Most Health Plan's
Accepted |
Our goal is to get you back doing the things you have been limited or
unable to do because of spinal or digestive issues. |
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Graston
Soft Tissue Technique
utilizes "ceramic" of different shapes and sizes that
help break up scar tissue. |
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Specific
Conditions Graston Can Help |
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• Supraspinatus tendinosis / tendonitis
• Rotar cuff tendinosis / tendonitis
• Tennis elbow
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Trigger fingers
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• Joint capsulitis in the hand and feet
• Facet joint capsulitis in the spine
• Patellar tendonitis
• Achilles' tendonitis
• Chronic foot joint pain
• Heel spurs |
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All
tissue in the body except for bones is considered to be soft tissue. The
purpose for most soft tissue in the body is mobility. With repetitive
monor injuries over long periods of time the soft tissue become less flexible.
This loss of flexibility can produce chronic pain and weakness in muscles,
tendons and ligaments. |
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Inflammation
is the bodies attempt to heal itself from injuries. Injuries can be major
as major as falling down a flight of stairs. More common though are subtle
injuries like typing all day. Typing causes overuse micro-inflammations
that occur on a daily basis and accumulate over years in the muscle around
the elbow. These small daily inflammations occur in muscles and tendons
of all people. |
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The
final step in the process of inflammation is the formation and lying down
of scar tissue. When scar tissue is laid down in a soft tissue structure,
(and tissue other than bone), it is laid down in a disorganized way by
the body. Disorganized scar tissue is bad scar tissue, (see figure
A).
The disorganization of scar tissue causes the body to become hyperensitive
in that area and eventually the matted scar tissue causes pain and limitation
of motion. This pain cycle is not stopped until the scar tissue is mobilized
and lines up along the natural lines of stress in the soft tissue. Scar
tissue is never dissolved. When scar tissue lines up along the lines of
stress in soft tissue it will not trigger pain, this is good scar tissue,
(see figure B). |
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Thick lines are
scar tissue |
Thin lines are
normal scar tissue |
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Q. |
What
does not work when treating scar tissue? |
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A. |
Anti-inflammatories
taken by mouth or cortisone shots can do nothing to mobilize and organize
scar tissue. The affects these measures have are only found in temporary
pain relief. You will continually have to take these medications to "feel
better". Exercising a muscle, tendon or joint that is bound up by scar
tissue will only cause inflammation and more scar tissue formation. |
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A. |
Since
we are trying to break up scar tissue that in most cases has been present
for years, a certain amount of pain is common while performing the technique.
The most pain you will experience will be during the first 2-3 treatments.
it is also common to feel "beat-up" after a session and tired.
Another thing that is common is bruising. If you experience brusing over
the treatment site please be assured that this is a normal response to care.
The more scar tissue present the more you will bruise. If, after your first
treatment you will feel that you cannot tolerate Graston please tell Dr.
Lucas. This technique can be modified so it does not irritate you as much.
Please remember this is the best way to eliminate chronic joint and muscle
pains. |
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Soft
tissues; meaning muscle tendon, joint capsules or fascial planes that
are adheased with scar tissue can be mobilized and the scar tissues made
more flexible with the Graston Technique. Graston Technique is the modern
day equivalent of the soft tissue approach invented by Dr. Cyriax in the
1940's. |
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Homework
that helps the process |
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We
will recommend simple stretching maneuvers that you need to do at home
that will help realign the scar tissue once we have mobilized it with
Graston instruments. |
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The end result is to have a muscle, tendon or joint that no
longer hurts, is stronger, and has as much of a full range of motion,
as possible. |
(708)
361-5455
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