Muscle is only part of the story. Fascia — the connective tissue wrapping every muscle, tendon and ligament — is supposed to glide. After an injury, a surgery, or years of repetitive strain, layers that should slide past each other adhere instead. The result is stiffness that stretching does not touch and pain that keeps returning to the same spot.
Graston is instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization, and Dr. Vahldick is certified in it. Stainless steel instruments are used to scan and treat along the tissue, which does two things: the instrument transmits sensation back to the clinician, making restrictions far easier to locate than by hand alone, and it delivers a controlled, specific load to the restricted tissue.
The documented effects include reduced tissue viscosity, myofascial release, interruption of pain receptor signaling, and improved flexibility of the tissue underneath.
Not everything calls for an instrument. Hands-on manual therapy applies precise tension and compression while you actively move the limb through a range of motion. Combining targeted pressure with active movement releases restrictions that pressure alone often cannot.
Treatment can be intense while the instrument is passing over a restricted area, and mild bruising or redness is possible afterward. Most people find the trade worth it, and soreness resolves within a day or two.
Plantar fasciitis, tennis and golfer’s elbow, IT band restriction, Achilles and hamstring problems, shoulder impingement, neck and upper back tightness, and scar tissue from old injuries or surgery.
Frequently combined with dry needling and rehabilitation. Schedule a visit.