East Bay Chiropractic Wellness P.C.

Graston

What Is the Difference Between Graston and Gua Sha?

by

Chiropractic care can help relieve stress and pain in the body and improve our overall quality of life. Many chiropractors have a similar set of skills they can implement to give their clients relief, which includes spinal manipulation and massage therapy, as well as more specialized skills, such as the ancient Chinese practice of acupuncture. Other separately specialized skills like acupuncture include the ancient practice of Gua Sha and specifically, the Graston technique.

So, is there a difference between Gua Sha and the Graston Technique®?

Are Graston And Gua Sha The Same?

Gua Sha

Similar to acupuncture, Gua Sha also finds its roots in ancient China. This practice dates back to the Paleolithic age and predates acupuncture by thousands of years. Traditional Gua Sha involves scraping parts of the body with a smoothed edge tool, such as a spoon, a coin, or a tool made of gemstone. The goal is to reduce inflammation and improve circulation by bringing blood to the targeted area to expedite the healing process, which is why the scraping of the skin with a smooth-edged tool, when done properly, creates small red dots under the skin.

The Graston Technique®

In terms of approach, the Graston Technique® is part of the greater Gua Sha umbrella. Unlike traditional Gua Sha and some of its other offshoots, including facial Gua Sha, the Graston Technique® involves using tools that target the deeper muscles and tendons rather than focusing on the skin and the capillaries on the surface. A certified Graston Technique® Specialist (GTS), like Dr. Marmorale can target damaged muscle tissue and fascia to smooth it out and relax it, reducing pain and restoring range of motion.

Is Graston Better Than Massage?

When it comes to chiropractic care, the best treatment is the one that is right for tackling your pain or discomfort head-on. A chiropractor should first meet with you and give you an evaluation to see what the source or sources of your pain are so they can work with you on a treatment plan. While the Graston Technique® is great for addressing deep-tissue trauma, massage therapy is just an entirely different approach.

You can expect the Graston Technique® to be applied to affected areas for about a minute at a time. Meanwhile, a massage therapy session could be anywhere from an hour to an hour and a half. While massage therapy does cover affected areas, it is also an overall more encompassing therapy, whereas the Graston Technique® is very targeted. The two forms of therapy are not mutually exclusive; consult with a chiropractor on what will work best for you.

East Bay Chiropractic Wellness P. C. Can Help Treat Many Common Conditions Safely and Efficiently

For more than 35 years, East Bay Chiropractic Wellness P.C. has been providing a wide range of chiropractic services to best fit your needs. We are proudly one of Long Island’s only Graston Technique® specialists and have been for more than a decade, giving our clients access to expanded care options that are simply unavailable elsewhere. By utilizing a combination of chiropractic care and recommended lifestyle changes, we can help you reduce your pain and increase your quality of life. Reach out to us at (516) 679-2225, or you can schedule your appointment online.

Can the Graston Technique Treat Arthritis?

by

Arthritis is the number one cause of disability in the United States, affecting all genders, ethnicities, and age brackets. The idea that only old people are subject to it is a popular misconception, thanks in part to all the movies and commercials that depict arthritis in the hands as a trait of the elderly. People from all walks of life are subject to this unpleasant pain and swelling. Fortunately, these days we literally have better tools with which to combat them thanks to the Graston Technique®.

How Do You Treat Arthritis Pain?

Depending on the type of arthritis and its severity, treatment can vary. While some severe cases can even require surgery, the vast majority do not. There are a number of medications and therapies that can be helpful, depending on the arthritis symptoms involved, with the majority of them focused on arthritis pain relief and restoring lost range of motion.

Is Chiropractic Good for Arthritis?

The Arthritis Foundation considers chiropractic care to be among the safest methodologies for easing pain. It does so by reducing inflammation in the tissue surrounding the affected joint. One must be careful, though; if there is active inflammation along the spine or neck, you should seek a different approach. Inflammatory ailments such as rheumatoid arthritis or psoriatic arthritis also require specialized treatment.

When appropriately used, chiropractic can also sometimes address the root issues behind the arthritis and help not only ease symptoms but help to prevent further damage.

Can Graston Help with Arthritis?

The Graston Technique® has a proven history of being effective at providing joint pain relief. This methodology involves the use of smooth, stainless steel tools which are moved across the skin and musculature in order to promote soft tissue mobilization. This breaks up adhesions, knots, and other fascial restrictions resulting in the reduction of pain and partial or full return of range of motion.

Does Graston Help with Inflammation?

Yes, the Graston Technique® can help reduce pain and inflammation. The instruments used allow the practitioner to break up muscular adhesions and restrictions in the affected tissues through selective application of pressure. Doing this triggers the body’s healing cycle and usually results in tangible results within a few sessions.

East Bay Chiropractic Wellness: Your Graston Technique® Specialists

We’ve been providing chiropractic care for more than 30 years and have been specializing in the Graston Technique® Specialist since 2008. Our practice was the first on Long Island to be certified in the use of the technique. Contact East Bay Chiropractic today or call (516) 679-2225 and let’s make your chronic pain a thing of the past.

Graston Technique® and Headaches

by

In June 2018, the U.S. government officially recognized National Migraine & Headache Awareness Month as a national health observance to raise awareness of a problem that affects millions. While people suffering from these conditions are all too aware of them, it’s important that you understand the causes and potential relief for these conditions.

[Read more…] about Graston Technique® and Headaches

Graston Technique for Shin Splints

by

It happens every spring… we see a wave of patients experiencing shin pain. The issue often turns out to be shin splints – also known as medial tibial stress syndrome – a common lower leg injury that causes pain along the inner side of the shinbone. Shin splint cases soar in April when people resume physical activities that may have been on the back burner during cold weather downtime.

[Read more…] about Graston Technique for Shin Splints

Graston® for Iliotibial Band Syndrome or ITBS

by

Are you experiencing leg pain that runs from your hip to your knee? It could be iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS).

Iliotibial band syndrome is caused when friction against the knee or hip bones aggravates the Iliotibial band. The Iliotibial band is a tendon on the exterior side of the leg that runs from the top of your hip to your knee.

Common symptoms that might indicate ITBS include:

  • Pain ranging from the outer knee to the upper hip.
  • A clicking or grinding in the knee.
  • Pain in these areas that gets worse with activity.

Runner’s leg, as it is commonly called, is just one example of how ITBS can manifest.

[Read more…] about Graston® for Iliotibial Band Syndrome or ITBS

Can The Graston Treatment Treat TMJ?

by

The temporomandibular joint, or TMJ, is the pair of joints on the sides of your head that connect your jaw to your skull so your mouth can function properly. Unfortunately, like any part of your body, you can develop a disorder around your TMJ that causes pain, which is known as TMD for short. This could result from an injury, arthritis, bad habits like grinding your teeth, or even some diseases.

Now that we know some of the causes of a TMJ disorder, what can you do to experience relief from the jaw pain and discomfort?

[Read more…] about Can The Graston Treatment Treat TMJ?