What is it?
Graston technique is one of the manual therapy approaches. It is a form of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM). This technique helps therapists to assess and treat soft tissue dysfunction with stainless-steel instruments.
When soft tissue is injured, the tissues repair themselves in a random pattern, which forms scar issues. Although scar tissue doesn’t cause pain itself, it limits range of motion. This constitutes chronic pain.
By Graston technique, therapists glide the instruments across the tissue to identify areas of restriction and break up scar tissue. This reduces restriction from stretching connective tissue to re-arrange the soft tissue structure, as well as reduces the pain.
The Graston technique was used to treat acute and chronic conditions such as tennis/golfer’s elbow, lower back muscle strain or sprain, Achilles tendinosis, as well as non-inflammatory conditions.
How is it important to massage?
The therapist combines massage and the Graston technique to enhance the benefits. From increasing the blood flow, and scanning the abnormal tissue to treatment, this process promotes the healing process of the soft tissues. The
Graston technique is more comfortable than traditional therapy that is done by hand or fingertips, while the treatment edges are very precise.
