Graston and IASTM at Rising Sun Chiropractic
When you come for your first visit at Rising Sun Chiropractic you may have the recommendation for Graston Therapy or Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization. (IASTM) There are many different approaches to IASTM, in this article we are going to go over what to expect at Rising Sun Chiropractic when you receive Graston or IASTM therapy.
Dr. Nelson uses specific stainless steel tools to help identify and treat areas of limited range of motion and scar tissue.
Graston Technique & IASTM Goals
The general goals of the therapy are to reduce your pain and increase function through a combination of:
- 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).
- Reducing restrictions by stretching connective tissue in an attempt to rearrange the structure of the soft tissue being treated (e.g., muscle, fascia, tendons, ligaments).
- Promoting a better healing environment for the injured soft tissue.
- Trigger the recruitment of specific repair cells in the body, fibroblasts, to come to the area treated and focus on repairing the tissue.
What are the Benefits of Graston at Rising Sun Chiropractic
In our daily lives, we rely on our bodies being able to move in expected and pain-free ways. This movement requires free moving joints, healthy strong muscles, tendons, ligaments, and nerves. Injuries to these soft tissues play a significant role in the pain and dysfunction associated with back, shoulder, hip, knee, and really any joint of the body. While it may not sound like a serious injury, a simple back muscle strain or strained ligament in the back can cause excruciating pain and difficulty with movement. If you have ever dealt with tendonitis you know how difficult it can be to heal and how painful they can be, golfers elbow or jumpers knee are just 2 examples of tendon injuries that can be successfully treated. . Fascia injuries in the foot lead to plantar fasciitis, the list goes on.
The Graston Technique and IASTM offer several potential advantages to you in your recovery. With most soft tissue and joint injuries these techniques can:
- Fostering faster rehabilitation/recovery
- Decreasing overall treatment time
- Reducing the need for anti-inflammatory medication
- Resolving chronic conditions thought to be permanent
After your examination Dr. Nelson will sit down with you and go over your treatment plan. If you are a great candidate for Graston or IASTM therapy we will discuss your treatment options and recommendations.
The typical course of treatment for lower back pain generally ranges from 1 to 10 visits over the course of several weeks. Dr. Nelson will discuss with you natural anti-inflammatory nutritional strategies to support faster recovery after treatment.
What Should You Expect at Rising Sun Chiropractic with Graston and IASTM
During Graston Treatment
- The practitioner will utilize the appropriate Graston Technique and IASTM instruments to scan, then treat, the affected area.
- Treatment generally consists of the clinician rubbing the affected area(s) with the handheld stainless steel Graston Technique instruments, using very specific, calculated movement techniques.
- Typically the injured area is in motion during the therapy.
- Treatment time is usually 30 to 60 seconds per area treated.
- It is common for patients to experience some discomfort during the procedure.
After Treatment
Dr. Nelson and the team at Rising Sun Chiropractic will walk you through what happens during and aftercare. You may be sore, bruised or exhibit small red dots over the area treated, called petechiae. Ice and heat can be used but we typically try and hold off from those therapies due to the effect on recovery of the tissue. We often pair motion and exercise with the therapy to help you recover more quickly and stimulate your body to repair the treated tissues.
Dr. Nelson routinely hears from patients that they experience an increased range of motion and reduced pain after the first treatment.
Graston Therapy and IASTM are generally designed to treat soft tissue-related conditions, for example:
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- Lower back muscle strain or sprain
- Achilles tendinosis
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Cervical sprain/strain
- Plantar fasciitis
- Rotator cuff tendinosis
- Shin splints
- Tennis/golfer’s elbow
Graston Technique Indications
When an injury within the soft tissue occurs, the tissue repairs itself in a haphazard pattern, forming scar tissue. Think about cooked spaghetti noodles in a bowl or a tangle in fishing line. While the scar tissue itself is not painful, it does tend to limit the range of motion, and the ongoing stiffness may contribute to chronic pain. The therapy helps our bodies re-arrange that injury into more of a normal crosshatch pattern.
Graston and IASTM Technique Contraindications
Not all candidates with pain from soft-tissue injury are candidates for the Graston or IASTM Technique. In general, Graston or IASTM should not be used with any condition contraindicated for soft-tissue mobilization.
In addition, patients with any of the following conditions are not good candidates for the treatment:
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- If you are having Graston or IASTM it should be avoided if you are dealing with open wounds in the area to be treated.
- High blood pressure
- Cancer (depending on the type and location)
- If you are pregnant special care needs to be taken.
- Unhealed, complicated fractures.Certain types of kidney disorders
- Taking blood thinners
Dr. Nelson and the team at Rising Sun Chiropractic will work with you to make sure you get the therapies that fit your injury. We focus on patient-centered care!