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Graston Techniques
The Graston Technique is a form of manual therapy known as soft-tissue instrument-assisted mobilization. It is one of a number of manual therapy approaches that uses instruments with a specialized form of massage/scraping the skin gently.
The therapy is designed to help the practitioner identify areas of restriction and and poor motion.
Graston Technique Goals
The general goals of the therapy are to reduce the patient's pain and increase function through a combination of:
- Releasing soft tissue and fascia restrictions that are usually associated with some form of trauma to the soft tissue (e.g., a strained muscle or a pulled ligament, tendon, or fascia).
- Reducing restrictions by stretching connective tissue in an attempt to rearrange the structure of the soft tissue being treated (e.g., muscle, fascia, tendons, ligaments).
- Promoting a better healing environment for the injured soft tissue.
There also appears to be a neurologic benefit to treating patients with the Graston Technique Instruments. This response is similar to that involved with other manual therapies. The literature suggests that when a patient is given manual or instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) therapy, certain nerve fibers are activated. Additionally, the body's position sense organs, such as mechanoreceptors and proprioceptors, seem to respond to these forms of treatment.
Potential Benefits of Graston Therapy
The Graston Technique offers several potential advantages to the patient with such an injury:
- Decreasing overall treatment time
- Fostering faster rehabilitation/recovery
- Increase mobility
- Increase flexibility
- Enhance performance
- Assist with recovery
The treatment may be used alone or in conjunction with other treatments.
Graston Technique Training
Fairly extensive training is required to use the technique. Graston Technique training consists of 2 modules:
- Module 1 is a 12-hour course that teaches a global approach to using the instruments. It also covers research articles, indications, contraindications, the 7 strokes used with the instruments and several hours of hands-on utilization of the instruments.
- Module 2 is an advanced 14-hour course that is more condition specific. The clinician is introduced to adding motion during treatment and how to utilize the instruments for nerve flossing as described by Shacklock and Butler.
The Graston Technique is part of the advanced degree curriculum of many respected universities and colleges. Many professional sports organizations, including U.S. Olympic teams, use the technique in the care of their athletes.
Graston Technique Indications
When an injury within the soft tissue occurs, the tissue repairs itself in a haphazard pattern, forming scar tissue. While the scar tissue itself is not painful, it does tend to limit range of motion, and the ongoing stiffness may contribute to chronic pain.
The Graston technique has the potential to treat acute and chronic conditions such as:
- Lower back muscle strain or sprain
- Achilles tendinosis
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Cervical sprain/strain
- Plantar fasciitis
- Rotator cuff tendinosis
- Shin splints
- Tennis/golfer's elbow
