Can the Graston Technique Really Scrape Away Your Pain?

There are over 32,000 certified providers of the Graston Technique throughout North America.

Graston Technique originated when an amateur athlete became frustrated with his knee injury and set out to find a solution. Using his background in machinery he was able to create an innovative instrument that can alleviate acute and chronic injuries.

Graston Technique uses stainless steel devices to loosen adhesions that can be quite painful and restrict the movement of your joints.

What is an adhesion? It’s a band of scar tissue that develops when a muscle is overworked or injured.

Adhesions are a natural mechanism that the body uses when it tries to heal itself. It’s a normal response after injury, infection, surgery, and even radiation.

However, adhesions can cause a wide range of problems like back, neck, and joint pain.

Graston Technique loosens and normalizes these adhesions, freeing up your movement, reducing pain, and accelerating healing.

Graston Technique benefits courtesy of Full Function Rehab & Wellness (Read the caption)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Chiro | Physio | Massage (@full.function.rehab)

The Graston Technique has been proven effective for these conditions:

Ankle, foot, or arch pain
Achilles tendon injuries
Shin splints
Plantar fasciitis
Muscle spasms
Tennis or golfer elbow
Rotator cuff Tendon Injuries
Neck pain
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Joint sprains
Knee pain
Fibromyalgia

What happens during a graston technique session?

The Graston technique involves a chiropractor or other health care practitioner using a patented stainless steel instrument to detect adhesions and then glide across your skin to loosen the scar tissue and fascial restrictions in your muscles.

The instrument they use is a curved stainless steel device that allows the practitioner to apply deep and precise pressure into the tissue. It allows them more treatment accuracy compared to what they typically could do with their hands.

These precise movements help alleviate pain and increase your range of motion. Not only that, this process activates your natural inflammatory response, increasing blood flow to the area which drives essential nutrients to promote healing.

For most, when they hear “inflammation” they think that it’s bad which in some cases it can be. However, during an acute injury it is necessary for inflammation to occur. When stimulated naturally via a technique like the Graston technique it allows the tissues to heal properly. Plus, it can make the tissues stronger because it causes your body to lay down more collagen fibre in the area. The reason this happens is the Graston Technique creates micro-traumas in your tissues which causes them to grow back stronger and become more durable.

Think of it like this. Kickboxers will purposely create microtraumas in their shin bone by kicking hard objects. This causes their shin bone to grow stronger and less likely to break during a fight.

How long does the Graston Technique take to work? It depends on how long the injury has been there. Acute injuries typically get faster results than chronic injuries, and may improve even after a week.

If you would like to find a Chiropractor that uses the Graston Technique simply use the search box on this page to find one near you.

What is Graston tool courtesy of Peak Health & Performance (Read the caption)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Peak Health & Performance (@peakhealthcalgary)

Book Your BACK NECK SHOULDER KNEE ELBOW HIP WRIST FOOT Pain Consult

This appointment is your opportunity to tell us what hurts and discover whether physiotherapy or chiropractic care is a good fit for you! During this session, you will talk with a physiotherapist or chiropractor on a phone call (or online) and create the right care plan specifically for your pain. There is no obligation on this session is to find out whether physiotherapy or chiropractic care can help you getting back to doing the things you love in life.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Graston Technique painful?

You can experience minor discomfort similar to a deep tissue massage. Also, you may feel sore after.

How often should you get Graston?

It depends on your condition and injury. But typically you will get 1-2 treatments per week with at least 48 hours in between to allow the tissues to heal.

Should you use ice after Graston Technique?

If you experience soreness after you can ice the area for 15-20 minutes to help ease the discomfort.

About Taylor Sipos

Taylor is a physiotherapist at The Orthopaedic Therapy Clinic located in Toronto, Ontario. He treats patients with various musculoskeletal conditions using patient education, exercise therapy, manual therapy and acupuncture. His treatment philosophy involves giving his patient’s the means to self-manage their injuries. He does this through reassurance, education and health promotion. Taylor uses the same principles as a patient educator at Pain Hero. He aims to provide you with high-quality, easy to understand information to teach you about your condition and how to improve it.

Medical Disclaimer:

The information presented in this blog post is for educational purposes and should not be interpreted as medical advice. If you are seeking medical advice, treatment or a diagnosis, consult with a medical professional such as one suggested on this website. The Clinic Accelerator Inc. and the author of this page are not liable for the associated risks of using or acting upon the information contained in this article.

Can the Graston Technique Really Scrape Away Your Pain?