As Southern Tier Physical Therapy of Binghamton wraps up 2022, we take a moment to reflect on our year. Excited to expand our certification credentials in the Graston Technique (GT). Our Physical Therapy Assistants, Karen and Autumn, certified on this technique that provides better patient outcome through instrument assisted soft tissue manipulation. The GT therapy intervention is highly effective for managing pain and restoring optimal range of motion in many cases of musculoskeletal dysfunction. GT therapy is an instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization that enables therapists to detect and break down scar tissue and fascial restrictions. The non-invasive technique uses specially designed stainless steel instruments with the following proven results:

• Decreased pain

• Decreased overall time of treatment

• Faster time to recovery/rehabilitation

• Improved range of motion

• Reduced need for anti-inflammatory medication

Your physical therapist (PT) moves these instruments over your injury delivering the dual purpose of identifying scar tissue/fascial restrictions and breaking up these adhesions. Over time, this process transforms soft tissue injury into healthy tissue by reducing and/or eliminating adhesions, alleviating associated pain and restoring range of motion. GT therapy is clinically proven to achieve faster and better outcomes for acute and chronic conditions such as:

• Achilles Tendinitis/osis (Ankle Pain)

• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (Wrist Pain)

• Cervical Sprain/Strain (Neck Pain)

• Chronic Repetitive Stress (Trigger Finger, Skier’s or Gamekeeper’s Thumb)

• Fibromyalgia (Widespread Muscle Pain and Tenderness)

• Iliotibial Ban d Syndrome (ITB) (Hip/Knee Pain)

• Lateral Epicondylitis/osis (Tennis Elbow)

• Lumbosacral Sprain/Strain (Back Pain)

• Medial Epicondylitis/osis (Golfer’s Elbow)

• Myofasial Pain Syndromes

• Patellofemoral Disorders (Knee Pain)

• Plantar Fasciitis/osis (Foot Pain)

• Rotator Cuff Tendinitis/osis (Shoulder Pain)

• Scar Tissue/Post-surgical Scarring (one completely closed)

• Shin Splints

• Women’s Health (Post-Mastectomy and Caesarean/C-Section Scarring)

GT therapy is recognized and widely used in the industry by over 43,000 trained clinicians. A recent study showed that GT therapy combined therapeutic exercises had a 31% improvement in the ability to bend and injured thumb over a three-week course of therapy. For an injury like this, we work closely with your orthopedist to transition you from immobilization into therapy with the goal to manage your pain and maximize your range of motion. We hear great things regarding what GT Therapy means to our patients’ recovery. One STPT of Binghamton patient recovering from an elbow fracture expressed gratitude after her first GT therapy session, “it’s like my elbow just returned from a spa day! I didn’t realize how much low level pain I had until it was gone… what a relief!” We would love to hear more about your GT therapy experience and welcome you to share your comments. And speaking of gratitude… a big thank you for the best gift of 2022… your vote for Best of Binghamton!!! What an honor to be recognized as the best our community has to offer in Physical Therapy as seen in the Press & Sun Bulletin’s Readers’ Choice Award!!

Reference: 1. “Graston Technique Combined with Therapeutic Intervention as an Alternative Treatment for a Grade III UCL Sprain: A Case Study” http://clinat.indstate.edu/index.php/clinat/article/view/95