If you’ve never seen muscle scraping before, the first look can be a little surprising: a smooth steel tool gliding along someone’s thigh. It’s called IASTM, short for instrument-assisted soft tissue manipulation, and it’s one of the techniques our therapists use at Total Muscle Therapy in Lehi, especially for tight quads and the area around the knee. This 20-second clip shows what it looks like.
What you’re seeing in this video
- A therapist using a stainless steel tool along the front of the client’s thigh, just above the knee, while the client lies on a table.
- The therapist then kneels and does hands-on work around the knee and lower quad while the client stands on a turf floor.
- A closer look at hand placement around the knee.
What is muscle scraping?
IASTM uses a tool with smooth, shaped edges to work along the muscle and the fascia around it. You may also hear it called Graston-style work or gua sha. The tool lets the therapist cover an area like the quad with steady, even strokes, and many therapists say they can feel spots that seem tight or “sticky” as the tool moves.
Scraping is rarely the whole session. In the video, it’s followed by hands-on work around the knee, and that’s typical. Your therapist may mix scraping with deep tissue massage, cupping or percussion depending on what they find. Many clients find the area feels looser and moves more easily afterward, though everyone responds a little differently.
Who it’s for
- Runners logging miles on the Murdock Canal Trail through Lehi, Highland and American Fork
- Lifters whose quads feel locked up after heavy squat days
- Hikers and mountain bikers coming off the Traverse Mountain trails
- Pickleball, basketball and soccer players who feel tightness around the front of the knee
If you have a new or serious knee injury, check with your doctor first. Massage isn’t a substitute for a medical diagnosis, but it can be part of how you take care of your body once you know what you’re dealing with.
What to expect at Total Muscle Therapy in Lehi
An injury massage feels different from a relaxation massage. Your therapist will ask what’s going on, then may move your leg through a series of motions while they work. Scraping is one option, along with cupping, percussive massage and hands-on techniques. IASTM is also part of our sports massage toolbox for athletes who want to keep training.
Wear or bring shorts so your therapist can easily reach the thigh and knee. Sessions run 30, 60 or 90 minutes, and every visit includes a consultation and recovery stretches.
FAQs
Does muscle scraping hurt?
It shouldn’t be painful. Most people feel firm pressure and some tenderness over tight spots. Your therapist will adjust the pressure if you tell them it’s too much.
Will I have red marks afterward?
Some redness on the skin is common and usually fades fairly quickly. Mention it if you bruise easily or take blood thinners.
Can scraping be combined with cupping?
Yes. Our therapists often use more than one technique in a session. Tell them what you’d like to try and they’ll build it in where it makes sense.
How many sessions will I need?
It depends on what’s going on and how your body responds. Your therapist can suggest a plan after your first visit.
Book an injury massage in Lehi
Quads or knees feeling tight? Book online for any day Monday through Saturday, 8am to 8pm, and let us know in your notes that you’d like to try muscle scraping.
Want to see more? Find all our short clips on the Total Muscle Therapy Lehi YouTube channel.
Total Muscle Therapy Lehi: Location and Hours
Total Muscle Therapy Lehi
3400 N 1200 W, Lehi, UT 84043
Phone: (801) 615-0042
Hours: Monday–Saturday, 8am–8pm
Get directions on Google Maps · Book online
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