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How the Graston Technique in Casper Physical Therapy Can Treat Soft Tissue Injuries
June 2, 2016
When it comes to injuries, Casper physical therapy may be needed for a full recovery. Therapy allows you to be exposed to multiple strategies to heal your issue. When it comes to soft tissue injuries, the Graston Technique has been a premier proven way to help athletes and individuals recovery from sprains, strains and tendinitis. By using this technique, time treating is lowered, less anti-inflammatory medication is needed and helps to make the injury not become permanent.
- What is the Gaston Technique? This non-surgical technique is used by physical therapists for soft tissue mobilization that can break down scar tissue. In fact, many universities have implemented this into their athletic programs and made it a top solution. On their website, the Graston Technique explains they use specialized stainless steel instruments alongside therapeutic exercise to find and treat injuries with soft tissue fibrosis or chronic inflammation. By using this tool, the physical therapist is able to follow the kinetic chain (how joints and segments follow each other for movement) and find the problematic areas. Through this, specific painful areas are addressed. From there, this helps patients to reach a full recovery and full range of motion in the area.
- What is Soft Tissue? In order to understand this technique, it is good to understand what soft tissue is. The Graston Technique explains soft tissue, also known as fascia, is located just under the skin. It consists of a white membrane that wraps and connects the muscles, bones, nerves and blood vessels of the body. To better envision what it is, they explain it is like the white fuzz on the inside of an orange peel.
- Success Rates: Different injuries or ailments have different success rates. Definitely discuss your injury with your physical therapist to determine if the treatment will work for you to restore the quality in that area. Shoulder pain (rotator cuff tendinitis), tennis elbow and ankle pain have an over 90 percent success rate. Neck pain (cervical sprain/strain), back pain (lumbar sprain/strain) and wrist pain (carpal tunnel syndrome) have an over 80 percent success rate. Knee pain (patellofemoral disporders) and foot pain (plantar fasciitis) have an over 70 percent success rate, and Golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis) has an over 60 percent rate. This treatment has also been successful for those who suffer from fibromyalgia, hip pain, wrist tendinitis and ITB tendinitis.
- Treatment and Recovery Time: The Graston Technique said recovery time varies on the type of injury. Treatments are done once or twice a week over the course of four to five weeks. Many patients begin to notice a difference within the first couple weeks. The physical therapist will work with the patient on what activities can and can’t be done during the treatment.