Tag Archive for: soft tissue injuries

Graston Technique – Soft Tissue Treatment

Graston2The Graston Technique is an instrument-assisted, soft tissue mobilization therapy.  The Graston Technique safely removes scar tissues and scar tissue adhesions that have occurred as a result of chronic inflammation, injuries, repetitive motion or from old injuries of the past.

Graston Technique enables practitioners to effectively detect and treat scar tissue and restrictions that affect normal function.  The technique uses specially-designed stainless steel instruments, along with appropriate therapeutic exercise, to specifically detect and effectively treat areas exhibiting soft tissue fibrosis or chronic inflammation.

Graston instruments are used to enhance the practitioner’s ability to detect adhesion,  and scar tissue in the affected area. The stainless steel instruments are moved over the area of concern and “catch” on fibrotic tissue, which immediately identifies the areas of restriction. Once the tissue has been identified, the instruments are used to break up the scar tissue so it can be absorbed by the body. Each instruments combines concave and convex shapes to  allow the instruments to mold to various contours of the body.  This allows the practitioner to isolate adhesions and restrictions, and treat them very precisely.

The instruments are beneficial in breaking up fascial restrictions, scar tissue adhesions, and detecting areas of chronic inflammation and fibrosis.

Graston treatments can help with conditions such as :

Cervical sprain/strain
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Tennis & Golfers elbow
Rotator Cuff Tendinosis
Achilles Tendinosis
Scar Tissue
Lumbar sprain/strain
Plantar Fasciitis
Knee Pain/ Runners Knee
Fibromyalgia

The goal of this therapy is to reduce the patient’s pain and increase function by breaking down the scar 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).  This therapy also reduces restrictions by stretching connective tissue by rearranging the structure of the soft tissue being treated (e.g., muscle, fascia, tendons, ligaments).

Normal tissue can be dense, with regular elongated fibers running in the same direction, such as tendons and ligaments; or dense, irregular and loose with fibers running in multiple directions.  In either instance, when tissue is damaged it will heal in a haphazard pattern–or scarring–that results in a restricted range of motion and in many instances causes pain, which prevents the patient from functioning as they did before the injury.

The Graston Technique separates and breaks down collagen cross-links, and splays and stretches connective tissue and muscle fibers, increases skin temperature, increases the rate and amount of blood flow to and from the area, increases cellular activity in the region, and facilitates reflex changes in the chronic muscle holding patterns.

The Graston Technique can be used in conjunction with both Ultrasound, and Laser Therapy to help speed up the recovery time.

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My Journey Into IMS/Dry Needling | Part I

skin-needlingLike many of us, I live a fairly sedentary lifestyle.  Years spent in front of a computer, combined with injuries, and the stress of everyday life is taking a toll on my body.

Over the years I have employed the services of acupuncturists, chiropractors, physiotherapists and massage therapists to alleviate my aches and pains.

A friend suggested that I try dry needling.  I had never heard of this treatment, and so began my research into the science of IMS/ Dry needling.  Dry needling, a relatively new medical treatment option, treats muscle, tendon and other soft tissue injuries.

Dry needling also known as intramuscular stimulation is an invasive procedure in which solid filament needles are inserted into the skin and muscle at a myofascial trigger point in order to cause a small, specific injury or “wound” in the tissue.  This injury or wound signals the brain to begin to repair the damaged tissue with new healthy tissue.  Placing a needle in a muscular knot or painful trigger point will provokes a “twitch” response from the muscle. Once a “twitch” response has been elicited, the muscle fibers in that area begin to heal. The area around the muscle will relax and will start to lengthen, the inflammation will start to reduced and circulation and blood flow will increase.

Dry needling is characterized as a painful treatment. The more chronic the tigger point or muscle knot the more painful the treatment…healthy muscle tissue will not “twitch” when stimulated by a needle, and therefore will not be painful.

According to a report from the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists:  “Research supports that dry needling improves pain control, reduces muscle tension, normalizes biochemical and electrical dysfunction of motor endplates, and facilitates an accelerated return to active rehabilitation”.

I have booked my first appointment, and am curious to find out how painful this treatment is, what it will feel like and what the results will be.

Keep an eye out for Part II of my journey into IMS/Dry Needling!

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