Glossary

What is Graston Technique?

Graston Technique is a form of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization used by trained healthcare providers to detect and treat scar tissue, adhesions. And fascial restrictions in muscles, tendons. And ligaments. Graston Technique uses stainless-steel tools with beveled edges to break down fibrous tissue and improve range of motion and function after injury or surgery.

Reviewed by Dr. Harry W. Brown, D.C.

Quick Facts About Graston Technique

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Graston Technique

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Definition

Key Takeaways About Graston Technique

Understanding Graston Technique

Graston Technique in Chiropractor—McDonough

Graston Technique helps doctors treat soft tissue injuries. It uses special metal tools. These tools have smooth, slanted edges.

The tools help find tight spots in muscles and tendons. They also find scar tissue. The tools glide over skin to feel these spots.

This helps doctors know what needs treatment. They feel changes in how tissue feels.

The goal is to break down scar tissue. This tissue forms after injuries or surgeries. It can also form from doing the same motion too much.

Scar tissue can limit movement. It can cause pain. It can also slow healing.

The tools help break down this tissue. They improve blood flow. They also lower swelling and help tissue work right.

Doctors often use this with other treatments. These include stretching and exercises. They may also use ice or heat.

How Graston Technique Works?

Graston Technique uses tools to press on sore soft tissue. The doctor first scans the area with the tool. This helps find tight spots or scar tissue.

Then the doctor uses the tool to press on these spots. They move the tool along the muscle or tendon. The pressure helps break down scar tissue.

This can feel like tight knots under the skin. The pressure also helps blood flow to the area. This helps the body heal itself.

Each session lasts 10 to 15 minutes. This depends on the size and spot being treated. Patients may feel some discomfort.

This happens if the tissue is tight or swollen. But it feels more like deep pressure than sharp pain.

After the session, doctors often suggest stretches. They may also suggest exercises. These help keep the area moving well.

They also lower the chance of scar tissue coming back. Graston Technique works best with other treatments.

Why Graston Technique Matters?

Graston Technique helps with a big problem. Other treatments often miss this problem. It's scar tissue in muscles and tendons.

When you get hurt, your body fixes the damage. It uses fibers called collagen. But these fibers can get messy.

They stick tissues together. This limits movement. It can cause long-term pain and stiffness.

This happens a lot in athletes. It also happens in people who do the same motion too much.

Graston Technique breaks down these sticky spots. This helps tissues move normally again. It can help you heal faster.

It can lower pain. It can also help you do daily tasks or sports better.

It helps people after surgery too. It can lower scar tissue after joint fixes. It can also help after tendon repairs.

For doctors, it's a way to help without drugs. It's also not surgery. It helps with problems that massage alone can't fix.

When Graston Technique Matters Most?

Graston Technique helps when tight tissue causes pain. It helps with stiffness too. It also helps when you can't move well.

It treats many problems. These include muscle strains and tendonitis. Tendonitis is when tendons get sore.

It helps with tennis elbow and sore Achilles tendons. It also helps with sprains. Sprains are when ligaments stretch too much.

It helps with scar tissue after surgery. It also helps with injuries from doing the same motion too much. These include carpal tunnel and plantar fasciitis.

Athletes use it to heal faster. It helps them get back to sports. It lowers pain and helps them move better.

It helps people who tried other treatments. These include massage and stretching. But those didn't work.

Graston Technique finds the real problem. It targets scar tissue. It can help when other treatments don't.

But it's not for everyone. People with open wounds shouldn't use it. Neither should people with infections.

People with blood clotting problems should avoid it too. A trained doctor will check if it's right for you.

Expert Note

Graston Technique is not a one-size-fits-all solution. The effectiveness depends on the provider’s skill, the patient’s condition.

Graston Technique in Practice: A Real-World Example

After a hamstring strain, an athlete struggled with tightness and limited flexibility despite regular stretching and massage. A chiropractor certified in Graston Technique used the tools to break down scar tissue in the injured muscle. After three sessions combined with targeted exercises, the athlete regained full range of motion and returned to training without pain.

Arrowhead Clinic Chiropractor

Have Questions About Graston Technique?

Contact Arrowhead Clinic Chiropractor for practical guidance on Graston Technique and related chiropractor work in McDonough.

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