Physical Therapy Graston technique is one of the leading instrument-assisted soft tissue therapies for the treatment of muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia, and nerves.
Physical Therapy Graston Technique Kansas City
Manual Therapy
Physical Therapy’s Graston Technique is a form of manual therapy known as instrument-assisted soft-tissue mobilization (IASTM). It is one of a number of manual therapy approaches that uses instruments with a specialized form of massage/scraping the skin gently.
At F.I.T. Muscle & Joint Clinic, Graston and FAKTR (Functional and Kinetic Treatment with Rehab) are two well-known and respected IASTM techniques that focus on restoring optimal tissue quality and proper function of the musculoskeletal system. The techniques utilize specially designed stainless steel instruments to specifically detect and effectively treat areas exhibiting soft tissue fibrosis (scarring), myofascial adhesions, and/or acute and chronic inflammation. In a sports medicine setting, Graston Technique in Kansas City allows us to place our athletes in their sport-specific positions in order to precisely isolate and release soft tissue restrictions that are interfering with their optimal movement patterns.
What It Treats
Graston or FAKTR can help reduce and/or eliminate musculoskeletal dysfunction and pain associated with, but not limited to:
- Headaches
- Neck and back pain
- Plantar fasciitis
- Shoulder pain
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Sciatica
- Knee pain
- Tennis elbow
- Shin splints
- Little leaguers elbow
- Nerve entrapments
- Post-surgical tissue adhesions and/or scarring
How Graston Works
Our physical therapists’ Graston Technique in Kansas City may have an impact on physiological changes by providing an increase in blood flow, reduction in tissue viscosity, release of myofascial adhesions, neurosensory stimulation to the tissue, interruption of pain receptors, and improvement of flexibility of underlying tissue.
It is suggested that IASTM is an effective treatment intervention for reducing pain and improving function in less than a three-month period.
How F.I.T. Uses the Graston Technique
F.I.T. Muscle & Joint Clinic utilizes the Graston Technique to restore the proper motion, texture, and tightness to the muscles, fascia, ligaments, nerves, and tendons to eliminate the patient’s pain and musculoskeletal dysfunction, in conjunction with therapeutic exercises to elicit long-term changes in the tissue and the nervous system.
Graston is used to foster faster rehabilitation and recovery while reducing the need for anti-inflammatory medications.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Graston technique work for plantar fasciitis?
Yes, Graston Technique is a very useful technique in treating plantar fasciitis. It helps to increase blood flow while improving tissue texture, therefore promoting healing.
Does Graston Technique hurt?
It can feel intense in certain areas, but it shouldn’t feel uncontrolled or overwhelming. Most people describe it as a deep, targeted pressure rather than sharp pain. If the tissue is particularly irritated, you might feel more sensitivity at first, but that usually settles quickly.
Your provider adjusts pressure based on how your body responds in real time. They'll work directly on the areas that are restricted without aggravating them. After a session, some mild soreness or redness is normal, but it typically fades within a day or two.
How is this different from massage or other soft tissue work?
Graston is more specific. Instead of working broadly over an area, the instruments help your provider detect and treat exact spots where the tissue isn’t moving well. That precision is what makes Physical Therapy Graston Technique in Kansas City different from general soft tissue work. We may pair it with corrective exercises, so the improvement carries over into how you actually move day to day.
How many sessions will I need?
It depends on how long the issue has been present and how your body responds to treatment. Some people notice meaningful changes within a few visits, especially if the restriction is more recent.
Longer-standing issues may take more time because the tissue has adapted to that pattern. What matters most is not just how it feels after one session, but whether the changes are holding between visits. Treatment is usually adjusted along the way based on your progress, rather than following a fixed number of sessions.
Is this enough on its own, or do I need other treatment too?
In most cases, it works best as part of a broader plan. The tissue changes created during treatment are only one piece—what you do after matters just as much. That’s why we often combine Physical Therapy Graston Technique in Kansas City with movement work, strength progression, or activity modifications. The goal is to make sure the area doesn’t go right back to the same pattern that caused the issue in the first place. Used this way, it becomes a tool that helps accelerate progress instead of a standalone fix.
Is the Graston Technique right for you?
Take a couple of minutes to tell us about your symptoms and pain areas. Prefer to chat over the phone? Call us for a free phone consultation.
Visit your local F.I.T.
Meet the team at any of our 11 locations: Lee’s Summit, Crossroads, Blue Valley, Liberty, Olathe, Overland Park, Leawood, Paola, Kansas City, Raymore & Shawnee.
