Tag: back

Understanding the Graston Technique, How It Works, and Who It Helps

There are more than 15,000 clinicians who practice the Graston Technique around the world. Did you know that even professional athletes use this technique to help with their muscle recovery? The San Antonio Spurs and Texas A&M University are a few teams that use this technique.

The Graston Technique includes tools that are used to help break down soft tissue and aid in your muscle recovery. Tense or sore muscles can be debilitating and if not treated properly, can result in permanent damage. 

You might not be aware of the Graston Technique or what it can be used for. In this article, we give you an inside look into what the technique is, what the tools are, and how this non-invasive, natural massage technique can help heal your muscles faster. 

What is the Graston Technique?

According to Spine-health, the Graston Technique is a form of manual therapy known as soft-tissue instrument-assisted mobilization. It is one of the many techniques that uses tools to help break down scar tissue. 

This technique is often done by chiropractors, physiotherapists, athletic trainers, sports massage therapists, and more. The tools used in the technique help the therapist find problems and heal the muscles faster. This technique is beneficial in breaking up fascial restrictions and scar tissue adhesions, as well as detecting areas of chronic inflammation and/or fibrosis. 

Qualified sports massage therapists often use this technique on clients who do a lot of training or have suffered severe trauma to a muscle group. Their clients often see tremendous results and walk away feeling less pain, in addition to having a better range of motion. 

A 2017 study tested the therapeutic effectiveness of IASTM (a treatment similar to Graston that uses tools to help find and treat soft tissue damage). Patients in the study who had sustained an injury to their patellar tendon improved 23-44% with 5 sessions over a 4 week period.

What is the Graston tool and how does it work?

There are six core tools that are used during this technique. The tools are made from stainless steel which makes it easy to clean and sterilize them. The tools are concave and convex- shaped. The shape of the tool is important because it allows the therapist to almost mold the tool around the muscle that is injured. The edges are rounded and not sharp so that the patient does not get hurt. 

The instruments are used to scan over as well as to detect areas of injured fibrotic tissue. The professional will apply more pressure towards the heart as this will help increase blood flow to the area of concern. The stainless steel also feels cold at the beginning which is good because the cold will help to bring down any inflammation that might be caused during the treatment. 

How did this technique come about?

The Graston Technique was invented by an athlete by the name of David Graston. His journey began when he was unable to recover fully from a knee injury he got when he was water skiing. During his downtime, he started to think about normal manual massage style therapy in regards to his own knowledge of tools. He then decided to design a set of tools that would assist in his rehab. The concept behind this was derived from the cross-friction technique, which was designed by orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Cyriax. From there, the Graston Technique was born. and is now used by thousands of people around the world. 

What is the Graston Technique massage? 

The massage begins with the patient lying on the treatment bed. The tools will be gently brushed against the area of concern to find knots in the muscles that are causing the problem. The therapist will then use a cross-friction massage technique that involves brushing or rubbing against the direction of the muscle fiber or the scar tissue. The aim is to reintroduce small amounts of trauma to the muscle of concern. This is not done to harm the patient. Instead, the trauma will allow the therapist to break down the scar tissue so that the muscle can heal correctly. 

This technique can cause temporary inflammation in the area of concern. You might also get a few superficial bruises. This will increase the blow flow in and around the area. The theory is that this process will help initiate and promote the healing process of the affected soft tissues. 

Even if you go in to have your back treated, you may also get your hip flexors, hamstrings, shoulders, and other regions treated as well. This is because the technique is rendered along the kinetic chain. This means that any part of your body that is connected to the pain through the fascial network will be treated as well. 

The massage can be between 30-90 minutes depending on what the issue is and how much work needs to be done on the area. Keep in mind that you might feel a bit tender after the treatment. This is normal. Go home and apply some heat to the area. Once the muscle calms down from the trauma, your muscles will relax and feel a lot better. 

Who Graston Therapy Can Help

Who will benefit from Graston therapy? 

At the end of the day, most people can benefit in one way or another from the Graston Technique. It is used to help treat injuries that are caused by trauma to the muscle. You can cause trauma to a muscle by exercising when you are not warmed up, from an accident, after surgery and more. 

