear paw. Findings suggest IASTM may positively influence pain modulation and inflammation while improving gait patterns. Soft tissue manipulation may be beneficial as a conservative treatment option for LBP.
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Registered trials
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