Table 1 Summary of included studies

Abdel-aal et al (2021) [28]

Patients with cervicogenic headache

41.69 ± 4.89 / 38.3 %

Intervention group / 30:

exercise program + IASTM

Control group / 30:

exercise program

Cervical ROM:

flexion,

extension,

left lateral flexion,

right lateral flexion,

left rotation,

right rotation

approximately 3 min per time,

3 times per week for 4 weeks

Aggarwal et al(2021) [29]

Patients of shoulder adhesive capsulitis

49.4 ± 8.13 / 23.3 %

Intervention group / 15:

conventional treatment + IASTM

Control group / 15:

conventional treatment

Passive and active shoulder ROM:

flexion,

extension,

abduction,

internal rotation,

external rotation

2 min per time,

3 times per week for 4 weeks

Angelopoulos et al(2021) [30]

Healthy amateur overhead athletes (dominant shoulders)

23.03 ± 1.89 / no description

Intervention group / 20:

IASTM + kinetic flossing

Control group / 20:

kinetic flossing

IASTM group / 20:

IASTM

KT group / 20:

kinesiology taping

Passive shoulder ROM:

internal rotation,

external rotation

6 min per time,

one time

Bailey et al(2015) [31]

Asymptomatic baseball players with ROM deficits

19 ± 2 / 100 %

Intervention group / 30:

IASTM + self-stretching

Control group / 30:

self-stretching

Passive shoulder ROM:

horizontal adduction,

internal rotation,

external rotation

2 min per time,

one time

Ikeda et al(2019) [33]

Health individuals (right leg)

24 ± 4 / 78.6 %

Intervention group / 7:

IASTM

Control group / 7:

no treatment

Passive ankle ROM:

dorsiflexion

5 min per time,

one time

Laudner et al(2014) [34]

Asymptomatic collegiate baseball players (their throwing arm)

20.1 ± 1.2 / no description

Intervention group / 17:

IASTM

Control group / 18:

no treatment

Passive shoulder ROM:

horizontal adduction,

internal rotation

40 s per time,

one time

Lehr et al(2022) [35]

Healthy collegiate athletes (the more restricted leg)

No description / 66 %

Combine group / 34:

IASTM + MWM

Intervention group / 36:

IASTM

Control group / 33:

no treatment

MWM group / 44:

MWM

Passive ankle ROM:

dorsiflexion

2 min per time,

one time

Rowlett et al(2019) [36]

Health individuals

25.8 ± 6.7 / 36.7 %

Intervention group / 20:

warm-up + IASTM

Passive ankle ROM:

dorsiflexion

2 min per time,

one time

Stretch group / 20:

warm-up +stretching

Control group / 20:

warm-up

Schaefer & Sandrey(2012) [37]

Healthy individuals with a history of chronic ankle instability

17.7 ± 1.9 / 86.1 %

Intervention group / 13:

warm up + IASTM + balance training

Sham group / 12:

warm up + sham IASTM + balance training

Control group / 11:

warm up + balance training

Active ankle ROM:

dorsiflexion,

flexion,

inversion,

evrsion

8 min per time,

2 times per week for 4 weeks