Gastron Techniques

The Graston technique (GT) is a rehabilitative method of pain management. It is different from other rehabilitative techniques in that it makes use of six specially designed, stainless steel instruments to treat pains. Its practitioners detect and manage scar tissue with the help of these instruments. GT is particularly used in soft tissue damage, especially of the back. The aim of the treatment is to remove disturbances that occur in the scar tissue (tissue that is scarred or torn by injury or any other reason that could stretch it, causing it to snap).

Origins of the Technique

• The Graston technique owes its origin to the athlete, David Graston, who devised the technique in the early 1990's after being frustrated at the lack of effective rehabilitation methods. His patented technique was researched at the Ball Memorial Hospital and Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. It now has over 6,500 practitioners, and is part of curriculum at nearly 30 educational institutions.

What Is GT?

• When using the Gastron technique, six instruments that are made of stainless steel are shaped in concave or convex shapes, with curvilinear edges. These instruments are designed to adjust to the outlines of the body, so that different instruments are used for different shapes. The instruments are used to facilitate greater and easier access to the tissue. Their hard, stainless steel substance makes penetration into the soft tissue more effective. GT can be viewed as a massaging technique that is done using instruments. The practitioner's skill lies in making the instruments hover over the affected area until the torn tissue is located.

The Process

• When you undergo a session using the Gastron technique, you begin with warm-up exercises and use an ice pack just before starting the session. Using the set of six instruments, the GT practitioner stretches connective tissue until it connects to the muscle fibers. The kind of instrument that is needed for different parts and tissues depends on the nature, location and extent of the scar. The technician decides on all these factors. Once the tissues are put back into place, you should start feeling normal. This usually takes about 2 to 3 weeks in most cases, when the technique is done 2 or 3 times a week. Since GT is a noninvasive technique and is not a surgery, few side effects can be expected. Moreover, GT does not employ even anti-inflammatory or antipyretic medications. About the only feeling a patient who undergoes this treatment may experience is the sensation caused by the rubbing of the hard instrument on the site of injury. The technique may also cause a feeling of heat, which is something it actually seeks to induce. This feeling is short-lived and is considered part of the healing process.