The Graston Technique is a manual therapeutic method used to diagnose and treat disorders of the skeletal muscles and connective tissues. Licensed chiropractors use six stainless steel tools to detect and resolve adhesions in the muscles and tendons through a specialized form of massage, which includes a gentle scraping of the skin. The six tools are concave and convex-shaped, have rounded edges, and are not sharp or painful. The instruments are used to scan over and detect areas of injured fibrotic tissue.
Designed to help chiropractors in identifying and treating areas of restriction and an attempt to break up scar tissues, the Graston Technique works to increase skin temperature, separates and breaks down collagen cross-links, alters spinal reflux activity, increases the rate and amount of blood flow to and from the area, increases cellular activity in the region, and increases histamine response secondary to mast cell activity.
As an added bonus, patients may also benefit neurologically as with other manual therapies where certain nerve fibers are activated. The body’s position sense organs, such as mechanoreceptors and proprioceptors seem to respond to these forms of treatment.
Chiropractors can help you during a time of injury by performing the Graston Technique as well as many other non-invasive services to help you to feel your absolute best in no time. Since most of the back is made up of muscles, ligaments, tendons, and fascia, injures to these soft tissues tend to play a role in the pain and dysfunction associated with back pain. However, the Graston Technique can greatly help with injuries in a natural and effective way, and chiropractors can perform the Graston Technique in a safe environment.
During an injury, the Graston Technique can make for a faster rehabilitation and recovery time, it reduces the need for anti-inflammatory medication, and it resolves chronic conditions that were otherwise thought to be permanent.
The Graston Technique is used to re-introduce small accounts of trauma to an infected area. Using a cross-friction massage which involves the brushing or rubbing against scar tissue, patients may experience temporary inflammation in the area, which increases the rate and amount of blood flow in and around the area. The process helps initiate and promote healing of the affect soft tissues.