Do You Have Issues With Your Tissues?

In my previous blog we discussed when to use heat or ice when you sustain an injury. Another related and equally important topic is how to treat an injury to a muscle, tendon, nerve or ligament in the first place!

Most healthcare providers use techniques of massage, trigger point, electrical modalities and ultrasound with varying degrees of specificity to treat soft tissue problems. These all provide adequate results which depend on the severity and chronicity of an injury, but few patients are aware of an additional new way to treat soft tissue injuries. It’s called Instrument-assisted soft-tissue mobilization (IASTM) also known as Graston Technique®. Graston is an innovative, patented form of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization that enables clinicians to effectively break down scar tissue and fascial restrictions. The technique utilizes specially designed stainless steel instruments to specifically detect and effectively treat areas exhibiting soft tissue fibrosis or chronic inflammation.

The curvilinear edge of the patented Graston Technique® Instruments combines with their concave/convex shapes to mold the instruments to various contours of the body.The Graston Technique® Instruments, much like a tuning fork, resonate in the clinician's hands allowing the clinician to isolate adhesions and restrictions, and treat them very precisely.

As a Chiropractor, I not only utilize Graston in my office, but a growing population of Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Post Op. Centers, Osteopaths and MD’s are among others utilizing the benefits of this innovative treatment for soft tissue injuries.

Which parts of the body can develop soft-tissue injuries?

Soft-tissue injuries, such as strains and sprains, often affect the extremities (arms or legs). A soft-tissue injury can occur anywhere that ligaments, tendons, muscles, or myofascia are found. Ligaments connect two or more bones and help stabilize the joints. Tendons attach muscles to bones. Ligaments, tendons, and muscles provide a natural brace to protect the bony skeleton from injury. A ligament can be injured, for example, by making a movement that would take a joint outside of its normal range. Also, our bodies contain special protein structures called collagen. Collagen forms a type of connective tissue called Fascia that interconnects all the components of your body, and acts as a flexible skeleton. When this tissue is healthy, it is smooth and slippery, allowing the muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, blood vessels, and organs to move freely and function properly, but when tissues due to repetition or fatigue, muscles tighten and the tissue becomes weak, brittle and less flexible.

During the healing phase of an injury, scar tissue forms in the soft-tissue injury site. In this phase, the injury may become chronic. Scar tissue helps the body form a “patch” at the site of an injury. Scar tissue, however, is much less flexible than normal tissue and can cause chronic pain and a decreased range of motion.

How do soft tissues become injured?

Athletes who suffer a traumatic injury will often need soft-tissue-specific rehabilitation to get back full-range of pain-free motion. Many soft-tissue injuries, however, result from repetitive motion. People who may suffer from such injuries include:

• Repetitive work injuries such as: Assembly-line workers, receptionists, etc.

• Athletes such as: Runners, Tennis, golfers, dancers, baseball players, swimmers, martial arts, etc.

• People who spend long hours at a computer without regular stretch breaks

• Accidental trip and fall accident, car accidents, recreational activities

• Students who overfill backpacks or who hang heavy backpacks over one shoulder

• Sedentary people who allow their muscles to atrophy.

How is Scar Tissue Treated?

Healthy soft tissue is laid out all in the same direction and flexible in nature, but the body lays out scar tissue in a haphazard fashion. Scar tissue is fairly rigid. Pain results when movement stresses scar tissue. A good way to picture what happens to the tissues when injured is to think of a paintbrush with the paint left in the bristles overnight. All the bristles in the brush adhere or stick together and you no longer can use the brush. The body sticks the tissues together and creates scars in the tissues. Adhesions attach to muscles, decreasing their ability to work properly. Some symptoms of adhesions can cause abnormal sensations like numbness, tingling, decreased range of motion and/or pain if a nerve becomes entrapped at the site of injury.

The doctor of chiropractic presses his instruments into damaged tissue to help release restrictions created by scar tissue and get the healing phase started again. The goal is the normalization of the tissue. Normalization refers to the release of restrictions, inflammation, and pain. Treatment, which includes stretching and strengthening, helps patients build flexibility and strength in the area. Not all Chiropractors, Physical Therapists, DO, and MDs use this treatment method, so make sure to inquire before treatment.

Yours in Health,

Dr. Victor St. John DC

www.StudioCityChiropractor.com

The information and recommendations appearing on this page are
appropriate in most instances, but they are not a substitute for a diagnosis bya specialist. For specific information concerning your health condition,
consult your Doctor of Chiropractic, MD, DO, or Physiotherapist.