The Graston Technique

The Graston Technique

Changing the way soft tissue injuries are treated

The Graston Technique, originally developed by athletes, is changing the way clinicians — including athletic trainers, chiropractors, physical therapists, occupational therapists — and patients view treatment of acute and chronic soft tissue injuries.

The Graston Technique is an innovative, patented form of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization that enables clinicians to effectively break down scar tissue and fascial restrictions. The Technique utilizes specially designed stainless steel instruments  to specifically detect and effectively treat areas exhibiting soft tissue fibrosis or chronic inflammation.

The Graston Technique offers many advantages and benefits.

For the clinician:

• Provides improved diagnostic treatment
• Detects major and minor fibrotic changes
• Increases patient satisfaction by achieving notably better outcomes

For the patient:

• Decreases overall time of treatment
• Fosters faster rehabilitation/recovery
• Reduces need for anti-inflammatory medication
• Resolves chronic conditions thought to be permanent

For employer, third party payer and the healthcare industry:

• Allows patients to remain on the job
• Reduces the need for splints, braces and job-site modifications
• Contributes to reduction of labor and healthcare costs, direct and indirect

Six stainless steel instruments form the cornerstone of Graston Technique

"The Graston Technique Instruments allow a deeper, more sensitive palpation and treatment of fibrotic restricted tissue." 

—Warren I. Hammer, MS, DC, DABCO

The curvilinear edge of the patented Graston Technique Instruments combines with their concave/convex shapes to mold the instruments to various contours of the body. This design allows for ease of treatment, minimal stress to the clinician’s hands, and maximum tissue penetration.

The Graston Technique Instruments, much like a tuning fork, resonate in the clinician's hands allowing the clinician to isolate adhesions and restrictions, and treat them very precisely. Since the metal surface of the instruments does not compress as do the fat pads of the finger, deeper restrictions can be accessed and treated. When explaining the properties of the instruments, we often use the analogy of a stethoscope. Just as a stethoscope amplifies what the human ear can hear, so do the instruments increase significantly what the human hands can feel.

• The Graston Technique - FAQ