Grace Cottage offers new technique for Soft Tissue Repair

TOWNSHEND — Three of Grace Cottage Family Health & Hospital’s rehabilitation therapists are now certified to offer the Graston® Technique to their patients. These include Rebecca Griswold, PTA; Margaret van den Bergh, PT; and Melissa Walker, DPT.

Graston Technique is a therapy that uses specially designed tools to work on soft tissue dysfunction. It can help with sprains, fibromyalgia, tennis/golfer’s elbow, rotator cuff tears, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, shin splints, trigger finger, plantar fasciitis, and more.

Graston Technique uses six specially designed tools that help the therapist to locate the exact spot where scar tissue and fascial restriction are limiting movement and perhaps causing pain. The tools are even more effective than a therapists’ fingers at getting to the root of the restriction and releasing it.

The technique was developed by David Graston, an amateur athlete who became frustrated with the slow progress of his rehabilitation following a water skiing accident and subsequent surgery. In consultation with his doctors, and using his own professional background in machining, he created a set of instruments to use on himself. When these proved effective, he reached out to the medical and research personnel at Ball Memorial Hospital and Ball State University in Muncie, Ind., to fully develop a technique and a set of instruments. From this collaborative effort, Graston Technique® therapy was born.

It is now backed with over 20 years of research, clinical studies, and successful clinical application. GT therapy is part of the curriculum of 43 advanced degree programs for physical therapy, chiropractics, and athletic training. It is used regularly by over 250 professional and amateur sports teams and by U.S. Olympic training centers.

For more information, call (802) 365-3637. A medical provider’s referral is required in order to schedule an appointment.