Graston technique is a form of instrument assisted soft tissue therapy that allows us to detect and treat areas of “scar tissue” or adhesions in muscle, tendon, ligaments, and fascia that can lead to pain and dysfunction in the joints of the body.
When we overly stress the body or receive an injury our body attempts to repair muscles, tendons, and ligaments with “scar tissue”, very similar to scars that you get on your skin after injury. Scar tissue is not as strong and flexible as normal, healthy, undamaged tissue. During overuse issues or with chronic pain we can have a buildup of this fibrous scar tissue. This can lead to pain and dysfunction because the irritated tissue lacks the strength and flexibility of healthy tissue (in some areas it may even create a nerve entrapment or “pinched nerve”).
The Graston Technique allows us to better detect and treat these areas because it uses a stainless-steel instrument that glides along the patient’s tissue and acts like a “scar tissue” stethoscope. When knots or bands of scar tissue are encountered, both the doctor and the patient sense a restriction or a granular feeling. The instrument can then be used to “break-up” the restriction or adhesion. After treatment, stretching or strengthening exercises are used to promote proper re-alignment of the fibers so they behave more like “normal” healthy tissue.
Graston Technique is clinically proven to achieve faster and better outcomes for acute and chronic conditions such as Achilles Tendonitis, Carpal Tunnel, Adhesive Capsulitis, IT Band Syndrome, Lumbar Strain and Plantar Fasciitis.