If you stay in one position for too long during the day, your muscles begin to get stiff and can cause pain and discomfort. The Graston Technique will help relieve the pain quickly. There are several advantages to the patient from using the Graston Technique, including:

• Decreased treatment time
• Faster muscle rehabilitation 
• Less need to ingest anti-inflammatory medication
• Possible resolution of chronic conditions such as chronic pain 

A 2020 study tested how effective the Graston Technique is. Patients who had the Graston massage saw significant improvement when they combined the massage with physical exercise. When combined, exercise and the Graston Technique showed good results for patients who were recovering from traumatic injuries, muscle strains, and spinal or back pain. 

What can Graston therapy treat?

Even though the Graston Technique has only become popular in the last couple of years, it has been clinically proven to achieve results in conditions such as, but not limited to:

• Neck pain
• Muscle sprains
• Muscle strains
• Achilles tendinosis
• Achilles tendinitis
• Tennis elbow
• Golfer’s elbow
• Plantar fasciitis
• Shoulder pain
• Post-surgical scar tissue
• Shin splints
• Trigger finger

A pilot study was done in 2006 to study the effect of the Graston Technique on people who suffer from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. The study found that there was an improvement in nerve conduction and wrist strength as well as wrist motion. The patients found that the improvements were maintained even 3 months after the treatments were completed. 

Therapists and medical professionals use this technique to help their bodies deal with the muscle trauma and strain that their jobs put on their body. People in all different types of professions turn to the Graston Technique to help reduce their recovery time. Treatment will result in less time that you’re unable to work, as well as other lifestyle improvements. Less pain means that you will be able to do your job better and not have to worry about your muscle aches slowing you down at work or in life.

Conclusion 

The Graston Technique is used by many athletes, including Noemy Clayborn, 24-time Marathon Finisher and Ultra-Runner. She said of the technique, “Even though the stainless steel tools look unusual, the Graston Technique has brought me much relief. GT breaks up scar tissue fibers and smoothes the tissue underneath. It has increased my range of motion and decreased the inflammation and pain that I’ve experienced. GT has sped up the recovery time for every one of my injuries.”

The Graston Technique has a lot of benefits for the patient. Chronic pain limits you in your daily activities; by going for regular treatments, you will be able to look after your muscles holistically. You’ll walk away feeling a bit tender, but knowing that your muscles will recover more quickly. 

Tips to keep in mind

• The Graston Technique should work fairly quickly. If after 6 sessions you still feel the same pain, you need to go seek medical help, as there could be something else going on.
• Drink water after your session to help hydrate your body so that it can get rid of toxins that were built up during your session.
• Heat on the treated muscles will help get rid of the tender feeling, and help your muscles recover faster.
• You are breaking down scar tissue during the treatment, so a bit of discomfort is normal. If you feel extreme pain, pins and needles or numbness during the session, you need to let the professional know right away. 

To find out more about different natural and holistic techniques that can help heal your muscles and reduce your pain, sign up for our emailing services.

Understanding What Posture Adjustment Braces Are and How They Help

People around the world suffer from discomfort and pain stemming from their back. Did you know that around 500,000 Americans have back surgery every year for lower back problems alone? That means that Americans spend around $ 11 billion each year on operations to relieve back pain.  

A posture adjustment brace, or a back brace, is a non-surgical treatment used to help relieve back pain, help correct your posture, and mobilize your muscles to prevent unnecessary muscle pain and discomfort.  

This article will give you a better understanding of posture adjustment braces, how they work, and if you will see benefits from wearing the brace. 

What is a posture adjustment brace?

A posture adjustment brace is designed to gently pull your back muscles back into alignment. This will result in less pressure being exerted on your back muscles. With less pressure, you will get less pain and allow the muscles that are inflamed or hurt to heal better. 

There are different braces for different issues. For example, if you have problems in your upper back, you will get a brace that wraps around your shoulder area to bring your shoulders down and your rhomboid muscles (angel wing muscles) together to correct your posture. These braces not only help correct your posture but will also help you experience less pain and numbness, as well as fewer headaches. 

You may also be given a brace to wear after surgery. These braces are designed to help you during your healing process and take pressure off your muscles. 

The benefits of wearing a posture adjustment brace

There are many benefits to using posture adjustment braces. First and foremost, the braces can help reduce pain. According to Healthgrades, about a quarter of the American population suffer from back pain for at least 1 day in a 3 month period. 

Correcting your posture using the brace can also result in a better mood. 

Other benefits include:

• Avoidance of irreversible damage to your spine
• Improved flexibility and joint movement
• Improved overall balance 
• Easier breathing, as the brace gives your lungs more room to expand
• A faster healing process

Do posture adjustment braces work?

