What are people’s thoughts on graston or jade stone therapy? Would you reserve these methods to a 1x/week basis (at the end of the week) or can it be used more frequently? Specifically, what areas of the body best respond to these methods? I imagine adhesions in the quads/calves/achilles could be treated very well with this, but maybe less the hips and hamstrings.
Thoughts?
You need a real expert to use them and only when needed for a specific issue (as patients quickly find!).
For graston on the calves/achilles, bring something to bite on. I’ve received bruises from this.
ha I’ve received some pretty rough graston on my it band… no bruising surprisingly (even the therapist was surprised), but definitely painful. I usually have to do more biting when I have had very very hard art on the hammies… that is another matter though.
Charlie–so you wouldn’t include these therapy types on a regular schedule? Only if it was specifically required?
I receive Graston and Active Release treatments multiple times a week in combination. Both were invaluable in helping me overcome my injuries last season, and both continue to be invaluable in general maintenance.
I get Graston done on my low back, behind my knees, and IT band.
The treatment itself isn’t comfortable, especially in sensitive areas like directly over tendons, but I think it’s well worth the discomfort. After a few treatments things will improve and you will breakout less, the tools will have a smoother feeling on tissue, and it won’t be quite so bothersome.
It’s not a cure all though, and obviously how affective it is well be case specific.
I had Graston work done on my achilles and calves in combination with ART when I was up in Toronto two years ago. Personally, I found it very effective and surprisingly not too uncomfortable. However, the effectiveness of this type of work really depends on the skill of the therapist particularly since the tools can cause more damage than one’s bare hands. In other words, a bad Graston practitioner can butcher you more than a bad massage therapist.
I would definitely classify Graston as remedial work and not a routine recovery method.
Not a question of how often- only how good the expert is and if it’s an expert, they’ll be pretty good at deciding how often (usually not that often with my guys).
This was with Mike Prebeg, one of my guys!
Actually, it was Ty Ashcroft who was one of Mike’s collegues. (She’s pretty cute too.)
Forgot! She also works with us- and you’re right!
Is that Mike from Fund 2 video?