Graston Technique
Graston Technique is an instrument-assisted soft tissue treatment used to break up scar tissue and adhesions that restrict movement and cause pain.
Graston is one of the manual therapy tools we use, and like every treatment here, it's chosen after testing shows where restricted tissue is actually limiting you, not applied as a general soft tissue rubdown.
What It Is
Graston uses stainless steel instruments, shaped to fit different areas of the body, to apply pressure across the skin and find areas of restricted or scarred tissue by feel.
Where a therapist's hands might miss a small adhesion, the instrument's edge picks it up. The technique is used to break up that restricted tissue and encourage the body to remodel it into healthier, more mobile tissue.
What to Expect
You'll feel pressure and scraping across the treated area, and it's common to see mild redness or light bruising afterward as the body responds to the treatment.
Some areas are more sensitive than others depending on how restricted the tissue is. We tell you what the sensation will feel like before we start, and we check in with you during the session so pressure can be adjusted.
I started going to Rx Rehab to work on my shoulders that had been bothering me for quite a number of years. I had tried other PT offices and had miserable experiences...I tried RX Rehab because, from the beginning, Scott cared. He was curious, he measured and checked and tested, and then his staff got involved and were just as curious and invested in finding a solution for me. On top of the how involved Scott and his staff were they also really work on you.
They scraped me, did deep tissue work, dry needling, and left me with all sorts of bruises from how they handled me. It was the first time I felt like something was actually being done during a PT appointment!! On top of this the movements they had me working with were functional and evolved with my progress.
A big shout out to Jared as well who worked on me regularly!! By the end of my 8 weeks of therapy I could return weight behind my head with no pain, I could bench press without pain, I had substantial strength return to all ranges of motion and had a plan in place for continuing to increase my shoulder's resiliency after finishing care. They didn't keep me coming back just because, they knew that we had done what we needed and we wrapped it up.
I recommend Rx Rehab any chance I get. I can't thank them enough for giving me my shoulders back and truly caring about me and getting me well. I'm able to compete in Olympic Lifting and CrossFit in a whole new way now!!
What We Use It For
Graston is used for chronic tendon and ligament issues, scar tissue from prior surgery, IT band restriction, plantar fasciitis, and muscle tightness that hasn't resolved with stretching or rest alone.
How It Fits Into Your Plan of Care
Graston is chosen the same way every treatment here is chosen, based on what your evaluation finds.
It's paired with other manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, and a home program aimed at the specific activity you're working to get back to, and it's adjusted as your numbers change.
Know What's Wrong and What's Next
No guessing, no generic exercise sheet. Just a measured answer and a plan with your name on it.