People are of two minds about the braces. On the one hand, it does the work for your muscles, but on the other hand, it can cause your muscles to rely on the brace and your muscles become lazy. 

A study was done back in 2013, in which researchers tested to see if a brace helps the posture and alignment of the scapula. They found that the brace did in fact improve posture, as well as the muscle activity. 

The trick to ensuring that the brace will do more good than harm is to only wear the brace when it is needed. You do not want to rely on the brace. Rather, use a brace when you are injured or in pain, and do exercises to help strengthen the muscles so that you correct your posture yourself and will not have to rely on the brace for support all the time. It is all about balance. 

Conclusion 

There are a few things for you to take away from this article:

1. Posture adjustment braces do work when used correctly.
2. Do not rely on the brace. Only use it when you need it or a medical professional has told you to use it.
3. Slowly start to strengthen your muscles to better your posture using your own muscles.
4. If your pain does not ease or go away after 8 weeks, seek medical attention, as there could be something more serious happening.

To learn more about posture and how you can improve your posture the natural and holistic way, feel free to sign up for our emailing services. 

Understanding What Posture Adjustment Is, and Who Will Benefit From It

Did you know that correct posture plays a huge role in your overall health? Have you ever questioned why that is? Good posture can be defined as a position in which your muscles and bones hold your body straight against gravity. 

When you have good posture, your muscles will need menial effort and pressure to hold your body up. Once you get into the bad habit of letting your posture get slouchy, you will start to feel pain, discomfort, muscle imbalance, and you may even have digestive issues. 

In this article, we will explain what posture adjustment is, who needs it, and what side posture adjustment is. 

What is posture adjustment?

Posture adjustment is a treatment that your chiropractor will perform to help improve your posture. This treatment aims to work on the areas that cause bad posture. During a posture adjustment, you will lie treatment bed in different positions. The chiropractor will make certain adjustments to joints in your body that are causing your bad posture. 

Bad posture can be caused by:

• Stress
• Obesity
• Pregnancy
• Weak postural muscles
• Abnormally tight muscles
• High-heeled shoes 
• Poor work environment
• Incorrect working posture
• Overall bad posture when you sit, stand, or do daily activities 

Who needs posture adjustments?

If we are being honest, most of us need posture adjustments at least once in our lives. When you get tired, you tend to get lazy and your muscles have to work harder. This can cause our bones, vertebrae, or joints to move out of place, which will result in pain. 

For you to get the best out of your chiropractic treatments, there are a few things that you can do to help ensure that you keep the best posture:

• Make sure your workspace is ergonomically correct
• Take regular breaks and change your position 
• Stretch out your muscles
• Use the correct pillows to keep your neck straight
• Do not spend too much time on your phone, as you will develop “texting neck”
• Ask your chiropractor for some exercises you can do at home to help with your posture 

What is side posture adjustment?

Side posture adjustment is when you lie on your side or with your leg bent. This will allow your chiropractor to adjust your spine at a side angle, which will help release stress and pain in your lower back. 

A clinical trial was done in November 2002 that focused on the effect of side posture adjustment. The study found that there was a significant difference in overall posture when using this technique. The patients also said that they felt less pain. 

Conclusion 

The average American spends more than 3 and a half hours looking down at their phones every day. A survey was done by Orlando Health and they found that 47% of the people who took part in the survey were concerned about their posture. 

More than 80% of Americans suffer from back pain at least once in their life. By ensuring that you have the correct posture, you can avoid much of the discomfort. 

Keep in mind:

• Bad posture can be corrected
• Regular chiropractic adjustments can help ensure that you maintain muscle balance
• Always make sure you go to a chiropractor who is trained and qualified in the area you are concerned with 

To learn more about chiropractic treatments and how they can help you live a fuller and healthier life, sign up for our emailing services. 

How Spine Adjustments Work, When It’s Safe to Do Your Own, and When You Need a Professional 

Did you know that nearly 65 million Americans have reported that they suffer from back pain? Within that number, 16 million American adults experience chronic, persistent back pain. Chronic pain limits people in their daily lives, and unfortunately, is quite common throughout the population. In fact, back pain is the 6th most costly condition in the United States alone. 

Spinal adjustments can help with the pain and ensure that you can go about your daily life with fewer limitations. 

In this article, we will share what spinal adjustment is, how it is performed, and if you can safely adjust your spine on your own. 

What is a spine adjustment?

