Graston Technique® Partners
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Graston Technique® partners with MedBridge to provide education on the latest research and methods. Improve patient outcomes with MedBridge training.

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About the Graston Technique®

Since 1994, Graston Technique® (GT) has been the leading modality in Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM). GT enables clinicians to effectively address scar tissue and fascial restrictions and maintain optimal range of motion and connective tissue function in their patients through comprehensive training and education. GT is clinically proven to achieve faster and better outcomes for acute and chronic conditions such as Achilles Tendonitis, Carpal Tunnel, Adhesive Capsulitis, IT Band Syndrome, Lumbar Strain and Plantar Fasciitis. Visit the Graston Technique website


Graston Technique® Courses

Shoulder Girdle and Graston Technique®: Evidence-Based Treatment
presented by Mike Ploski

Video Runtime: 52 Minutes, Learning Assessments: 43 Minutes

Shoulder dysfunction is a common complaint seen in the population, and it is also a common condition presenting for treatment to health care practitioners in clinical practice. Successful management of shoulder pain may be difficult due to the complexity of the shoulder girdle, as the shoulder joint is the most mobile joint in the body and the shoulder girdle involves multiple joints and muscle groups in addition to the shoulder joint itself. Muscle imbalances of the shoulder girdle are a common cause of shoulder dysfunction. Clinicians treating patients with shoulder dysfunction need to be highly skilled at assessing and treating these muscle imbalances. Graston Technique® is an evidence-based method of instrument-assisted soft-tissue mobilization combined with exercise that has been shown to be an effective intervention for the treatment of a variety of musculoskeletal conditions, including shoulder dysfunction. This course aims to educate physical therapists, occupational therapists, athletic trainers, and other manual therapists in effective applications of the Graston Technique® for the successful treatment of shoulder dysfunction. Learn more


Graston Technique®: Evidence-Based Management for the Lower Quadrant
presented by Jacqueline Shakar

Video Runtime: 99 Minutes, Learning Assessments: 41 Minutes

Lower-quadrant movement dysfunctions and pain can occur when the body is injured but also when repetitive strains from malalignments and muscle imbalances are present. These movement dysfunctions can be identified and treated by physical therapists and athletic trainers utilizing a top-down or a bottom-up approach. In a top-down approach, structures of the lumbopelvic and knee complexes are targeted. In this course, a bottom-up approach based on current evidence will be identified and demonstrated utilizing a unique system of evaluation, manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, and customizable orthotics to treat lower-quadrant pain and movement dysfunctions. Interventions, including soft-tissue and joint mobility techniques, highlighting the Graston Technique®, which is a system of instrument-assisted soft-tissue mobilization (IASTM), will be demonstrated. Evidence-based therapeutic exercise and neuromuscular reeducation strategies that target foot intrinsic muscles and complement manual therapy are included. An efficient, low-cost system of customizable orthotics, which has been found to be an effective adjunct to manual therapy, and exercise interventions will be discussed and shown via demonstration. The information and skills learned in this course can be immediately applied by physical therapists and athletic trainers in a variety of practice sessions, including sessions in outpatient clinics, in the athletic training room, and even in a patient’s home or school. Learn more


Plantar Fasciosis and Graston Technique®: Evidence-Based Treatment
presented by Jacqueline Shakar & Mike Ploski

Video Runtime: 66 Minutes, Learning Assessments: 20 Minutes

Plantar heel pain can be a highly challenging condition to treat for a clinician and a highly debilitating condition that interferes with normal gait and exercise for a patient or athlete. In this course, assessment and treatment strategies will be explored in light of current evidence regarding the most effective strategies to alleviate plantar heel pain due to fasciosis. Manual therapy strategies will highlight the application of the Graston Technique® as it is applied dynamically and under load. Therapeutic exercises will be included that target the posterior fascial chain of connective tissue, taking into account current evidence regarding tendinosis exercise progressions. The 4x4 matrix will be utilized to guide exercise selection, position, and load. Learn more


Dysfunctional Breathing Part 1: Background Information and Assessments
presented by Jacqueline Shakar

Abnormal/dysfunctional breathing has been identified as a clinical condition that affects one’s general health and well-being, pain levels, and neuromusculoskeletal movement strategies/efficiency. Abnormal/dysfunctional breathing has been shown in the literature to accompany many of the conditions that physical and occupational therapists, speech pathologists, and athletic trainers treat clinically, such as low back and neck pain, pelvic pain, anxiety, and depression. There is also emerging empirical evidence that retraining breathing to restore normal breathing patterns can improve functional outcomes and athletic performance. During this course, participants will review respiratory mechanics and physiology under normal and pathological conditions, and identify abnormal or dysfunctional breathing patterns that can be evaluated in their patients. Evidence-based assessments of the respiratory system will be covered. By the completion of this course, participants will gain the skills necessary to effectively integrate evidence-based breathing assessment techniques into their clinical practice. Learn more


Dysfunctional Breathing Part 2: Intervention Strategies
presented by Jacqueline Shakar

Abnormal or dysfunctional breathing has been identified as a clinical condition that affects one’s general health and well-being, pain levels, and neuromusculoskeletal movement strategies/efficiency. Abnormal/dysfunctional breathing has been shown in the literature to accompany many of the conditions that physical and occupational therapists, speech pathologists, and athletic trainers treat clinically such as low back and neck pain, pelvic pain, anxiety, and depression. There is also emerging empirical evidence that retraining breathing to restore normal breathing patterns has been shown to improve functional outcomes and athletic performance. During this course, participants will observe manual therapy techniques that can be applied to facilitate normal breathing patterns in patients and athletes. Evidence-based therapeutic exercise and neuromuscular retraining strategies will be demonstrated as well. By the completion of this course, participants will gain the skills necessary to effectively integrate manual therapy and exercise strategies that facilitate normal breathing patterns into their clinical practice. Learn more


