Graston Technique
Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilisation to address scar tissue and fascial restrictions.
The Graston Technique is an instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilisation approach that aims to break down scar tissue and fascial restrictions, helping restore smoother, more comfortable movement in chronic soft-tissue conditions.
Overview
What Is Graston Technique?
The Graston Technique uses specialised stainless-steel instruments to help identify and treat areas of restricted soft tissue, including scar tissue, fascial adhesions and areas of chronic tightness that may not respond fully to hands-on techniques alone.
The instruments are used to apply controlled pressure across the skin, allowing a trained practitioner to detect and address specific areas of restriction with more precision and consistency than manual palpation alone may allow.
This technique is often used for chronic, stubborn soft-tissue conditions such as tendon-related pain, scar tissue following surgery, or long-standing muscle adhesions that have not responded well to other conservative treatments.
Signs to notice
Common Symptoms & Signs
Not everyone experiences all of these, and similar symptoms can have different causes. An assessment can help determine what is relevant for you.
Chronic tendon pain
Persistent discomfort around the heel, elbow or other tendons.
Scar tissue tightness
Restricted or pulling sensations around a healed surgical scar.
Muscle adhesions
Areas of tissue that feel unusually stiff or bound down.
Localised soft tissue pain
Discomfort concentrated over a specific soft tissue area.
Reduced flexibility
Restricted movement associated with chronic soft tissue tightness.
Recurring overuse symptoms
Ongoing discomfort linked to repetitive strain, such as IT band irritation.
Understanding it
Why Does This Happen?
Chronic soft tissue restrictions can develop following injury, surgery or repetitive strain, where the healing process leaves behind scar tissue or fascial adhesions that may limit normal tissue mobility and contribute to ongoing discomfort.
Contributing factors
Common Causes & Contributing Factors
Post-surgical scarring
Scar tissue following surgery can create localised areas of tightness.
Chronic overuse
Repetitive strain can lead to tendon-related conditions like tendonitis.
Plantar fascia strain
Repeated stress on the sole of the foot can contribute to plantar fasciitis.
IT band irritation
Repetitive friction along the outer thigh can lead to IT band syndrome.
Muscle adhesions
Areas of chronic tightness can develop following incomplete healing.
Suitability
Who May Benefit From This Service?
People with chronic tendonitis
Those with persistent tendon-related pain that hasn't fully resolved.
Post-surgical patients
Individuals with scar tissue tightness affecting movement.
People with plantar fasciitis
Those experiencing persistent heel or sole discomfort.
Athletes with IT band syndrome
Runners and athletes with recurring outer thigh or knee discomfort.
People with chronic adhesions
Those with longstanding tightness not responding to other treatments.
Timing
When Should You Consider Physiotherapy?
- You have chronic tendon pain that hasn't improved with rest.
- You have tightness around a surgical scar affecting movement.
- You have persistent plantar fasciitis symptoms.
- You experience recurring IT band discomfort during running or activity.
- Other conservative treatments have provided limited improvement.
- Your physiotherapist has identified soft tissue restrictions on assessment.
- You want a treatment approach that targets deeper tissue layers.
- You have longstanding muscle adhesions affecting flexibility.
An assessment can help determine whether physiotherapy is appropriate for your situation, or whether another form of medical review would be more suitable first.
Treatment options
How Can Physiotherapy Help?
Specialised stainless-steel tools help detect and treat restrictions deeper than the hands alone typically can, aiming to speed recovery for chronic soft-tissue injuries that have not responded well to other forms of care.
Scar tissue mobilisation
Targeting restricted areas around scars to support tissue mobility.
Fascial restriction treatment
Addressing areas of fascial tightness contributing to discomfort.
Tendon tissue support
May assist in managing chronic tendon-related conditions.
Improved tissue mobility
Aiming to restore smoother movement across affected soft tissue.
Precise restriction detection
Instruments help identify areas that may be missed with manual palpation.
Complementary exercise support
Often combined with stretching and strengthening exercises.
Individualised treatment
Application tailored to your specific area and condition.
Not every patient receives every technique — the plan depends on assessment findings, personal goals and how you respond over time.
Step by step
Treatment & Rehabilitation Approach
- 1
Assessment
Identifying areas of soft tissue restriction relevant to your symptoms.
- 2
Instrument application
Using specialised tools to apply controlled pressure to affected areas.
- 3
Response monitoring
Observing tissue response and adjusting technique accordingly.
