Graston Technique uses specialized stainless steel instruments to detect and treat fascial restrictions, scar tissue, and soft tissue dysfunction. Dr. Nguyen is a certified Graston provider at VAL Chiropractic.
Graston uses stainless steel instruments with beveled edges to detect tissue restrictions your hands alone cannot reliably identify — delivering a level of diagnostic and therapeutic precision that sets it apart from manual therapy alone.
The mechanical stimulus from Graston instruments activates the healing response in fibrotic and restricted tissue — promoting collagen remodeling, reducing adhesions, and restoring normal fascia mobility at a cellular level.
Graston is particularly effective for chronic conditions that haven't responded to other treatments — because it reaches fascial restrictions and scar tissue at a depth and specificity that hands alone cannot consistently achieve.
The Graston Technique is a form of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) — a clinician-administered treatment that uses specially designed stainless steel instruments to detect and treat areas of fascial restriction, scar tissue, and soft tissue dysfunction. The instruments have beveled edges that transmit tactile feedback to the clinician during treatment, allowing them to identify subtle tissue irregularities — areas of restriction, fibrosis, or altered texture — that are difficult to locate by hand alone.
Graston is not a consumer tool or a general "scraping" technique. It is a structured clinical system with specific training requirements, defined protocols for different regions and conditions, and a substantial body of evidence supporting its use in musculoskeletal rehabilitation. Dr. Nguyen is a certified Graston provider, trained in the application protocols and clinical reasoning that distinguish it from generic IASTM tools.
During a Graston session, Dr. Nguyen applies a lubricant to the skin and then moves the instruments across the surface in specific directions and patterns. The beveled edges of the instruments create a controlled mechanical stimulus to the underlying connective tissue. This stimulus does two important things: it physically disrupts fibrotic tissue and adhesions that have developed in response to injury or chronic strain, and it activates the body's local healing response — triggering an influx of fibroblasts and increased collagen synthesis to remodel the treated tissue.
The shapes of the Graston instruments are specifically engineered for different body regions. Some are designed for broad areas like the lumbar musculature or quadriceps, while others have curved edges that conform to the contours of the wrist, ankle, or cervical spine. This specificity allows Dr. Nguyen to treat accurately regardless of where the restriction lies.
Graston is almost always combined with exercise. Research consistently shows that IASTM performed without functional loading of the treated tissue produces inferior outcomes. Dr. Nguyen prescribes specific corrective exercises to be performed before, during, or after Graston sessions to reinforce the tissue remodeling and restore normal movement patterns.
Graston is particularly effective for chronic pain that hasn't responded to other treatments — because it addresses fascial restrictions and scar tissue at a level that hands alone cannot always reach.
Graston is effective across a wide range of soft tissue conditions, particularly those involving chronic restriction, scar tissue, or tendinopathy:
Before treatment begins, Dr. Nguyen will assess the area of complaint and identify specific regions of fascial restriction or tissue dysfunction. A lubricant is applied to the skin to allow the instruments to move smoothly across the surface. The treatment itself typically lasts 5–10 minutes per body region — it is efficient because the instruments concentrate the therapeutic force precisely.
After treatment, the skin may appear pink or red — sometimes with small petechiae (pinpoint redness just beneath the skin surface). This is a normal and expected response that indicates increased local circulation. It is not a bruise from excessive force; it is the body's vascular response to the mechanical stimulus. Any redness typically fades within 24–72 hours.
Some soreness in the treated area is common for 24–48 hours following a Graston session, similar to the soreness after a deep tissue massage or a new workout. Most patients describe subsequent sessions as progressively less uncomfortable as the tissue restrictions resolve and normal tissue texture is restored.
At VAL Chiropractic, Graston is one tool within a comprehensive treatment approach — not a standalone session. Dr. Nguyen integrates Graston with spinal and extremity chiropractic adjustments, Active Release Technique, and corrective exercise based on what each patient's presentation requires.
For patients with complex or long-standing soft tissue conditions, combining Graston and ART in the same course of care is particularly effective. Graston addresses broad areas of fascial restriction and promotes systemic tissue remodeling, while ART targets discrete adhesions and restores normal tissue gliding at specific anatomical structures. Together, they cover different aspects of the same problem.
Your first visit includes a thorough evaluation so Dr. Nguyen can determine whether Graston, ART, or a combination of both is appropriate for your condition — and build a realistic timeline for your care.
"Scraping" is a colloquial term that gets applied to many different tools and techniques. Graston is a clinician-administered, evidence-informed IASTM method with specific stainless steel instruments, defined treatment protocols for different regions of the body, and required clinical training. It is not a consumer tool or a generic scraping implement sold on fitness websites. When you receive Graston at VAL Chiropractic, you are receiving a structured clinical treatment from a certified provider — not a generic technique.
Some redness and mild petechiae (small reddish spots just beneath the skin) can appear after Graston treatment, especially in areas with significant tissue restriction. This is a normal vascular response indicating increased local circulation and tissue remodeling activity — not damage from excessive force. It typically fades within 24–72 hours. True bruising (a hematoma) should not occur with properly applied Graston technique. If you are concerned about how your skin is responding, Dr. Nguyen will assess it at your next visit.
Most patients with soft tissue conditions respond within 6–12 sessions, though the exact number depends on the condition, how long it has been present, and how your tissue responds to treatment. Acute presentations tend to resolve faster than conditions that have been chronic for years. Dr. Nguyen re-evaluates at each session and tracks your tissue response — if a condition is not responding as expected, he will adjust the approach rather than continue a protocol that isn't working.
Yes — Graston and chiropractic adjustments complement each other well. Fascial restrictions and joint dysfunction often coexist, and treating only one component limits your results. Dr. Nguyen regularly combines Graston with spinal and extremity adjustments and ART in the same appointment. Addressing both the tissue and joint components together produces faster and more lasting outcomes than either approach alone.
VAL Chiropractic is located at 3239 South White Road, San Jose, CA 95148. If you have been dealing with pain that hasn't responded to massage, rest, or other conservative treatments, fascial restriction or scar tissue may be a component that hasn't been addressed. Dr. Nguyen will evaluate your soft tissue and let you know whether Graston is appropriate for your case.
Call (408) 532-1139