What Is Graston And How Does It Work?
Graston Technique® is a tool-assisted soft-tissue treatment. We use smooth stainless-steel instruments to find tight, “sticky” spots in muscle, tendon, and fascia and gently free them up, without digging or heavy bruising.
What it’s doing:
- Improves how tissues slide and move
- Increases blood flow so irritated areas can heal
- Preps tissues to handle load (running, lifting, throwing)
Graston works best with movement. We load tissues during and after treatment because tissue changes under load, not just on the table.
Conditions We Commonly Treat with Graston
We reach for Graston most with local, chronic, or overuse issues like:
- Achilles, patellar, hamstring tendinopathy
- Plantar fasciitis / heel pain
- Rotator cuff irritation & shoulder tightness
- Shin splints, calf pain
- Tennis elbow/golfer’s elbow
- Stiff neck/upper back, hip mobility limits
If your pain shows up when you actually do things like run, squat, swing, push, this is where Graston shines.
What Your Session Feels Like
- We’ll get a little blood moving and watch how you load the area with simple, sport‑specific movements.
- We’ll use the instrument to “listen” for those speed bumps and apply light, targeted strokes.
- We’ll add light loading or range‑of‑motion work right on the table (bands, bodyweight, small weights). Tissue changes under load.
- You’ll leave with 1–3 focused exercises that lock in the change so it holds up when you’re back to running, lifting, or practice.
What you’ll likely feel: Mild warmth or “good sore” that fades quickly. Training is usually fine the same day with modified volume or load. We’ll give clear 24–48 hr do/don’ts.
For most chronic tendinopathies, we expect meaningful progress over 4–8 visits when we combine Graston with Active Release Technique (ART) and targeted exercises.
Why Active People Choose Empower for Graston
Longer, 1:1 Sessions
As a low-volume clinic, we have enough time to assess, treat, and coach progressions that stick.
Elite Sports Experience
Our team brings collegiate football program experience to the care of everyday athletes.
Integrated Care Under One Roof
Graston combined with ART and targeted exercise, all coordinated by one team.
Evidence First Before Imaging
No routine X-rays “just to look.” If imaging changes care, we coordinate it.
Ready To Move Without That “Sticky” Pain?
If you’re battling nagging tendon pain, post-surgery stiffness, or a “tight spot” that keeps coming back, we’ll build a plan around your sport, your timeline, and your body.
