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Full disclosure: Hey everyone! I have an affiliation with Amazon. This simply means that if you click on any of the links I provide here on this page and decide to make any purchases through them, I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. These commissions help me to pay for costs associated with running this website and other expenses I incur along the way. At the end of the day, what's MOST important to me is that you spend your money wisely in order to get the highest quality gear at the best possible price for YOU. I believe the Myofascial Releaser Ellipse Pro is the best bang for your buck when it comes to a multi-tool, which is why I use it and recommend it. - Jim

While IASTM (Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization) can be a great adjunct to treatment (when appropriate), what’s not great is the dent that it can put in the wallet depending on the type of tool(s) you’re looking to get. There are so many brands, options and types out there. Do you have to spend a lot to get good quality and versatility? It can indeed get overwhelming.

To help you out as best as possible, I will be including a lot of information for IASTM tools on this page, but here's the quick takeaway:

While the most expensive IASTM tools out there can cost over a thousand dollars and are great to use, you can do just fine in your clinic or for yourself with tools that cost less than $200. My personal recommendation is the Myofascial Releaser Ellipse Pro (click here to see it on Amazon). For its price, it's an outstanding multi-use IASTM tool that can get the job done on a variety of different body parts.

If you want the cheapest option (this is not a joke) use a porcelean won-ton soup spoon. They’re about 50 cents and they feel pretty much the same as an expensive IASTM TOOL when used on smaller areas that don’t require tons of pressure (fingers, thumbs, wrists, etc).

Problem is that if you're treating your patients with one in the clinic you may look a little too budget, which may bother some patients. That and a porcelean won-ton spoon only works for small areas of the body that require minimal pressure.

So you're going to need a legitimate IASTM tool that can get the job done. Thankfully your patients won’t be able to feel a difference from one brand to the next, and while I do like some of the pricer tools (I have used them in various clinics), I can’t justify paying literally 5-10x as much as a lesser known brand using the same materials. So yes, I enjoy using brands like HawkGrips, RockBlades & Grastec tools, but only because they have been provided for me within the clinics I’ve been a part of.

Remember, any tool only works as good as your application technique and only when its appropriate to use!

THE BEST MULTI-FUNCTION IASTM TOOL FOR THE PRICE

A multi-function IASTM tool acts like a Swiss Army knife; it may not be able to do the same thing as a meat cleaver or chef’s knife, but its beauty is found in the amount of things that it CAN do for being just one single tool. An entire IASTM kit with various tools is great to have, but sometimes it’s nice to have portability and space.

Of all the multi-function tools I’ve used over the years, the one I’ve gone with and am incredibly happy with is the Myofascial Releaser Ellipse Pro (the link will take you to Amazon). I picked mine up on Amazon a few years ago since I'm a bit of an Amazon junkie at times, not gonna lie.

WHY THE MYOFASCIAL RELEASER ELLIPSE PRO IS MY FAVORITE MULTI-TOOL

The Myofascial Release Ellipse Pro really strikes the ideal trifecta for what I’m looking for in a multi-use IASTM tool: Quality, usability/versatility and price. It's been known to live in my gym bag and make various appearances at some of the clinics I've been a part of over the past couple of years.

It's price is extremely fair for the quality and versatility that it gives you - you’re getting a tool that will easily last you a lifetime while also being able to slide into your backpack or gym bag without taking up any major real estate. It’s got a hefty weight for its size (which you want, as a heavier weight makes it easier to use), and while I wish it could be a wee bit heavier, that’s only going to happen if you increase the size of the tool itself.

I have used it on myself a multitude of times as well as other individuals over the past couple of years. Its design lends itself to being able to effectively target various areas of the body since the tool has been designed in a way that can target different areas depending on which edge of the tool you’re using. The bevelled edges along with the countours of the tool allow you to treat any area you need with appropriate amounts of pressure.

PRO's:

  • Great ergonomic quality that allows for treatment on practially every body part.
  • Comes with a hard-shell case, colored instruction book & emollient for application.
  • Very fair price and great quality (will easily last a lifetime).

CON's:

  • I just wish it were a wee, tiny bit heavier, but for its size its weight is very acceptable, and you likely can't make it any heavier without increasing its size.

WHAT'S INCLUDED?
The tool itself comes in a hardcover carry case, which also contains an instruction booklet as well as a container of emollient, which is the lotion you rub on your skin before performing the IASTM in order to help the tool glide better. The book does a good job of giving an overview of how to perform the fascial techniques on yourself, and includes some great visuals of different body parts to help you target areas as effectively as possible.

WHAT'S THE BEST EMOLLIENT TO USE WITH YOUR TOOLS?

Emollient refers to a form of lotion that you apply to your skin over top of the area that you will be using your IASTM tool(s). It serves to let the tool glide over the area (while still providing the required pressure from the tool) without excessive amounts of friction preventing the tool from gliding or irritating the skin through a burning sensation.

While there's different brands out there, I see no need to go with anything special or expensive. I typically just use a bottle of unscented Lubriderm for myself or the patients I am performing IASTM on. There are plenty of great emollients out there, I'm sure, but I just keep it basic and that works just fine for me.

HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR IASTM TOOLS!

While it doesn't take a ton of special effort to care for your tools, there's a few important things you'll want to keep in mind:

You will want to clean them off after you use them on a patient or yourself. You can do this with soap and water under a faucet, or you can spray them off with a bottle of disinfectant and wipe them dry with a towel. A bottle filled with Listerine works well for this if your patients may have concerns about chemicals in other disinfecant sprays.

While stainless steel IASTM tools won't rust, it's good practice to dry them off right after you clean them. Not only does it keep them looking nice, but it helps to ensure they're properly cleand for the next time you use them.