Can Graston® Help Everything?
I use the Graston® technique on nearly every patient and many times patients ask me “How can Graston® help everything?” Unlike treatments for specific injuries, the Graston® Technique treats injured soft tissue and treats many injuries that cannot be named or put into a category. So yes, in my opinion Graston can help every injury that walks into our office.
It is human nature to want to put a label on illness and injury. It gives validation and credibility to our symptoms if we can label them. In medicine, these labels are called diagnosis. Typical soft tissue diagnoses include Plantar Fasciitis, Shin Splints, Rotator Cuff Tears, ankle sprains, Tennis Elbow and whiplash along with hundreds of others. The Graston® Technique is used to treat all of the above named injuries.
However, Graston® also treats injuries that are simply diagnosed as Myofasciitis. Often caused by adhesions and scar tissue, Myofasciitis is a general term used to describe pain or dysfunction in the network of muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia and other soft connective tissue that connect our bones and form joints.
Many patients are frustrated when they have pain and dysfunction in a muscle or joint and after exams, tests and even imaging their doctor told them that there is simply nothing ‘medically’ wrong. This can be disconcerting, but remember that many times joint or muscle pain is a matter of fibrous scar tissue getting in the way of proper function and therefore causing pain (ie. Myofasciitis). It isn’t a very glamorous diagnosis or label, but can be easily treated using the Graston® Technique.
How does Graston® work?
Graston® Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (GISTM) is a soft-tissue treatment that utilizes stainless steel instruments to comb over and “catch” areas of fibrous scar tissue. After these areas have been detected, the instruments are used to break up the scar tissue so it can be absorbed by the body, heal properly while decreasing pain and improving function.
This explains why whether a patient comes in for a back problem or a knee problem, they are highly likely to see me wielding one of 6 patented stainless steal instruments to thoroughly and completely treat the area of injury. Chiropractic is not just about the manipulating joints anymore.
Where do Adhesions and Scar Tissue Come From?
Trauma such as car accidents and sports injuries can cause myofascial adhesions to develop almost immediately as the injury begins to heal. These adhesions will continue to develop for months and years leaving the patient at significant risk for re-injury.
Repetitive Stress such as typing, texting or gaming can cause the continuous development of adhesions in response to small movements being performed repeatedly.
Surgery is the most obvious cause of scar tissue formation as the incision site, muscles and ligaments are healing from being cut.
What should be expected with Graston® Treatment?
Treatments to each area last about 30-90 seconds. The first thing most patients notice is a significant improvement in range of motion (flexibility) of the injured area. Some patients experience mild redness or bruising after treatment. While many patients feel some relief after just one treatment, significant relief of Myofasciitis is common with 7-10 treatments.
Sources:
- Graston Technique Outcome Data: This Outcome Chart is a compilation of information relating to a set of predetermined patient/clinician goals established at the onset of care and based on the average number of treatments using Graston Technique®.
- Trigger points and muscle pains
- The Graston Technique: Simple technology improving injury treatment and rehabilitation
