Graston Technique

Graston is one member of a family of manual therapies which use instruments that scrape over the skin. This superficial treatment aims to remove tissue restrictions, break down scar tissue where it is present and improve blood flow.

Do you suffer from tight, sore muscles? Do you sense that your limbs, even after stretching, are not moving in the full, healthy range? Graston Technique could be the answer for you.

Graston is one member of a family of manual therapies which use instruments that scrape over the skin. This superficial treatment aims to remove tissue restrictions, break down scar tissue where it is present and improve blood flow. Many times, pain relief is immediate as patients experience improved mobility and relief from painful tissue adhesions.

Sun Physical Therapy brings over a decade in experience in Graston Technique to patients.

Graston tools are stainless steel. There are six of various size and edging. The smallest can work on little areas such as around the Achilles tendon or the fingers and toes. The largest can cover the thigh or back.  

Graston is used to a myriad of conditions, including:

  • Achilles tendinopathy
  • Back pain
  • Bursitis
  • Fracture management
  • Headache
  • Hip pain
  • Knee pain
  • Neck pain
  • Patellar tendinopathy
  • Plantar fasciitis
  • Pre- and post-operative injuries
  • Rotator cuff tendinopathy
  • Sciatica
  • Shoulder pain
  • Temporomandibular dysfunction
  • Wrist/hand pain

FAQs

At Sun Physical Therapy, Graston Technique can be incorporated into treatment sessions for as little as 5 minutes up to 50 minutes, depending on the treatment area and goals of the session. Your clinician will discuss your treatment options with you prior to the start of the treatment.
Graston Technique does not have to be painful. The angle of the tool on the skin and the amount of pressure the clinician uses can be adjusted for patient comfort. However, if patients are new to manual therapy or have increased sensitivity to such treatments, other therapeutic options may be more optimal. Your clinician is ready to answer any of your questions regarding Graston Technique, its uses, benefits, and expectations prior to your treatment session.
In our experience, approximately 3 treatments to a specific area are the average for achieving good outcomes. However, there are many variables that can alter this number.
In an area with significant adhesions, redness, which is called petichiae, is very common after the first session. This improves with subsequent treatments. Reduced pain, reduced tension, and improved range of motion is frequently experienced after the first session.
Absolutely. There typically are no post-treatment restrictions.

Yes, there has been research into the effects of Graston Technique and other instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization treatments. It is beyond the goal of this website to provide a comprehensive review of the literature. But, for the benefit of readers, a few articles will be mentioned here.

In 2016, The Journal of Physical Therapy Science published the results of a report titled “The effect of Graston technique on the pain and range of motion in patients with chronic low back pain.” The study involved 30 participants with low back pain of >90 days, with initial onset less than 12 weeks from start of the study. The treatment group received 4 weeks of Graston Technique to the posterior fascia, sacrum, hip, internal rotators and hamstrings. The control group received general exercise, including stretching and stationary bicycling. The study found significant decreases in pain among the group receiving Graston Technique. Both groups demonstrated increased lumbar and hip range of motion. 

In 2017, the same journal published the article “Immediate effects of Graston Technique on hamstring muscle extensibility and pain intensity in patients with nonspecific low back pain.” The study looked at 24 people with nonspecific low back pain. The treatment group received Graston Technique to the hamstrings while the control group received static hamstring stretches. The study found both groups had improvement in pain and mobility. However, the group that received Graston Technique had greater improvement in hamstring extensibility than the group that participated in stretching alone. 

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