- 4
Complementary exercise
Introducing stretching and strengthening alongside treatment.
- 5
Progress tracking
Reviewing symptom changes across a course of sessions.
- 6
Maintenance guidance
Advice on preventing recurrence once symptoms improve.
In practice
What Your Rehabilitation May Involve
- A course of sessions using instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilisation.
- Combination with stretching exercises to support tissue mobility.
- Gradual introduction of strengthening as tightness reduces.
- Monitoring of skin response following each treatment session.
- Addressing contributing activity patterns or biomechanics.
- Guidance on activity modification during the treatment course.
- Regular reassessment of symptoms and tissue restriction.
Rehabilitation differs from person to person; pace and content are adjusted to your condition, comfort and progress.
Risk reduction
How Can You Reduce the Risk of This Problem?
- Address soft tissue tightness early rather than letting it become chronic.
- Maintain a regular stretching routine, particularly after activity.
- Gradually build up training loads to avoid overuse injuries.
- Support surgical scars with appropriate care during healing.
- Use proper footwear and technique to reduce repetitive strain.
- Seek professional advice for persistent tendon or fascia-related pain.
- Combine treatment with a broader strengthening programme where advised.
Sensible prevention can lower risk, but it cannot remove it entirely — symptoms that return or persist are worth having reviewed.
Your appointment
What to Expect During Your Visit
Your first visit
- A discussion of your symptoms, history and previous treatments tried.
- An assessment to identify areas of soft tissue restriction.
- An explanation of the Graston Technique and what to expect.
- The treatment session itself, tailored to your identified areas.
- Advice on any mild bruising or soreness that can follow treatment.
- Guidance on activity and stretching to support your recovery.
Follow-up sessions
- Sessions are typically spaced to allow tissue response between visits.
- Your treatment plan is adjusted based on how tissue responds.
- Complementary exercises are progressed as flexibility improves.
- Symptoms are reviewed regularly across your treatment course.
Good to know
Why Professional Assessment Matters
A professional assessment helps confirm that soft tissue restriction is genuinely contributing to your symptoms, ensuring the technique is applied to the right areas and combined appropriately with other elements of your recovery plan.
When Should You Seek Medical Attention?
Physiotherapy is not a substitute for urgent medical evaluation. Please contact a doctor or emergency service if you notice:
- Significant bruising, swelling or pain following treatment.
- Signs of infection near a recent surgical scar.
- Numbness or tingling developing after treatment.
- Any bleeding disorder or use of blood-thinning medication should be disclosed beforehand.
- Persistent or worsening symptoms should be discussed with your physiotherapist.
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Some mild discomfort or tenderness during treatment is common, and temporary redness or bruising can occur afterward, though sensitivity varies between individuals.
This depends on the condition being treated, with chronic issues sometimes requiring a longer course of sessions than acute complaints.
It may be considered for older, well-healed scars showing tightness, though newer or still-healing scars require careful individual assessment first.
It is sometimes used as part of a broader treatment plan for plantar fasciitis, often combined with stretching and other supportive measures.
Mild bruising or redness can occur in some individuals, particularly in areas of greater tissue restriction, and usually resolves within a few days.
It differs from traditional massage in its use of specialised instruments designed to detect and treat specific areas of tissue restriction.
These techniques are sometimes used together as part of an individualised treatment plan, depending on your specific condition.
People with certain skin conditions, bleeding disorders or very recent surgical wounds should discuss suitability with their physiotherapist first.
Our approach
How Physio Fit 360 Approaches Your Rehabilitation
Individualised assessment
Every plan begins with listening to your history and assessing how you actually move, so treatment is matched to your situation rather than a fixed protocol.
Goal-oriented rehabilitation
We agree on what matters to you — walking further, sleeping better, returning to sport or work — and shape the programme around those goals.
Patient education
Understanding what is happening and why makes rehabilitation easier to follow. We explain findings in plain language at each stage.
Progressive exercise
Exercise is introduced at a level you can manage and progressed gradually as strength, mobility and confidence improve.
Functional recovery
Sessions build towards the everyday tasks and activities you need, not just isolated movements in the clinic.
Monitoring and adjustment
Progress is reviewed regularly and the plan is modified when something is not working as expected or your goals change.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
If you're experiencing pain, movement limitations, or difficulty returning to your usual activities, our physiotherapy team can help assess your needs and guide you toward an appropriate rehabilitation plan.
The information on this page is general education about physiotherapy and is not a diagnosis or a substitute for personalised medical advice.