Are Aches and Pains Controlling Your Routine?
If You’re Living with Pain, ask Your PT About The Graston Technique
If you haven’t learned about the Graston technique yet, know that you might benefit from it!
The Graston process is a soft tissue mobilization technique assisted by instruments (IASTM). It is a form of manual therapy in which special ergonomic stainless steel tools are used to gently massage and scrape sections of the skin.
The Graston Technique can be used to treat a variety of disorders, including lower back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, rotator cuff tears, quadricep pain, tennis elbow, plantar fasciitis, and headaches.
Have you sustained a soft tissue injury? Have you had a sporting injury or been in a traffic accident that has left you with mobility issues? Do you have wounds that cause you discomfort and limit your movement? If this is the case, you can benefit from the Graston Technique.
To learn more about how Graston Technique can help you, schedule an appointment with Peak Orthopedic Physical Therapy today!
What is a Graston technique session like?
First of all, you should know that this technique doesn’t cause you pain and is nothing to be worried about.
The areas of soft tissue fibrosis will be relocated at the start of a Graston Technique procedure to make the scar tissue more receptive.
The stainless steel tool’s edge will be slowly gliding over the affected soft tissue until it comes into contact with an adhesion.
The adhesion will then be rubbed over by our physical therapist to evoke movement. This friction will aid in the healing of your soft tissue injury.
The amount of pressure used with the instrument, and the speed at which it is done will vary depending on the nature of your condition, and it will be adjusted throughout the treatment.
After each treatment, the affected area will be stretched and our physical therapist will provide you with ice packs if you experience any soreness.
Most patients who receive the Graston technique will have two treatments a week for five weeks. By the third or fourth session you should feel better.
Some of the many benefits of the Graston Technique include:
- Boost in cellular activity for good health
- Increased rate of volume and blood flow to affected areas to enhance healing
- Increased mobility and ability to perform daily tasks
- Reduction in inflammation
- Reduction in pain, for a better quality of life
- Breakdown of collagen cross-links
Benefits of the Graston Technique
Scar tissue and adhesions may bend to the fascia and cause a condition known as fascial constraint. Over time, even the wear and tear of everyday life can cause muscle fibers to adhere irregularly to each other.
The Graston technique allows for the separation of the muscle fibers, which reduces pain and increases functional mobility.
Scar tissue is a type of connective fibrous tissue that receives less blood than normal tissue and is less flexible. It thickens after injury and can accumulate around the ligaments, tendons, and muscles.
Soft tissue adhesions are the aggregation of soft tissues. Shin splints, strained hamstrings, and meniscal tears are all examples of injuries that can result in adhesion.
Adhesions and scar tissue may occur in the tissues or skin when you are injured. Scar tissue and adhesions prevent the underlying body structures from moving properly. This is because adhesions do not allow the ligaments, tendons, and muscles to move freely.
More information about the Graston technique
Before adding the Graston Technique to your treatment plan, here are some helpful facts to keep in mind:
- It is part of the curriculum at more than 50 colleges and universities.
- It is applied at more than 3,600 outpatient facilities.
- More than 31,000 clinicians worldwide use it.
- It is used by more than 500 professional and amateur sports organizations.
- It is used by 16 NBA teams, 18 NFL teams, 16 MLB teams.
Find relief with physical therapy
Are you ready to begin your journey towards relief and recovery with the Graston Technique? We’re committed to helping you heal and get back to your pain-free life!
Click here to request an appointment at Peak Orthopedic Physical Therapy today to meet with one of our dedicated Torrance, Redondo Beach or Rancho Palos Verdes, CA physical therapists.