Dealing with chronic muscle knots or lingering injuries can be frustrating. Standard stretching and massage do not always provide lasting relief. Enter the Graston Technique/IASTM technique.
The Graston Technique is a specialized therapy designed to target deep tissue issues. This specialized form of manual therapy has become increasingly popular in sports medicine and orthopedic rehabilitation because it helps improve mobility, reduce pain, and accelerate recovery.
This guide explains how IASTM works, its key benefits, and what you can expect during a session.
What is the Graston Technique?
The Graston Technique is a form of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM). Trained clinicians use specialized stainless-steel tools to detect and treat scar tissue and fascial restrictions that may cause you pain, stiffness, and dysfunction. The instruments feature rounded edges designed to glide over muscles, tendons, and ligaments.
By scanning the body with these tools, skilled practitioners can pinpoint areas of restriction. The treatment actively breaks down dense scar tissue and smooths out fascial restrictions.
Rather than relying only on hands-on massage, Graston and IASTM tools allow trained therapists to identify adhesions and tissue irregularities more precisely. The instruments glide across the skin while applying controlled pressure to affected muscles, tendons, and connective tissues.
The goal is to stimulate the body’s natural healing response and restore normal movement.
How Does Graston Technique and IASTM Work?
When soft tissue becomes injured—whether from sports, overuse, surgery, or poor posture—the body can develop scar tissue and fascial restrictions. These restrictions may limit movement, create pain, and reduce athletic performance.
The Graston Technique works by:
- Breaking down scar tissue and adhesions
- Increasing blood flow to injured tissue
- Improving flexibility and range of motion
- Stimulating tissue remodeling and healing
- Reducing chronic inflammation and tension
The controlled microtrauma created by the instruments encourages the body to repair damaged tissue more efficiently.
Conditions Commonly Treated:
At New Moon Physiotherapy in Baltimore, I use IASTM for a wide variety of musculoskeletal conditions, including:
- Plantar fasciitis
- Achilles tendinitis
- Tennis elbow
- Golfer’s elbow
- Rotator cuff injuries
- IT band syndrome
- Shin splints
- Neck and back pain
- Scar tissue after surgery
- Muscle strains
- Chronic tightness and mobility restrictions
- My athletes frequently ask for Graston and IASTM to improve recovery time and optimize movement performance.
Top Benefits of the Graston Technique:
- Faster Recovery: Significantly reduces post work-out soreness and overall rehabilitation time for acute and chronic conditions.
- Increased Mobility: Restores range of motion by clearing fascial restrictions.
- Reduced Pain: Decreases localized discomfort associated with chronic inflammation.
- Need for Less Medication: Minimizes the need for over-the-counter pain relievers.
- Chronic Pain Management: Resolves long-standing injuries that failed to respond to traditional therapy
What to Expect During Your First Session:
A typical treatment begins with a brief warm-up or modalities such as dry needling to increase tissue elasticity. A soothing cream is then applied, which helps the instruments glide smoothly over your skin.
You will feel a scraping or rubbing sensation as the tools move over the injury/restriction. Treatment on a specific area usually lasts only 3 to 5 minutes.
Some temporary redness or mild bruising is completely normal after a session. We typically follow the treatment with targeted stretching or strengthening exercises to reinforce the newly gained mobility.
Why Do I Need a Certified Practitioner?
You can buy almost anything on the internet these days- this includes Graston and IASTM tools. Make sure your therapist is a certified Graston or IASTM practitioner. Certified practitioners have taken advanced coursework in these techniques and will not just watch a YouTube video and start aggressively scraping your skin.
In the right hands, these tools and techniques can speed up your path to wellness. In untrained hands, these tools can end up slowing down or impeding your recovery.
At New Moon Physiotherapy, I pride myself for undergoing rigorous IASTM training through Hawkgrips, provider of IASTM education and tools for MLB, NHL, UFC and the US Air Force.
Final Thoughts
The Graston Technique is a valuable tool in modern physical therapy that can help reduce pain, improve mobility, and support faster recovery from soft tissue injuries. Whether you’re an athlete recovering from overuse injuries or someone struggling with chronic muscle tightness, this hands-on approach may help restore movement and function.
If you have questions about Graston/IASTM and are wondering if this technique would be beneficial to you, contact me – Dr. Noelle Schlegel – at New Moon Physiotherapy today.