Elbow Tendonalgia and Graston Technique®
presented by Mike Ploski

This course is part of a series on the Graston Technique®. In the course Mike Ploski analyzes the current evidence related to the evaluation and treatment of elbow tendonalgia. In addition, this course will review the principles of Graston Technique® and offer a rationale for its use in accordance with the current literature and histopathological implications. The participant will be introduced to the protocol, goals of treatment, how to evaluate and treat elbow tendonalgia and the rationale for the GT progression during the different phases of recovery. To learn more, take the other GT offerings on MedBridge: Patellar Tendinosis and Graston Technique®: Evidence-Based Treatment, Graston Technique® and Movement Dysfunction, and Achilles Tendinosis and Graston Technique®: Evidence-Based Treatment. Learn more


Graston Technique®: Treating the Sensitive Nervous System Part 1 - Neuroscience Background and Evaluation
presented by Jacqueline Shakar

In this two part series, Jackie Shakar, DPT, MS, OCS, LAT, describes a multimodal intervention approach to the sensitive nervous system. The intervention incorporates Graston Technique, pain neuroscience education, and a neurodevelopmental approach to movement re-education. In Part 1 of the series, theories of pain neuroscience in light of the most recent evidence, and the evaluation of patients with chronic pain will be covered. The course begins with a discussion of the concept of pain neuroscience education (PNE) in light of emerging evidence and the pain vs. tissue damage concept. Next, Dr. Shakar describes evidence-based treatment principles in light of the latest pain neuroscience research. The course concludes with a discussion and demonstration of evidence-based evaluation and outcomes measurement. Learn more


Graston Technique®: Treating the Sensitive Nervous System Part 2 - Manual Therapy and Complimentary Interventions
presented by Jacqueline Shakar

In this two part series, Jackie Shakar, DPT, MS, OCS, LAT, describes a multimodal intervention approach to the sensitive nervous system. The intervention incorporates Graston Technique, pain neuroscience education, and a neurodevelopmental approach to movement re-education. In Part 2 of the series, Dr. Shakar discusses and demonstrates evidence-based interventions for patients with a sensitive nervous system. The main intervention approach for this population described in this course is manual therapy via the Graston Technique. Participants will be shown how to alter basic strokes and dosage parameters when treating patients with sensitive nervous systems. Alternative interventions such as aerobic exercise, sleep hygiene, stress management, relaxation, meditation, yoga, affirmations/positive thinking, and joy/laughter will also be discussed. Learn more


Achilles Tendinosis and Graston Technique®: Evidence-Based Treatment
presented by Mike Ploski

This is part of a series on the Graston Technique® (GT) that will focus on the use of the GT on Achilles Tendinosis. This course is designed to discuss the current evidence related to the histology of tendinosis, the theoretical research related to the tenocyte progenitor cell, the principles related to dynaments and the importance of a global assessment. The participant will be introduced to the protocol, treatment goals, and how to treat Achilles Tendinosis using the GT progression during different phases of recovery. To learn more, take the other GT offerings on MedBridge, Patellar Tendinosis and Graston Technique®: Evidence-Based Treatment and Graston Technique® and Movement Dysfunction. Achilles Tendinosis and Graston Technique®: Evidence-Based Treatment. Learn more


Patellar Tendinosis and Graston Technique®: Evidence-Based Treatment
presented by Mike Ploski

This is part of a series on the Graston Technique® (GT). This course will focus on the use of the GT on Patellar Tendinosis. This course is designed to discuss the current evidence related to the histology of tendinosis, the theoretical research related to the tenocyte progenitor cell, the principles related to dynaments and the importance of a global assessment. The participant will be introduced to the protocol, goals of treatment, how to treat Patellar Tendinosis and the rationale for the GT progression during the different phases of recovery. To learn more, take the other Graston Technique® offerings on MedBridge, Achilles Tendinosis and Graston Technique®: Evidence-Based Treatment and Graston Technique® and Movement Dysfunction. Learn more


Graston Technique®: Treating Movement Dysfunction through Functional Testing, Graston Technique® and Adjunctive Therapies
presented by Jacqueline Shakar

This course will be retired and no longer available as of January 13, 2023. Please complete the course by December 31, 2022, to receive credit.

In this course, presented by Jackie Shakar of the Graston Technique®, using a case study mode of presentation, patients with movement dysfunction of the upper and lower quarter will be evaluated using a functional testing approach that highlights the principles of regional interdependence. The Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA) and a detailed assessment of posture and breathing according to principles of the Postural Restoration Institute are included. A review of relevant anatomy with a focus on current research concerning connective tissue and fascia and its response to manual therapy and exercise therapies is included. A detailed plan of care will be presented which emphasizes the inclusion of manual and instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization via the Graston Technique® as it is applied statically then with 3D movement, load and provocation. Corrective exercise strategies that are determined based on the results of functional testing are included via demonstration and laboratory practice. Adjunctive therapies that complement the use of the Graston Technique® including neural flossing, kinesiology taping and self myofascial release techniques are included with respect to current available evidence regarding their effectiveness. Learn more


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