According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, spinal adjustment, which is also known as spinal manipulation, is a technique where practitioners use their hands or a device to apply a controlled thrust to a joint of your spine. The amount of force that they use can vary, but the thrust moves the joint more than it would on its own. 

This technique is mainly done by chiropractors, but other licensed professionals, including osteopathic physicians and physical therapists, also do spinal manipulations. Spine adjustment is one of the most common complementary health approaches used by adults and children in the United States. 

How does a chiropractor adjust your spine?

Spinal adjustment is a fairly simple treatment, and is of the most common chiropractic treatments. Before you start your session, the chiropractor will do an assessment. This will determine how severe your case is and if they can help you through alternative therapy or if you need to go seek a surgeon. 

Before they perform the adjustment, the chiropractor might massage the muscles a little bit to help them become warm. This will prevent muscle injury during the manipulation and can make the manipulation a bit easier. 

You will lie down on the treatment bed and the chiropractor or other professional will physically adjust your joints and tissues in your spine to help reduce pain and inflammation. They may also use a hand-held device known as an activator to help with your treatment. 

Keep in mind: Once the joint gives way, you might hear a pop or cracking noise. This is normal. You need to stay calm and realize that the sound is normal. The sound is caused by small pockets of air or bubbles in the fluid that surrounds your joints. When the tissue in your joints are stretched during your adjustment, the pockets of air pop, which creates that sound you are hearing. 

Can you adjust your spine yourself?

Have you noticed how often people crack their neck? It is a common misconception that once you hear that pop, you have adjustment your neck or spine back into place. This is not true. When you hear that pop, your body releases endorphins which are hormones that make you feel good. Endorphins only last in your bloodstream for about 15-20 minutes. Once they leave your bloodstream, you need to crack your neck once again. 

Just because you hear the same pop when you do it yourself does not mean you have adjusted your spine correctly. Chiropractors place their hands in specific spots to ensure that they are adjusting the correct joint that is out of place. You cannot know for sure that you have adjusted the right joint or vertebrae that is causing your pain. 

To conclude, you cannot adjust your spine yourself the same way that a chiropractor can. You can create the pop, which will release your happy hormones and give you temporary relief, but for a spinal adjustment that is going to last and cause the right joints and vertebrae to go back into their proper place, you need to seek out a professional. 

When to adjust yourself and when to go to a professional 

As we have now learnt, you cannot adjust your back by yourself, but you can crack your back to give you temporary relief. The safe way for you to crack your back is to do back exercises, stretches, pilates, or yoga. These techniques will help you stretch out your muscles and help you feel less pain. 

Stretches and exercises that are designed to help the muscles in your back can be done at home. Often a professional like a chiropractor will give you some stretches to do at home to help ensure that you get the best out of the treatment. These stretches will benefit you if you suffer from the following:

• Limited range of motion 
• Pain in your back or neck area
• Pain caused by staying in the same position for long periods of time 

You need to go to a professional to adjust your spine when you have:

• A pinched nerve
• Specific surgery 
• Experienced whiplash 
• Chronic pain or trauma to a specific area
• Chronic headaches
• Sciatica

Conclusion 

Experts have estimated that up to 80% of the American population will experience back pain at some point in their lives. Back pain can affect you no matter what your age is or how healthy you might think you are. Spinal adjustment or manipulation that is done by a professional can help you reduce your chronic pain and discomfort.

Takeaways:

• Never force any of your joints to crack/pop
• If your pain does not subside, seek medical advice 
• During your spinal adjustment, remember to keep taking deep breaths and keep your body as relaxed as possible. The adjustment will be easier. 
• If your joints pop when you are exercising or moving around and it is not sore, you don’t need to worry. If the pop sound happens and there is pain, you need to see a chiropractor. 

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How To Go About Finding the Right Chiropractor For You and Your Needs 

Did you know that chiropractic treatment is the third largest “primary” health profession in the U.S. today? America has the largest number of chiropractors in the world. With all the treatment options out there, it can be hard to find the best chiropractor for you and your needs. 

In this article, we are going to share ways in which you can find the best chiropractors for you, and how to ensure that you find someone who specializes in your specific condition. 

How to find a chiropractor

If you have pain or discomfort that has been seen by a doctor, they might refer you to a qualified chiropractor that they work with and trust. If you have pain and have not seen someone about it but know that you need a chiropractor, here are two ways in which you can find a qualified chiropractor in the U.S. 

