What is the Graston technique?
The Graston technique (Gua Sha) uses tools to pressure and scrape the skin to relieve pain and tension. This action causes bruising, often red to dark as purple or red spots known as petechiae or sha.
The name Gua Sha comes from the Chinese word for scraping. According to traditional Chinese medicine, Qi (pronounced Chee) is energy that flows through the body. Many believe a person's Qi must be balanced and flowing freely to ensure health and well-being.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) also views blood stasis or stagnation as a cause of pain and illness; another aim of Gua Sha is to move pooled or stagnated blood to relieve symptoms. Additionally, physiotherapists use this technique; however, they advertise it as instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilisation (IASTM), which uses the same scraping tools.
How is Graston technique Done?
Using a cross-friction massage, which involves brushing or rubbing against the grain of the scar tissue, the practitioner re-introduces small amounts of trauma to the affected area. This process temporarily causes inflammation in the region, increasing the rate and amount of blood flow in and around the affected region.
The theory is that this process helps initiate and promote the healing process of the affected soft tissues.
Who can benefit from Graston technique?
The Graston technique has the potential to treat acute and chronic conditions such as:
Lower back muscle strain or sprain
Restricted movement
Muscle tightness
Pain relief and management
Targeted scar tissue management
Accelerated recovery
Increased flexibility and range of motion
Reduction in inflammation
Achilles tendinosis
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Cervical sprain and strain
Plantar fasciitis
Rotator cuff tendinosis
Shin splints
Tennis and golfer's elbow
Clinical research shows that the Graston technique has favourable outcomes such as:
PubMed research studies highlight how Graston can help decrease pain. The effect of the Graston technique on pain and range of motion in patients with chronic low back pain. The Touro University & New York Medical College research abstract is based on An Analysis of Graston Technique for Soft-Tissue Therapy, concluding that patients show clinically significant improvement when Graston is combined with physical exercise as a non-holistic treatment.
Additionally, more research from practitioners and clients shows that after a week, people with neck and shoulder pain from computer use, male weightlifters to help with recovery after training, and older adults with back pain who had received Graston therapy reported greater flexibility and less back pain than the other group however, all participants claimed improvements on a larger scale immediately following the session.
Preparation for Graston:
Wear loose, soft clothing such as gym clothes, and make sure you do not have a heavy meal before the session. Shower before you come and wait at least 4 hours after the treatment to shower.
Summary
Based on proven clinical and client improvement research, the Gratson technique can uniquely break down scar tissue and fascial restrictions through tissue mobilisation. The method is more constructed in scanning and identifying the problematic area by discolouration and locating the treated area. Its expansion stimulates local inflammatory responses in the soft tissue or joints, leading to remodelling and repairing teh affected soft tissue structures. Graston is considered one of the safe, non-invasive techniques known for providing many people with a variety of injury relief they need to heal much faster.
Akhtar (SAC. Dip), Lead Clinical Sports Therapist
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