Graston Technique®

Compassionate, Skilled Care When You Need It Most

The Graston Technique is a new treatment designed to help mobilize soft tissue with the assistance of specially designed stainless steel instruments. While this technique is by no means a replacement for the use of a clinician’s hands, it can be used to effectively treat areas with scar tissue and fascial restrictions that hinder a patient’s range of motion. If you are interested in this evidence-based mobilization treatment, our ProFysio Physical Therapy team is ready to help.

How Does it Work?

This new treatment is a form of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM), which was created specifically to treat patients with scar tissue, fascial restrictions, soft tissue fibrosis, and chronic inflammation. In conjunction with therapeutic exercise, the Graston Technique can be used to detect and treat problem areas and fibrotic changes in the tissue. Once these fibrotic changes are identified, the therapist can then use specific tools to manually treat the area, restoring pain-free movement and function.

The Benefits of the Graston Technique

Typically 75-90% of all conditions treated with the Graston Technique have a positive outcome. This technique is ideal for patients with scar tissue, chronic pain, limited range of motion, and chronic injuries. It can also be a great way to prepare patients for surgery, as well as improve the rehabilitation of post-surgical patients.

Graston Technique treatments aim to provide patients with the following benefits:

• Improve the accuracy and time spent in diagnostic treatment
• Faster and more substantial improvements
• Quick rehabilitation and recover from injuries
• Reduces or eliminates the need for anti-inflammatory medications
• Optimizes range of motion

What to Expect From a Graston Technique Treatment

Your trained physical therapist will begin a Graston Technique treatment by using one of the stainless steel implements to comb over the afflicted area. The instrument will typically identify problem areas, which are recognized by the rougher, often bumpy texture that identifies fibrotic tissue. These areas are areas of restriction, usually because of scar tissue, chronic inflammation, or other concerns. Your therapist may switch to different stainless steel tools to address different types of tissue, using long smooth motions or fanning motions over the affected area. While treatment should not be painful, it can be somewhat uncomfortable at times, as with any other manual treatment, such as massage therapy.

The Graston Technique can be used to treat a variety of issues, particularly:

• Achilles tendinitis and tendinosis
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Neck sprain or strain
• Fibromyalgia
• Tennis elbow
• Back pain
• Golfer’s elbow
• Knee pain
• Plantar fasciitis
• Rotator Cuff Tendinitis
• Shoulder pain
• Scar tissue
• Shin splints
• Trigger finger
• Post-mastectomy scarring
• Cesarean scarring

If you are interested in the Graston Technique as a treatment option, our physical therapists at ProFysio Physical Therapy are ready to help.

Contact ProFysio Physical Therapy to schedule your appointment with one of our Aberdeen, NJ physical therapists.