East Bay Chiropractic Wellness P.C.

Graston

Yard Work Injuries and the Graston Technique®: Protecting Your Back This Fall

by Leave a Comment

The first real cleanup weekend of fall has a way of sneaking up on you. The maples and oaks finally let go, the lawn disappears under a layer of red and gold, and suddenly there are gutters to clear, garden beds to cut back, and a dozen bags to fill before the town’s pickup day. You get it all done in one long Saturday, feel pretty good about it, and then wake up Sunday morning barely able to bend over to put on your socks.

That pattern shows up at our Bellmore office every October and November, and it is rarely bad luck. Fall yard work asks your back to do hours of bending, pulling, twisting, and lifting that it probably has not done since last spring. Understanding why it goes wrong, and what to do when it does, can make the difference between a sore weekend and a strain that lingers into the holidays. If you are already dealing with an ache, our back and neck pain care page explains how we approach these complaints at the practice.

[Read more…] about Yard Work Injuries and the Graston Technique®: Protecting Your Back This Fall

Treating Muscle Knots with the Graston Technique®

by Leave a Comment

You can usually find them with your fingertips — those small, tender, rope-like spots buried in the muscles of your upper traps, your lower back, or the side of your hip. You press, and they push back. You stretch, and they refuse to soften. Sometimes they radiate a dull ache far from where you are pressing, leaving you wondering why your shoulder hurts when the source of the trouble seems to be somewhere else entirely. These stubborn pockets of restricted tissue are commonly called muscle knots, and they are one of the most frequent — and most frustrating — reasons patients walk into our office.

Muscle knots feel deceptively simple to fix. Roll them out, press them harder, stretch them more — surely something will give. But anyone who has lived with a recurring knot in the shoulder or low back knows the truth: most of these tight spots simply do not respond to general stretching or self-massage in the long term. The reason has less to do with the muscle itself and more to do with the layers of connective tissue surrounding it. If you have already read about how stubborn restrictions interact with muscle tightness when returning to exercise, this article picks up where that one left off and focuses specifically on what to do when a knot will not let go.

[Read more…] about Treating Muscle Knots with the Graston Technique®

Muscle Tightness When Returning to Exercise

by Leave a Comment

You decided to get moving again. Maybe it was a New Year’s resolution, a doctor’s recommendation, or simply the realization that your body felt different after months (or years) away from regular activity. So, you laced up your sneakers, picked up the weights, and pushed through that first workout. Now, two days later, every step feels heavier than the last, your hamstrings refuse to fully lengthen, and even reaching into the cabinet for a coffee mug seems to involve muscles you forgot you had.

Muscle tightness when returning to exercise is one of the most common — and most discouraging — experiences for adults reentering a fitness routine. It is also one of the most misunderstood. The discomfort you feel is not necessarily a punishment for taking time off, but rather your body’s way of recalibrating. Understanding what is happening, how long it should last, and when to seek targeted care can make the difference between sticking with your routine and quitting before you start to see results.

At East Bay Chiropractic Wellness P.C. in Bellmore, NY, we work with patients every week who are navigating exactly this challenge. This guide will walk you through the physiology of post-workout soreness, evidence-based strategies to ease it, and the role chiropractic care — particularly the Graston Technique® — plays in helping you move with less stiffness and more confidence.

[Read more…] about Muscle Tightness When Returning to Exercise

Graston Technique® For Shoulder Injuries

by 1 Comment

Our shoulders are the most moveable joints in our body. It is comprised of three bones, with the ball of the upper arm bone keeping it secure by being larger than the shoulder socket and surrounded by muscles, tendons and ligaments. While the shoulder is impressive, it also means that a shoulder injury has the potential to be very complicated to recover from.

Depending on the severity of the injury, shoulder surgery may be suggested to you as an option. Surgical options, however, always come with some level of risk of complications, and can require further surgeries. Below we will discuss how to best recover from a range of shoulder injuries without surgical intervention.

[Read more…] about Graston Technique® For Shoulder Injuries

Treatment Alternatives Before A Cortisone Shot

by Leave a Comment

You or someone you know have likely had a cortisone shot or had been recommended to have one by a doctor as an option for pain relief. Cortisone is a steroid that when used in this way can combat inflammation in soft tissue temporarily. Although this can be helpful to some, the relief typically lasts for only 3-6 months and doesn’t heal the affected area.

Because cortisone shots have no ability to heal you when they work, many have looked for alternatives to cortisone shots. We’ll discuss more about cortisone shots and their alternatives below.

[Read more…] about Treatment Alternatives Before A Cortisone Shot

Why The Graston Technique® Is Great for Treating Tendinopathies

by

As we get older, our bodies become less flexible and require more stretching to help compensate for the increased stiffness. This is not just the case for our muscles, but for other soft tissue, including our tendons. Chronic pain at one or more tendons is referred to as tendinopathy.

Tendinopathies can be quite painful. Fortunately, treatments like the Graston Technique® can help people recover faster.

What Is Tendinopathy?

Tendinopathy refers to chronic or recurring tendon pain and dysfunction. It typically falls into one of two categories:

  • Tendinitis: Inflammation caused by overuse or repetitive strain, leading to swelling and tenderness.
  • Tendinosis: A more degenerative condition where collagen in the tendon breaks down, causing stiffness and reduced elasticity.

In many cases, patients may experience both conditions at once, especially if the issue has developed gradually over time.

How Do You Fix Tendinopathy?

This will depend on multiple factors, including the severity and length of time the individual in question has been experiencing tendinopathy. At first, you will often find rest, icing the affected area, and anti-inflammatory medication are recommended in treating tendinopathy in addition to chiropractic care.

Is Muscle Scraping Good for Tendinitis?

In addition to more commonly administered chiropractic care, the Graston Technique® is highly recommended for treating tendinopathies such as tendinitis. This technique requires specialized training and certification, which means it is not offered through most chiropractic offices.

By utilizing specialized stainless steel tools, the administering chiropractor is able to locate the deeply buried scar tissue and adhesions over your affected tendon that are invisible to the naked eye. After it’s located, the tools are then used to break up the adhesions to relieve your pain and restore your range of motion.

The Graston Technique® to treat tendinitis typically requires twice-weekly sessions over the course of about a month. Many patients begin to experience relief within just three to four treatments, depending on the condition’s severity.

East Bay Chiropractic Wellness Can Expedite Your Recovery from Injuries & Tendinitis

At East Bay Chiropractic Wellness P.C., we take a comprehensive approach to treating tendinopathy and chronic tendon pain. Our team provides chiropractic adjustments, massage therapy, stretching and strengthening exercises, and certified Graston Technique® treatments to target the source of your discomfort. Whether you’re dealing with pain in your elbows, shoulders, knees, hips, neck, or back, we’ll work closely with you to improve mobility, reduce inflammation, and accelerate healing. Schedule your appointment today for a full evaluation and let us help you restore comfort and quality of life.