Learn More About Astym^® Therapy

The Astym program is a comprehensive approach to musculoskeletal care. The Astym program helps healthcare providers get the most out of their practice by offering a certification in the safest and most effective treatment for musculoskeletal disorders along with clinical support, ongoing advanced education, and marketing assistance for their entire clinical career. Read more about our company here.

With Lifetime Certification, we provide you everything you need to deliver Astym therapy throughout your career, including the instruments, ongoing clinical support, and continuing education. In some corporate/clinic contracts, the employer/clinic requires all instruments to remain with them if a clinician leaves, however, under the personal agreements, the instruments may travel with the certified clinician under the personal agreement.

If you would like to talk to a member of our clinical team to discuss all the benefits the Astym program provides, please contact us to schedule a call.

Performance Dynamics, Inc. is the official institution of Astym therapy.

Astym treatment was researched and developed through a collaboration that included Major Hospitals and Universities, and a respected research team comprised of scientists, physicians, and therapists. This collaboration resulted in the consolidation of efforts and resources into Performance Dynamics, Inc.

Practicing healthcare professionals and investigative scientists worked together to develop the specifically designed Astym therapy protocols and instruments with the goal of advancing healthcare and improving the lives of patients.

Astym therapy is part of our larger commitment to healthcare providers. The Astym program is a comprehensive approach to musculoskeletal care and has been partnering with clinics across the nation for a number of years. We help healthcare providers get the most out of their practice and engage more with their patients by assisting in other aspects of their practice, such as clinical support, ongoing advanced education, and marketing assistance for their entire clinical career.

Being a Lifetime Provider means you will be an Astym Certified provider for the rest of your clinical career, with all the benefits of the Astym program at no further cost!  Benefits to Astym Certified providers include access to Advanced Astym Application Courses, where you can learn scientifically-developed, detailed protocols, and strategies for particular patients and conditions, as well as receiving clinical, practice and marketing support for the rest of your career.

The standard set of Astym instruments includes the Evaluator, the Localizer, and the Isolator. These three instruments are the most used to perform Astym treatment on both upper and lower extremities. The two-piece hand set includes a pair of finger instruments used to treat specific hand conditions.

Astym therapy and IASTM are very different in application, goals, and results. Astym therapy was developed through scientific investigation and clinical research, whereas IASTM is trial and error, and what treatment you receive can vary widely. Independent research has examined both treatments and has concluded Astym treatment is safe and effective, while IASTM has been deemed ineffective.

The evidence (including Level One Evidence) concludes:
Astym therapy to be safe and effective
IASTM to be ineffective with questions regarding the safety of IASTM.

While some treatments focus on misguided attempts to mechanically break apart scar tissue, Astym treatment focuses on activating the regenerative mechanisms of the body by using scientifically developed protocols to engage the body to resorb problematic scar tissue and stimulate healing of soft tissues.

Astym therapy instruments are specifically designed to maximize the effectiveness, efficiency, and safety of the Astym process – for both you and your patients. Astym therapy instruments are ergonomic, lightweight, used to stimulate the regeneration of tissues, and are registered as medical devices with the FDA. They are proven to be safe and effective in multiple controlled clinical trials and over 10,000 independently collected outcomes from multiple centers across the country.

Clinical trials and systematic reviews on the metal and stainless steel IASTM tools have concluded the IASTM protocols and tools are not only ineffective but can increase pain and decrease function in patients. IASTM tools normally are not registered with the FDA.

Below is a list of general and specific conditions where Astym therapy has shown impressive clinical results. If you’re a provider and have other questions regarding treatment applications, please contact our Clinical Team.