1. Heathgrades.com
   This is a website that you can visit to find a licensed chiropractor. You can also see their qualifications, as well as read reviews from other patients. 
2. American Chiropractic Association
   Just like a doctor, there is a board to which chiropractors belong. This board looks out not only for professional members, but for their patients as well. Click on their site, and find the search option. State the area in which you wish to find a qualified practitioner, and you are good to go.  

You can also ask your friends and reach out on social media to find people in your area. Keep in mind that you want to make sure that you go to someone who is trained, so even though social media and word of mouth are great options, the best option is to go through the professional channels and boards. 

How to find a chiropractor that specializes in what you need

The best way for you to find someone who specializes in what you need is to do some research into what education they have. You will be able to see if they have specialized in your area of concern. 

The sites we listed above show the qualifications of the chiropractors. Once you have picked one, call their office to make sure that the information online is correct.  

Questions to ask before you book your appointment 

Before you go for your first consultation, you need to ask the chiropractor a few questions to make sure that they are the right fit for you. 

Call the chiropractor and ask the following questions. These questions will help you make an informed decision about whether this person is the right fit for you or not. 

• How long will the treatment session be?
• Does my medical insurance cover the appointments?
• How much will the session cost me? 
• Does the chiropractor specialize in the area of concern?
• Do I need to bring X-rays or lab tests? 
• Will I be seen by the same chiropractor each time? 

These are the basic questions you need to ask before you commit to making an appointment with that specific person. 

How much does an average chiropractic treatment cost?

According to Truespinebend, the average price per session is around $65.00 per visit. That being said, in general, the more qualified the person is, the more they will charge. 

Conclusion 

Finding a chiropractor that suits your needs can be difficult, but if you follow the advice we have given you, you will find the best chiropractor for you and your needs.  

To find out more about chiropractic care, click here.

What Is Chiropractic Treatment and How Can It Help You? 

Did you know that it is estimated that chiropractors treat more than 35 million American every year? This number includes adults and children. It is also estimated that by the end of 2020, there were around 80,000 chiropractors in America. 

There is a lot of stigma around chiropractic care. You might not know much about this natural treatment option, or how it can help you manage your pain or certain conditions, such as constipation or headaches. 

In this article, we are going to share with you what exactly a chiropractor is, how they can help you, and when it is best for you seek one out for help. 

What is chiropractic care?

Chiropractic care is a treatment whereby a chiropractor uses hands-on spinal manipulation, as well as other treatment plans. The theory behind this is that when you make sure you have proper alignment of the body’s musculoskeletal structure, particularly the spine, this will enable the body to heal itself without surgery or medication. 

According to WebMD, chiropractic treatments are mainly used as a pain relief alternative to medication for muscles, joints, bones, and connective tissue, such as cartilage, ligaments, and tendons. 

Why do people go to chiropractors?

People seek out help from chiropractors for many different reasons. A qualified chiropractor is trained to ensure that your body is functioning at its optimal capacity. They use spinal manipulations to relieve chronic pain in your joints and muscles. 

Once you have had an adjustment, your blood flow will increase, which will result in better nerve conductivity to the joints and muscles that are sending out the pain signals. 

What are the risks with this treatment?

A lot of people are scared to go for adjustments because there is a stigma around chiropractic treatments. Unfortunately, some people believe that you can be severely harmed during one of the sessions. 

There are risks with this treatment option just like there are risks with all treatment options out there. A study was done back in 2008 that determined that the most dangerous result from an adjustment is a vertebrobasilar stroke. This is when one of the two main arteries are slightly ruptured internally. 

The study concluded that this injury happened in 818 people out of 100 million people. Severe injury during a chiropractic session with a qualified chiropractor is extremely uncommon.

When should you seek a chiropractor?

You should see a chiropractor if you are experiencing any of these symptoms: 

• Limited range of motion
• Suffer from frequent headaches
• Suffer from chronic pain in your muscles or joints
• Sinus congestion 
• Numbness or tingling in your arms or legs
• Just had an accident and suffer from whiplash 

A chiropractor is not a professional that you need to see on an ongoing basis. People go to the chiropractor when they need help with:

• Chronic pain
• Numbness and tingling sensations
• Fatigue
• Muscle aches
• Digestive problems 

Conclusion 

A chiropractor, a qualified medical professional, is there to use an adjustment technique as well as other techniques to help realign the spine and deal with pain in the muscles and joints. 

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