A 57-year-old man notices he isn’t getting the distance he used to with his golf swing because his low back is stiff. A 44-year-old runner has to cut her run short because of a pulled muscle that doesn’t seem to heal. An avid, recreational league tennis player has to finish her match serving underhand because her shoulder hurts when she serves above her head. What do all these injuries have in common? Scar tissue.
When a person is injured, the body lays down fibrous scar tissue in order to protect the injury. Scar tissue adhesions can occur from microtrauma, like repetitive motion injuries such as swimming, tennis or golf swings, or macrotrauma, such as a torn muscle or blunt trauma from falling or in contact sports such as football and lacrosse. The scar tissue limits the range of motion, and in many instances causes pain, which prevents the patient from functioning as he or she did before the injury.
When viewed under a microscope, tendons and ligaments have dense, elongated fibres running in the same direction. When the soft tissue is damaged, it can heal in a haphazard pattern, resulting in a restricted range of motion, scarring and pain. The scar tissue explains why many injuries feel “different” even after weeks or months of apparent healing.
A new soft-tissue therapy called The Graston Technique incorporates the ancient Chinese therapy of Gua Sha, cross-friction massage, and modern technology into a soft-tissue treatment that has been getting world-renowned attention. The stainless steel Graston Technique instruments have been utilized by more than 50 major professional and amateur sports organizations. Trainers, physical therapists, chiropractors and clinicians at these organizations are treating elite athletes every day and counting on the Graston Technique to get them injury-free, allowing them to compete at the highest performance levels.
The Graston Technique’s instruments are used to enhance the clinician’s ability to detect scar tissue, adhesions and soft tissue restrictions in the affected areas. Skilled chiropractors and therapists, like Dr. Brandon Nevel of Sport & Spinal Rehab in Jupiter, FL, use the stainless steel instruments to comb over and “catch” fibrotic tissue, which immediately identifies the areas of restriction. Once the tissue has been identified, the instruments are used to break up the fibrotic scar tissue so that it can be absorbed by the body. Patients usually receive 2-3 treatments per week over 4-5 weeks; however, most patients have a positive response by the 3rd or 4th treatment.
A recent study found that the Graston Technique resolved 87% of all soft tissue conditions treated. It is equally effective in relieving pain and restoring function to acute and chronic injuries as well as assisting in post-surgical recovery. Graston has had amazing results with conditions as diverse as tennis elbow and sprain/strains to plantar fasciitis and neck and back pain. For more information, contact Dr. Brandon Nevel of Sport & Spinal Rehab at 561-406-6905 or watch Dr. Brandon Nevel perform the Graston Technique at the following link. Jupiter Chiropractor Performs Graston Technique