General Conditions

• Chronic tendinopathy
• Joint and muscle stiffness
• Scar tissue/fibrosis from injury or surgery
• Pain and stiffness associated with early degenerative joint disease

Specific Conditions

• Achilles Tendinopathy
• Anterior and Posterior Tibialis Tendinopathy
• Arthrofibrosis
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Chronic Ankle Pain and StiffnessChronic Wrist Pain and Stiffness
• DeQuervain’s Tenosynovitis
• Golfer’s Elbow
• Hamstring Strain
• IT Band Syndrome
• Jumper’s Knee
• Lateral Epicondylopathy
• Low Back Pain (nonradicular)
• Medial Epicondylopathy
• Patellar Tendinopathy
• Plantar Fasciopathy
• Post-Mastectomy Scarring
• Post-Surgical Scarring/Fibrosis
• Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy
• Scar Tissue/Fibrosis
• Tennis Elbow
• Trochanteric Bursitis

No. Only qualified instructors have the ability to teach Astym therapy. The Astym instructors are master clinicians who have undergone advanced training and testing in order to be qualified to train clinicians in Astym therapy. These instructors have the advanced knowledge to allow them to effectively teach the optimal treatment applications, the underlying science, and improper variations that should be avoided; they closely watch and guide their students and this type of training cannot be replicated outside of the official Astym training courses.

Patients, referring physicians, and third-party payers, all rely on the consistency and effectiveness of Astym therapy and specifically look for the Astym name in therapy. In order to keep Astym therapy reliable and predictable, only qualified, experienced instructors may teach Astym therapy. People expect Astym therapy to produce results they can count on. In order to provide quality Astym care, it’s necessary to undergo the intensive training which includes pre-reading, online coursework, significant class instruction, hands-on lab time, and testing.

Astym therapy is only provided by medical professionals, such as PTs, OTs, PTAs, COTAs, ATCs, DOs, or MDs. Other professionals and military should contact our office for inquiries about certification eligibility.

On-site training is a great opportunity to minimize time out of the clinic and travel expenses. If your clinic is located close to an international or large regional airport and you’re interested in on-site training, contact us for more details about this opportunity.

Each Astym therapy certification course is eligible for up to 29.25 contact hours, depending on your state. Upon completion of the course requirements, each attendee is given documentation of certification, including the number of contact hours earned and any other relevant continuing education information.

Nationwide, our courses are currently approved by the BOC for athletic trainers and the AOTA for occupational therapists. We also maintain individual state approval by the Florida Board of Physical Therapy, the Texas Board of Physical Therapy Examiners, the Physical Therapy Board of California, and the Ohio Physical Therapy Association. If your licensing board requires approval of continuing education courses and is not listed above, we are happy to provide you with all needed documentation to submit for individual approval with your licensing board.

In-Person Course:

(BOC AP#: P2270) is approved by the Board of Certification, Inc. to provide continuing education to Athletic Trainers. This program is eligible for a maximum of 28 Category A hours/CEUs. ATs should claim only those hours actually spent in the educational program. This course is approved by the AOTA. The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA or indicate AOTA approval of a certification or other professional recognition. This course is approved by the FCLB for 29.25 contact hours. This course has been approved by the Florida Board of Physical Therapy Practice for 29 credit hours. The Ohio Physical Therapy Association (OPTA) has approved this course for 23.5 credit hours. The course OPTA approval number is 23S1189. This activity has been approved by the Texas Board of Physical Therapy Examiners for 29.25 CCUs for PTs and PTAs. This course has been approved by ACEND for 2.275 CEUs or 22.75 contact hours. Approved Provider Identification Number: ACE2358-01. www.acend.org. 

Online Course:

(BOC AP#: P2270) is approved by the Board of Certification, Inc. to provide continuing education to Athletic Trainers. This program is eligible for a maximum of 28 Category A hours/CEUs. ATs should claim only those hours actually spent in the educational program. This course is approved by the AOTA. The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA or indicate AOTA approval of a certification or other professional recognition. This course has been approved by the Florida Board of Physical Therapy Practice for 28 credit hours. This course has been approved by the Louisiana Physical Therapy Board for 28 credit hours. This activity has been approved by the Texas Board of Physical Therapy Examiners for 26.75 CCUs for PTs and PTAs.

