Soft Tissue Therapy
Graston Technique
A hands-on, instrument-assisted approach to breaking down scar tissue, relieving stubborn soft tissue pain, and restoring the movement your body is supposed to have.
Book an AppointmentWhat Is It?
Getting to the Root of Soft Tissue Pain
The Graston Technique is a form of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) — a hands-on therapy that uses specially designed stainless steel tools to detect and address restrictions in the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and fascia surrounding your joints.
When tissue is injured — whether from a single trauma, repetitive strain, or chronic overuse — the body lays down scar tissue as part of the healing process. That scar tissue is disorganized and dense. It restricts movement, traps nerves, and often becomes a source of ongoing pain long after the original injury has healed.
Graston instruments are shaped to glide along the contours of the body with a level of precision and feedback that hands alone can't provide. Dr. Nick uses them to locate areas of restriction, break down adhesions, and stimulate the tissue repair process — helping your body actually finish healing instead of just compensating around the problem.
Background
Where the Technique Came From
The idea of using tools to mobilize soft tissue is ancient — variations of scraping therapy appear in Chinese medicine (Gua Sha) and in Ancient Rome, where athletes used a curved metal tool called a strigil to clean and work the skin and underlying tissue after competition. The modern Graston Technique draws on that same principle, but with the precision of contemporary biomechanical research behind it.
In 1987, David Graston — a machinist and amateur athlete — sustained a serious knee injury during a water-skiing outing. After surgery, he was frustrated by how little his recovery was progressing with conventional therapy. Drawing on his background working with metal and precision tooling, he began designing instruments he could use on his own tissue. When he noticed real improvement, he brought his tools and concept to the research team at Ball State University and Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie, Indiana, where the technique was formally studied and refined throughout the early 1990s.
In 1994, Graston founded TherapyCare Resources Inc. and began training clinicians in the method. The technique was built on the earlier work of English orthopedist James Cyriax, who pioneered the concept of cross-fiber friction massage for soft tissue rehabilitation — Graston simply took that concept and gave clinicians better tools to do it with.
Research conducted over seven years at outpatient clinics found that more than 80% of soft tissue conditions treated with Graston resulted in improved function and decreased pain. The technique is now part of the curriculum at dozens of advanced degree programs and has been used by over 250 professional and amateur sports teams, including U.S. Olympic training centers.
Your Visit
What to Expect During a Graston Session
Warm-Up
Sessions typically begin with light movement or soft tissue warm-up to increase circulation to the area. This helps the tissue respond better to treatment and makes the session more comfortable overall.
Instrument Application
A small amount of emollient is applied to the skin so the instruments glide smoothly. Dr. Nick uses the tools in slow, deliberate strokes along the affected tissue. The beveled edges of the instruments provide tactile feedback that allows him to detect areas of restriction, adhesion, or scar tissue that may not be obvious on the surface.
What You'll Feel
Graston is not a relaxation massage — you may feel some discomfort in areas where restriction is present, which is normal and expected. Mild redness or light bruising in the treated area can also occur and is a sign the tissue is responding. Dr. Nick adjusts pressure based on your feedback and tolerance throughout the session.
Stretching & Rehab
Graston works best as part of a broader treatment plan. After instrument work, Dr. Nick may incorporate stretching, exercise prescription, or chiropractic adjusting to support the tissue changes and help the area remodel correctly as it heals.
Dealing with Pain That Won't Go Away?
Chronic soft tissue problems often don't resolve on their own — they need the right kind of input to finish healing. Dr. Nick can assess whether Graston may be a good fit for what you're dealing with.
Schedule Your First VisitWho Benefits
Graston May Be a Good Fit If You...
It's particularly well-suited for soft tissue problems that haven't responded well to rest, massage, or standard care alone.
Have a Nagging Old Injury
That ankle sprain from years ago that never felt quite right. The shoulder you hurt in college that still catches. Old injuries that weren't fully rehabilitated often leave behind scar tissue that quietly limits movement and causes discomfort well into the future.
Deal with Repetitive Strain
Repetitive tasks — at a desk, on a job site, in the gym, or on a field — gradually overload specific tissues. The resulting micro-damage accumulates over time into real restrictions and pain. Graston addresses the tissue changes that build up when you do the same motion thousands of times.
Are an Active Person or Athlete
Graston is widely used in professional and collegiate sports programs to help athletes recover faster and maintain tissue health throughout a season. Whether you're training for a race, competing on a team, or just trying to stay active, it may help you move and perform better.
Have Tried Other Treatments Without Relief
Rest, ice, and standard massage can only do so much. If the underlying tissue is bound up with adhesions or fibrotic scar tissue, those approaches may not get to the root of the problem. Graston is designed for exactly this situation — tissue that needs direct mechanical input to remodel.
Conditions We Address
What Can Graston Help With?
Graston may be used on its own or alongside chiropractic adjusting and rehab for a wide range of soft tissue complaints. Click any highlighted condition to learn more.
Neck Pain & Stiffness →
Low Back Pain →
Sciatica →
Sports Injuries →
Mid Back Pain →
IT Band Syndrome
Plantar Fasciitis
Tennis & Golfer's Elbow
Rotator Cuff Injuries
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Shin Splints
Achilles Tendinopathy
Post-Surgical Scar Tissue
Trigger Points
Ready to Start Feeling Better?
If you've been dealing with soft tissue pain, tightness, or a nagging injury that hasn't responded to other care, Dr. Nick would be glad to take a look and see if Graston is the right next step for you.
Book Online at Evolve ChiropracticEvolve Chiropractic | 19199 15 Mile Rd Ste B, Clinton Township, MI 48035 | evolvechiromi.com
