If you've been seeing a chiropractor for low back pain, he or she may have employed treatments like manual adjustments or ultrasound therapy. One therapy you may want to try is the Graston technique. The Graston technique is a type of soft-tissue, instrument-assisted mobilization, where your chiropractor will use stainless steel instruments to massage muscles. These instruments aren't sharp or painful—but they help your chiropractor work more deeply into muscles during manual therapy. See how this technique could help and what to expect from a Graston session.
How Can It Help?
Fascia is a thin casing of connective tissue that surrounds muscles, organs, bones, and other bodily structures. Sometimes fascia can become tight due to poor posture or physical trauma, like surgery or an injury. When the fascia becomes tight, you can lose range of motion and experience pain. Graston tools help to break down fascia adhesions and scar tissue that may be causing your low back pain.
One study found that the Graston technique could improve the range of motion in patients with chronic back pain. The same study also showed improvements in the visual analog scale (VAS), which is a subjective measuring tool for acute and chronic pain. Besides improving range of motion and reducing pain, the Graston technique could help you reduce the need for oral painkillers and improve your overall recovery time.
How Does This Therapy Work?
When you visit your chiropractor, he or she may have you do a short cardiovascular activity, like walking on a treadmill, to warm up the body before treatment. If your low back pain prevents you from doing any physical activity, then your chiropractor might use ultrasonic therapy to warm up the body. Once your muscles are warm, then your chiropractor will likely palpate tender areas of your back to work on.
Your chiropractor will apply body butter or oil to your back so that the Graston instruments will glide easily over your skin. Unlike massage therapy, which may last half an hour to a couple of hours, Graston therapy only takes a few minutes for each area of treatment. Again, this treatment isn't painful because the instruments have rounded edges, but you should expect some mild discomfort similar to a deep tissue massage.
After treatment, your chiropractor may continue with other therapies, like spinal adjustments or stretches, since your back will be relaxed. After your chiropractic session, you may have temporary redness or bruises. If you are very sore, then your chiropractor may have you ice at home to ease any discomfort. Lastly, t's important to stay hydrated after Graston therapy to flush metabolic waste, improve circulation, and reduce soreness.
Reach out to your chiropractor to learn more about this technique.
Share28 March 2022
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