Astym Certification is more than a hands-on certification course with significant CEUs; following certification, Astym Certified providers get access to advanced education courses, ongoing clinical support, professional marketing materials, and significant practice support; in addition, certified clinicians experience:

• Increased referrals and patient demand
• Improved productivity and clinician retention
• Expanded niche markets, patient populations, and cash-based business
• More marketing impact for less cost

The program quickly pays for itself with new referrals, and not only benefits your practice with added revenues, but also enhances your reputation as being the go-to clinician who resolves conditions no one else can, which makes your patients happier and your practice easier.

“Astym treatment has increased our referrals and has set our clinic apart from competitors. The program pays for itself!” – Robert Robinson, PT

We continually update our class schedule as new courses become available.

Sign up to never miss out on an Astym course near you or contact us to see if you qualify for on-site training to minimize time out of the clinic and travel expenses.

In order to maintain your Astym Certification, you must have access to the ongoing clinical support, advanced and continuing education, and research updates provided under an active Astym Service Agreement. If you leave an employer and do not have a personal service agreement, contact us so that we may set you up under a new company agreement or a personal service agreement.

There is a standard form called a Service Agreement that all Astym providers sign to confirm your payment plan. This grants you access to all clinical support, practice support, and advanced education as specialty areas are researched, developed, and released.

Participants must be a licensed PT, OT, PTA, COTA, ATC, DO, or MD. Other professionals and military should contact us at info@astym.com about certification eligibility.

If the course is full, we can place you on the waitlist for this course. If a spot becomes available within the course, we will notify you.

After registering, you’ll be emailed with more instructions about your paperwork, online coursework, and details about your selected course. If you have any questions, please contact us at (765) 751-2341.

Our cancellation policy allows you to cancel up to 14 days prior to the course and transfer your payment to a future available course within 6 months of your cancellation. Any cancellations made within 14 days of a course will result in an additional Two Hundred Fifty Dollar ($250) administration fee. “No shows” will not receive refunds. Performance Dynamics, Inc. (PDI) reserves the right to cancel a training course at any time and will issue a full refund. PDI reserves the right to alter dates, times, locations, content, and faculty to accommodate unexpected needs. PDI cannot be responsible for expenses incurred by registrants if the program is canceled or altered.

All online coursework MUST be completed prior to attending the live on-site training portion of your certification. After submitting your registration, you’ll receive course information on attendance, what to wear, meals, testing, and practical exams. If you have any further questions, please contact our office at (765) 751-2341 or email astymcertification@astym.com.

We offer a one-time payment option, where you receive a significant discount by paying upfront for the Astym program. The one-time payment includes everything you need to become a LIFETIME PROVIDER of Astym therapy. This is the simplest plan and the best value.

We also offer a monthly payment option that allows you to pay over 12 monthly installments. Once the payments are concluded, then you become a LIFETIME PROVIDER.

Multi-Location is a great fit for multi-clinic organizations that plan to certify the majority of their team. Please contact us for details.

*Combinations of pricing programs may be available to suit your clinic’s needs. When choosing a payment plan, feel free to contact us so we can help you find which option is the best fit for your clinic.

For billing purposes, Astym invoices are mailed or emailed to you or your company’s designated Accounts Payable.

Invoices can be paid online at astym.com/pay, over the phone: (765) 751-2341, or mailed to 400 North High Street, Suite 320 Muncie, IN 47305.

There are two different types of service agreements available:

A Personal Agreement provides certification and all ongoing clinical support, advanced and specialty education, Astym instrumentation, professional marketing materials, and other services that Astym Certified clinicians expect. This agreement will cover a clinician regardless of where they practice and is not tied to a specific company.

A Clinic/Company Agreement covers the employees of the organization, and provides certification and all ongoing clinical support, advanced and specialty education, Astym instrumentation, professional marketing materials, and other services that Astym Certified clinicians expect. A clinician may provide Astym treatment, access the program’s resources, and utilize the materials, but only at this company. If you are under a corporate agreement and leave your employer, contact us to continue your Astym certification under a new corporate agreement or under a personal agreement.