Scraping/IASTM

This technique is an updated version of Gua Sha- a traditional Chinese medicine method of releasing pain (gua= scrape, sha= sand). Weighted, beveled steel tools are used to produce light petechiae (redness caused by capillary hemorrhage) in order to release fascia, restore movement, improve circulation and decrease pain. It is also known as the Graston Technique (named after David Graston who started the IASTM movement).

Benefits of this technique are: *to deliberately create micro-trauma and slight inflammation (petechiae)----eccentric exercises do the same thing, creating micro-tears in the muscle *to facilitate connective tissue healing *to release soft tissue hypertonicity, adhesions, and fascial restrictions *to modulate pain and tone by stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system to signal the brain to relax the area of tension or restriction

​Who can benefit? *Elite athletes *Weekend Warriors *Sports participants with overuse injuries (including children) *Migraine sufferers *Desk job employees *Anyone with old injuries who have scar tissue *Anyone with new injuries that need to prevent scar tissue abnormalities *Anyone with persistent trigger points (knots) that won't go away.