|
|
Treatment of Soft Tissue Injuries
Tools with nicknames like ‘handlebars' and ‘boomerang' are not traditionally associated with treatment for chronic pain. But the Graston technique is a new method of manipulating soft tissue that has practitioners incorporating aptly-named, technique-specific tools. Developed in the U.S. in the late 1980s, the Graston Technique helps physiotherapists, chiropractors, doctors and even dentists treat soft tissue injuries. And the Graston tool kit consists of six patented stainless steel bars, each with different contours so that they can conform to the various shapes of the human body. "The Graston technique helps us treat tennis elbow and golfer's elbow as well as neck, lower back or ankle problems," explains Dr. Jayson Shephard of Shephard Health in Calgary. While quite popular in the U.S., the Graston technique is only beginning to catch on in Canada. There are as few as nine practitioners in Canada, with four working in Calgary. Soft tissues are incredibly complex, and tissues including muscles, nerves, tendons and ligaments must function together in order to work as efficiently as possible. However, scar tissue alternately called adhesions and ligaments must function together in order to work as efficiently as possible. However, scar tissue, alternately called adhesions, becomes a soft tissue inhibitor. Whenever soft tissue is injured - whether directly or by stress trauma - the body immediately creates scar tissue to help stabilize the area. This scar tissue helps prevent further injury, but once in place the scar tissue is there to stay. "Scar tissue is like gristle in a steak" says Shephard. This scar tissue glues muscles to muscles, or prevents a nerve from sliding along a tendon. Consequently, these adhesions cause pain, limited mobility, stiffness and weakness associated with soft tissue injuries. The Graston tools are used to break down built-up scar tissue. By choosing an appropriately shaped Graston tool, the practitioner is able to manipulate the hard edge of the stainless steel over the soft tissue to create a minor inflammatory response. The whole idea is to get the body to produce new tissue and lay it down in proper alignment, this replacing the scar tissue. To achieve this, the Graston tool is essentially rubbed over the affected muscle or tendons, and the tool will vibrate as it moves across the scar tissue. Treatment with a Graston tool is not painful, and in fact this feeling of the metal moving over the scar tissue is rather satisfying. With the Graston tools we can get into places (in the soft tissue) that are difficult to access with the hands," says Dave Swagar, another Graston practitioner. "Our fingers have certain amount of give, and tool is much more effective. It is certainly easier on us". The Graston technique also allows the patient to feel and pinpoint to a finer degree where some of their pain is originating in the soft tissue. After a few sessions of Graston treatment, traditional methods of soft tissue therapy may be applied. These traditional techniques include icing, stretching and strengthening. Shephard may also combine the Graston tools with the Active Release Technique (ART)-a direct, non-invasive, hands-on approach of manually breaking up scar tissue. "Active Release is a viable technique of diagnosing and treating soft tissue injuries." ART breaks up the scar tissue by using specific motions to force the layers of muscles, tendons and nerves to work properly together. Using the wrist as an example, if the troubled muscle is the one on the underside where the wrist pivots, the patient would bend his or her hand backwards. With the hand bent backwards, the ART provider would apply force to that specific muscle in the direction opposite from which the hand is bent. The force applied to the muscle will help in crease the range of motion of the wrist, allow more blood to flow to the area and increase the flow of toxins away from the tissue. In combination, these healing processes will help the tissue texture return to normal. We see a lot of athletes, and active release certainly has gained some of its notoriety in the sports world," says Shephard. But Active Release does not apply only to athletes. People who perform jobs that require repetitive movements, such as hair stylists and dental hygenists, or computer keyboarders, can all benefit from Active Release. "And the Graston technique is just another tool in our bag of tricks." Shephard and Swagar have only been practicing Graston for just over two months. However, they both suggest that even in that short period of time, they are seeing positive results in patients who have nagging injuries and chronic pain that just won't go away. |
