The influence of component materials on Graston technique effectiveness during the treatment of myofascial pain syndrome

Abstract

Graston Technique Instrument-assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (GTISTM), is a relatively new form of myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) treatment, that is thought to be an advanced form of soft tissue mobilization. The stainless steel instruments that are used are specifically designed for various parts of the body and are used to detect and release scar tissue, adhesions and fascial restrictions (Carey-Loghmani, 2003:7). It is speculated that the Graston Technique instruments may be superior to other instruments due to the uniqueness of the instrument design, instrument material (stainless steel), delivery method and technique process. The instruments have been designed to adapt to the various curves of the body allowing the clinician to detect and treat soft tissue dysfunctions in an accurate and specific manner (Carey-Loghmani, 2003;2). Other soft tissue therapeutic techniques make use of specifically designed aluminium instruments have shown to be successful in the treatment of tendonitis (Davidson et aI., 1997).Thus it was the aim of this study to determine if there was a significant clinical difference between the Graston Technique instruments and instruments of the exact design but of a constitutionally different material (i.e. aluminium). This was achieved by varying the instrument material, while maintaining all the other features of the instrument, as well as the treatment protocol in the management of myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) of the trapezius and the levator scapula muscles. III This pilot study was a comparative clinical trial conducted on a quasiexperimental basis, aimed at establishing the influence of component materials of the Graston Technique instruments in the treatment of MPS in terms of clinical outcomes. The sample size consisted of sixty patients selected from the Durban Metropolitan Area. Patients between the ages of 18 and 55 and diagnosed