Muscle scraping is so much fun (after the process that is)! While it could be painful (every patient has a different response), scraping tight, inflamed muscles can be extremely beneficial to the health of the muscle. Studies have even shown that the effects of scraping can go as deep as the cellular level in the body. Depending on your condition, you may find that scraping is a fast, positive way to alleviate muscle stress, break-up adhesions that have formed in the muscle, and break down restrictions in the fascia that have formed over time.
At Salt and Spine, we may incorporate muscle scraping into your treatment plan based on the condition of your muscles. We utilize IASTM (instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization) to perform the procedure administered. In general, there is a strong chance that with the proper pressure, the therapy can be painful. To give a perspective, you may hear Dr. David say, “no pain, no gain” (of course he is kidding) during or at the end of the treatment. What they are looking for is a “productive pain” meaning there is a positive pain input to reach the goals of the treatment. Patient feedback ensures that productive pain does not cross the line into too much pain! One goal is to promote better mobilization in the muscle itself to allow for better function. Before you have muscle scraping administered, the doctor will go into the exam and locate any necessary spots on the muscle that may potentially benefit from the therapy. They will also screen you to ensure that no concurrent conditions (contraindications) are present that may cause an adverse effect.
Why can it be so painful? Imagine making bread, and the process to roll out the dough. The doctor is taking a tighter muscle group and rolling it with the instrument. The tool can reach depths to better target the right connective tissues such as the fascia layer, in order to break up adhesions, scar tissues, muscle restrictions, and more. In the procedure, the doctor will apply a lotion to the target region, and then apply pressure with a scraping motion of the tool. A vascular response is typical to the area, promoting blood flow. More goals include better mobility, less inflammation, better muscle strength, and potentially a positive neurological affect to the area.
Many soft tissue conditions are addressed with muscle scraping. Some include: tendonitis, bursitis, IT band syndrome, plantar fasciitis, ankle sprains, local muscle strains, carpal tunnel syndrome, golfer’s and tennis elbow, and more. It may be even used to address chronic conditions that you may be experiencing due to postural changes or overuse injuries. Because of the impact the therapy can have on the targeted regions, it is important to have the region examined before and after treatment.
As intense as it may sound, the therapy works really well with our other forms of treatment we provide at Salt and Spine Chiropractic. We choose to approach the body with a holistic mindset, addressing all facets of the musculoskeletal system to better help your nervous system. Scraping can even be used in a preventative treatment setting. Maintaining good muscle tonicity can prevent these soft tissue adhesions from occurring in the future. Ask one of our providers today if muscle scraping is a good fit for you!
