Efficacy of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization on patients with neck pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials.

PURPOSE: This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the therapeutic effects of IASTM in patients with neck pain.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

The authors performed the literature search in the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases in September 2025. Randomized trials comparing the outcomes of IASTM with those of other interventions, including control or other common physiotherapies, in patients with neck pain were included.

RESULTS

Twenty-four studies involving 1,060 patients were included in a systematic review, and 21 of them were included in a meta-analysis. The meta-analysis revealed that IASTM significantly improved flexion [standard mean difference (SMD) = 1.04, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.14 to 1.94], lateral flexion (SMD = 1.86, 95% CI: 0.61 to 3.11), disability (SMD = -1.54, 95% CI: -2.25 to -0.84), and pain pressure threshold (PPT) (SMD = 0.94, 95% CI: 0.32 to 1.56) and alleviated pain (SMD = -1.41, 95% CI: -2.09 to -0.74) relative to control treatments. However, no significant differences were observed between IASTM and other standard physiotherapy interventions. Overall, IASTM significantly improved flexion, lateral flexion, disability, pain, and PPT compared with non-IASTM treatments.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that IASTM is beneficial for individuals with neck pain in terms of ROM, pain, disability, and PPT.