Athletic Trainers
 

• HawkGrips is recognized by the Board of Certification, Inc. to offer continuing education for 10 category A CEUs for certified Athletic Trainers (ATCs). ATCs are responsible for claiming only those hours actually spent participating in the CE act.

Chiropractors
 

• HawkGrips is recognized by the PACE program of the Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards. The following state boards of chiropractic examiners accept courses that have been approved by PACE: AK, ID, IN, IA, KS, ME, MD, MA, MN, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NC, ND, OH, OR, RI, SC, SD, TN, UT, VT, VA, WA, WY, PR.

Massage Therapists
 

• HawkGrips is approved by the NCBTMB as a provider for continuing education to offer 9 CEUs for this course. (#1055, exp. 3/21/2025).

Occupational Therapists

• HawkGrips does not have pre-approval for Occupational Therapists for this course. Contact education@hawkgrips.com with questions on whether or not your state needs pre-approval, if you can self-submit, or any other questions. 

Physical Therapists

• This course is subcontracted to Redefine Health Education (RHE) for CE credit. RHE has reviewed and approved all components of this curriculum to ensure it meets requirements In the states listed below. 
• This course is approved for 11 hours for PTs and PTAs in the following states: HawkGrips is approved to provide continuing education for Physical Therapist. AL, AK, AR, AZ, CO, DE, GA, HI, ID, IN, IA, KA, KY, MA, MD, MI, MS, MO, MN, MT, NE, NH, ND, NJ, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, UT, VT, VA, WA, WI, WY. 
  
  RHE is a registered CE approval agency of the PT Board of California, a rule approved CE provider of the PT Board of Florida (#50-32784), a licensed CE sponsor of physical therapy continuing education by the Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation (IDFPR #216.000360) an approved CE provider of the PT Board of Oklahoma (#BAP202310010) and recognized by the New York State Education Department's Board for Physical Therapy as an approved sponsor of PT/PTA continuing education. Courses approved by other state boards and APTA chapters will be accepted for licensure credit, pursuant to the regulations listed in the upper lefthand corner of the certificate granted upon completion of the course. If you have a specific question about CEU credit in your state, please direct your inquiry including the course title to info@redefinehealthed.com
  
  *If you are a Florida licensee, this is the CE Broker approval# for this course is 20-892469

*This course is accepted by many professional credentialing organizations and state professional regulatory boards. Rules and regulations change frequently without notification, and apply differently to live and online courses. Please check with your state board to confirm course approval of contact hours. Certificate of Attendance will be issued to all participants upon completion of the course and may be used for CEU verification of credits. CE credits vary by state. Please check with your state board/certifying agency to confirm conversion of contact hours to CE.

This 8-hour course covers the basic skills necessary and to safely begin Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM) techniques. In this introductory skills acquisition course, participants will receive hands-on instruction in the proper use of IASTM through a lab-focused teaching format. The course will address proper instrument selection to address body contours and reach target tissues. At the end of the course, attendees will take a 1 hour exam for a certification in Level I: IASTM Fundamentals.

Introduction - theoretical basis of IASTM, review of current literature

• Lecture format to review highlights of the online course material focusing on evidence in current literature and theories behind using IASTM as a treatment technique
• Review of indications, precautions, and contraindications

Basic handling, tool selection, and basic treatment strokes lab

• Lab based basic skills component for participants to learn proper tool handling, basic treatment strokes, and proper tool selection based on target tissues using the thigh and knee as a forgiving region for skill acquisition
• Included is a free-play open lab to allow participants opportunity to have access to tools for free-form learning and question development

Lecture/discussion – treatment integration and dosing

• Treatment time and frequency
• Location of IASTM in the flow of therapy visit 

Myofascia and cutaneous strokes lab

• Body regions and specific tools selected to highlight large surface – broad strokes
• Desensitizing strokes targeting cutaneous tissue heighted
• Surgical incision and superficial scar release strokes highlighted

Deep muscle strokes lab

• Multiple tools and body regions selected to highlight muscle interfaces and planes
• Emphasis on tool selection based on body contours, depth of target tissue, and size of target area

Ligament/ tendon treatment strokes lab

• Strokes specific to ligamentous and tendon tissue targeted
• Multiple body regions selected for skills acquisition

Hard tissue/soft tissue interface lab

• Body regions and specific tools selected to highlight strokes to facilitate mobility of bone/tendon/muscle/soft tissue interfaces

Instruction in use of the Multi-tool and skills integration lab

• Treatment edges
• Tool orientation for treatment effects
• Problem solving case study for integration of skills covered in course

7:30-8:00 AM Registration

8:00-8:30 AM Introduction - review of online component

8:30-10:00 AM    Basic handling, tool selection, and basic treatment strokes lab

10:0-10:30  AM    Lecture/discussion of treatment integration and dosing

10:30-10:45 AM  Break

10:45-12:15 PM   Myofascial (large surface-broad strokes) & cutaneous stokes

12:15-1:15 PM     Meal Break

1:15-2:30 PM      Deep Muscular

2:30-3:30 PM    Tendon/ligament

3:30-4:15 PM    Hard tissue/soft tissue interfaces

4:15-4:30 PM    Break

4:30-5:30 PM   Skills Integration & Introduction of Multi-tool

1 hour Online Certification Exam (C

At the completion of this program, the participant will be able to: 

• List the precautions and contraindications for IASTM
• Understand, identify, and apply the appropriate IASTM treatment edge: concave, convex, broad vs. small contact, single bevel, or double bevel, based on the target tissue and desired treatment effect
• Choose appropriate basic treatment IASTM strokes (i.e. sweeping, fanning, brushing, strumming, and framing) based on the body region contours, nature of the soft tissue restriction, and desired treatment outcome
• Integrate IASTM intervention into the overall treatment program including: warm up, IASTM intervention based on the objectives outlined above, tissue elongation/stretching, appropriate ROM and/or strengthening exercises, cool down, and home exercise to produce carry-over of the treatment effect and enhance treatment outcomes