Graston & IASTM

If your muscles feel like they're full of knots that just won't release, or if you've been dealing with nagging tendon pain that massage alone hasn't fixed, Graston Technique and IASTM might be what you've been missing. At Well Co. Chiropractic in Sarasota, Dr. Sandy Arthur uses instrument-assisted soft tissue therapy to break up scar tissue, restore tissue health, and get you moving freely again.

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What is IASTM?

IASTM stands for Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization. It's a category of treatment, and Graston Technique is one of the most well-known and evidence-backed methods within it. GuaSha is a related traditional Chinese medicine approach that uses similar principles.

All of these techniques use specially shaped stainless steel or other hard-edged tools to detect and treat restrictions in the soft tissue. The tools amplify what Dr. Sandy can feel with her hands, allowing her to identify adhesions, scar tissue, and fascial restrictions with remarkable precision, and then work them out effectively.

How Does It Work?

Dr. Sandy applies a small amount of lotion or oil to the skin, then uses the edge of the tool to stroke across the tissue in a specific direction and with controlled pressure. The tool essentially creates a kind of "microtrauma" to the adhesion, enough to stimulate a new healing response and encourage the tissue to remodel more healthily.

This process:

  • Breaks up scar tissue and fascial adhesions

  • Stimulates blood flow to chronically under-perfused areas

  • Activates the body's healing cascade

  • Restores tissue elasticity and normal fiber alignment

  • Reduces pain sensitivity in the treated area

What Conditions Does IASTM Treat?

  • Plantar fasciitis

  • Tennis and golfer's elbow

  • Achilles tendinopathy

  • Rotator cuff injuries

  • IT band syndrome

  • Scar tissue from old injuries or surgeries

  • Chronic neck and back pain

  • Shin splints

  • Hamstring and quadriceps strains

  • Carpal tunnel and wrist tightness

What Does It Feel Like?

IASTM has a reputation for being intense, and for some people, it can feel like a deep scraping sensation. That said, Dr. Sandy adjusts pressure based on your tolerance and the area being treated. You may experience some redness or mild bruising after treatment, which is normal and part of the healing process. Most people find that even if it's a little uncomfortable in the moment, they feel noticeably looser and less painful afterward.

Graston & IASTM in Sarasota at Well Co.

Whether you're an athlete dealing with a stubborn overuse injury or someone who's been carrying chronic tension for years, instrument-assisted soft tissue work can be a real turning point in your recovery.

Book your appointment at Well Co. Chiropractic, 3982 Bee Ridge Rd, Building H-I, Sarasota, FL 34233. Call 941-231-1001 or schedule online.