Graston Technique
The Graston Technique allows us to detect and treat areas of scar tissue and adhesions in the body's soft tissues (muscles, tendons, and ligaments). Scar tissue and adhesions develop in soft tissues as a result of cumulative, repetitive, surgical or acute trauma by way of the body's natural inflammatory and healing response. As you might imagine, scar tissue is not as strong and flexible as normal, healthy, undamaged tissue. Over time we can have a build of of this fibrous scar tissue, particularly in the muscles, tendons, and ligaments that get a lot of daily use. This can lead to pain and dysfunction because this replacement tissue lacks the strength and flexibility of healthy tissue; in some areas it may even mat down and entrap a nerve.
The Graston Technique involves using a stainless steel instrument that glides along soft tissues, acting 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 promote re-alignement of the fibers so that they behave more like normal, healthy, tissue.
The benefit of the Graston Technique is not only in detection of restrictions or adhesions, but also in the amount of improvement that takes place in a short amount of time. When Graston Technique is coupled with the necessary strengthening and stretching exercieses, it provides a great aid to the chiropractic adjustment. The patient can get better much quicker while healing more completely.
Graston Technique is relatively new, being researched and developed at Ball Memorial Hospital and Ball State University in Indiana from the early- to mid-nineties. Extensive research verified the positive outcomes for seemingly diverse conditions, such as:
Golfer's Elbow
Tennis Elbow
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Neck and back pain
Plantar Fasciitis of the foot
Rotator Cuff injuries
Patellar tendinitis and tendinosis
Heel pain
Post-surgical and traumatically acquired scars and scar tissues
Myofascial pain and restrictions
Chronic and acute sprains and strains
Chronic bursitis
IT Band Syndrome
Wrist tendonitis and tendinosis
Achilles tendinitis and tendinosis
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