Graston vs Deep-Tissue Massage: What’s the Difference?

If you’re experiencing muscular pain, understanding the nuances between the Graston Technique and deep-tissue massage can make all the difference in your healing journey. 

Both treatment options are often used for muscular pain – but what are the differences between them? And which one is more effective?

The Graston Technique vs Deep-Tissue Massage

Deep-tissue massage and the Graston Technique are extremely similar treatments – just delivered in different ways. Deep-tissue massage also is a form of manual therapy, like the Graston technique. However, in the Graston Technique a tool is used – in deep-tissue massage, the practitioner uses their hands.

The Graston Technique is a form of massage and manual therapy that uses special, stainless steel tools to mobilize soft tissue. The Graston Technique is a treatment option used to find knots, scar tissue or other restrictions in your muscle. 

Deep-tissue massage is a form of manual therapy where the practitioner uses their hands. Deep-tissue massage is a treatment option that focuses on muscle relaxation, scar tissue mobilizations, and decreasing muscle tension.

➡ Related Content: What Is The Graston Technique?

Which is Used in Physical Therapy? 

Physical therapists often use the Graston Technique over traditional deep-tissue massage for a few reasons:

1. Better feedback – It’s easier for the practitioner to feel adhesions and knots with a tool vs. with their hands.
2. Faster results – The Graston Technique often delivers more immediate pain relief in a shorter session, compared to deep-tissue massage. 
3. End goals – Deep-tissue massage is more often used for relaxing and stress relieving purposes, while the Graston Technique is designed for pain relief and scar tissue treatment. 

Physical therapists use the Graston Technique as a part of a larger treatment plan to help treat muscular pain. Speak directly with one of our Doctors of Physical Therapy to learn more about how the Graston Technique can be effective for pain relief. 

Physical Therapy With PRO Therapy

At PRO Therapy you will always experience precise, caring, and one on one care from a Licensed Doctor of Physical Therapy – no tech aides, no rehab assistants, no personal trainers – to help you decrease pain by the time you walk out the door of your first session and create a plan to adhere to going forward.

If you want to make physical therapy a success, partnering with one of our Doctors of Physical Therapy is going to help you avoid future pain and resolve current pain.

We Love to Help People:

• Keep Active – So you can run after your kids all day, take your grandchildren to the park with ease, enjoy a nice round of golf, run or walk anytime that suits you.
• Stay Free From Painkillers – So you’re not always reaching in the cupboard for pills to ease the pain whenever it strikes, getting only a “quick fix” when you need a “permanent fix” – PLUS they’re no good for your long-term health, “mask” the pain and certainly don’t actually do anything to fix the problem.
• Avoid Dangerous Injections/Surgery – We’ll help you get to the root cause of what’s going on – so you don’t have to get to the point of having to face injections or surgery.
• Found Out What’s Wrong – We’ll help give you peace of mind and ensure that your problem is “corrected” and “healed” properly – also give you a set of exercises perfectly catered to you to help speed up recovery.
• Get More Enjoyment Out Of Life – So you can enjoy quality time with family and friends that your daily aches and pains steal from you – also finally get a good night of sleep without constantly tossing and turning.

 Read Now: Why Our Physical Therapy Team Are Amazing (And What They Have Taught Me)

Are you ready to make physical therapy work for you? Give us a call and try our complimentary phone and in-person consultations. We aim to meet our patients wherever they are in their journey and answer all questions we can to ensure a smooth experience at PRO Therapy. Let us help you make the best decision for you!

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PRO Therapy is an Independently Owned Orthopedic Physical Therapy Clinic. At PRO Therapy, we treat back, knee, neck/shoulder, ankle/foot, and hip pain as well as sports injuries, surgery rehabilitation, and anything else that’s causing you pain. We want everyone to have exceptional care, better access to care and be able to complete the activities in life that make them happy – free from a life of painkillers, injections, or surgeries.