There are many people out there who think that chiropractic treatment is all about getting your back “cracked”. While spinal adjustments are certainly a crucial part of many treatment programs, there are many other treatment methods that are utilized by chiropractors to provide patients with the pain relief they’re seeking. One of those treatment methods that can be very effective and also one that many people are not so familiar with is called the Graston Technique. While the Graston Technique is often used on athletes to treat injuries to muscles, ligaments, and tendons, it can also be beneficial to many non-athletes who have muscle, ligament, or tendon injuries.
Here at Advanced Chiropractic & Rehab, Inc, we utilize the Graston Technique fairly often and find that it produces very effective results in decreasing overall time of treatment, fostering faster rehabilitation/recovery, reducing the need for anti-inflammatory medication, and resolving chronic conditions thought to be permanent. These positive outcomes are accomplished using a soft tissue technique that utilizes instruments to break up fascial adhesion and trigger points in the muscles.
As a visual example of the effectiveness of the Graston Technique, take a look at these two pictures taken at a recent appointment with a patient who is currently receiving Graston treatment.
In the first picture, you’ll notice little red patches, which are common when the patient has fascial adhesions that are being broken down by the Graston instruments. However, when you look at the second image, you’ll notice that the red patches are gone. This progress was made from the first appointment, where the patient reported feeling soreness, to the second appointment where the patient reported feeling good with no soreness. While soreness may persist for some patients for the first three or four treatments, positive results also generally begin to occur within the first three or four treatments.
Fascial adhesions are dense collections of scar tissue that form when muscles or connective tissues are damaged as a result of an injury. These adhesions limit flexibility and range of motion while also causing pain and stiffness in the affected area. Using a Graston tool focuses the force of the treatment through an area smaller than your finger and with less friction, which allows a more efficient treatment. The goal is to trigger an inflammatory response and to restart the healing process. This will stimulate the production of new collagen and proper, functional, pain-free healing.
So, would Graston Technique be able to produce a positive outcome for the condition you are suffering from? It likely could, as Graston is proven to achieve faster and better patient outcomes for the following conditions:
- Achilles Tendinosis/itis
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Cervical Sprain/Strain (Neck Pain)
- Fibromyalgia
- Lateral Epicondylosis/itis (Tennis Elbow)
- Lumbar Sprain/Strain (Lower Back Pain)
- Medial Epicondylosis/itis (Golfer’s Elbow)
- Patellofemoral Disorders (Knee Pain)
- Plantar Fasciitis (Foot Pain)
- Rotator Cuff Tendinosis/itis (Shoulder Pain)
- Scar Tissue
- Shin Splints
- Trigger Finger
- Women’s Health (Post-Mastectomy and Caesarean Scarring)
If you would like to see if Graston Technique can help you recover from your muscle, tendon, or ligament injury, give Advanced Chiropractic & Rehab Inc. a call today at (330) 726-7404 to schedule a free consultation to see how we can help. We have been servicing the Youngstown and Mahoning Valley area since 2001 with convenient locations in Boardman, Hubbard, and Kinsman. At Advanced Chiropractic & Rehab Inc, we are a multi-disciplinary rehabilitation group that treats work comp injuries, whiplash, sports injuries and specializes in much more than just low back pain.