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Gua Sha therapy
Wanted to ask if there are any cupping therapists here that also do Gua Sha therapy and your experiences with it/with both. I've had Gua Sha done with surprising results (in a positive sense). I went in curious yet skeptical and now would like to bring this modality to my clients. I already offer cupping and want to expand into Eastern modalities.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Gordon J. Wallis on
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http://www.grastontechnique.com/
Gua Sha is an effective therapy, as you've experienced. The chiropractors realized that too. So they fine tuned it and only let chiropractors do it(Graston technique). Like a massage therapist can't? But its the same thing. It's soft tissue work. Just like their Active Release. Soft Tissue Release was created by a British massage therapist years before. Its the same thing. Only this Gua Sha was created a long time ago. Check that website out, its interesting. I don't think they would let a massage therapist go through the training though? Not sure.
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Permalink Reply by Maryshka on
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Is it 'regulated', have the chiros 'cornered' the technique by giving it their own label? Thanks for your relply GW.
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Funny how American clinicians 'run on' with their technical jargon and make a thousands-year-old known Asian healing art into something 'new'... seems massage therapy/hands-on therapy IS still the go-to therapy by virtue of what they are discussing about Graston Technique... lots of 'cross over' going on, eh? What an eye opener Gordon. MTs need to learn how to pump up the massage field.
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There is no real leadership in our field. Our current education system is the problem. From my perspective its easy to see. In my thread Typical Experience, I try to point that out. Im not saying I heal everyone. But I just finished with a shoulder pain client that had gone to a physical therapy clinic for one year with no improvement. Shoot, in four 25 minute sessions she is now pain free. When I first meet people in the spa, and I find out they are getting treatments from other types of practitioners and I ask them if they want me to help them. They don't even believe I can. Anyway, you've read what Ive said in the Typical Experience thread. Graston Technique is a Gua Sha make over. Its now a medical modality. Ive noticed that the best chiropractors do soft tissue work. The best physical therapists do soft tissue work. Because if there is no underlying pathology. Its soft tissue work all the way. Muscles move bones. Trigger points in muscles cause a great deal and percentage of all pain. Its within our license to work on muscles.
Maryshka said:Funny how American clinicians 'run on' with their technical jargon and make a thousands-year-old known Asian healing art into something 'new'... seems massage therapy/hands-on therapy IS still the go-to therapy by virtue of what they are discussing about Graston Technique... lots of 'cross over' going on, eh? What an eye opener Gordon. MTs need to learn how to pump up the massage field.
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Gua sha make-over, that's funny but true. While PTs and chiros have their place -- and with all their schooling and lording over massage therapists -- it still comes back to the 'lowly' massage therapy modality that wins the prize often enough. I had a chiro tell me he doesn't do 'that energy stuff' in his clinic when he was looking to hire a MT. Seems he doesn't get it -- that energy IS a part of what MTs do. MTs are always exchanging energy by virtue of touch. Needless to say, I walked out of the chiro's office and didn't look back. Unfortunate for chiro's patients. Yes, I could have 'educated' this chiro but one cannot educate arrogance.
So who's the Graston behind the technique? Reinventing the wheel. Ugh. Oriental medicine has it hands down. Should we expect an acupuncture make-over next? Duh.
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Here is a Gua Sha type of tool. Sort of a One Size Fits All.
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Permalink Reply by Gary W Addis, LMT on
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gua sha isn't. however, your state may restrict you to using only modalities you have studied, either in school or elsewhere. I'll just make people mad at me if I tell you what I think about scraping the skin on purpose whatever it is called.
As for tools, anything will do. In school we used the lids of tiger balm cans. You can use anything that has an edge to it. You're damaging skin capillaries, so I would want to use something clean and rust-free. Hard plastic will work
Maryshka said:Is it 'regulated', have the chiros 'cornered' the technique by giving it their own label? Thanks for your relply GW.
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maryshka, you'll eventually get a client(s) who will object if you even use TCM terminology during a session. Certainly don't interrupt a massage to do therapeutic Touch, etc, without first asking permission. If they come to you for massage, then massage. Certainly, put the energy modalities you've been trained in on your menu of services, but unless they specifically request energy work, don't.
Instead, I direct chi through palpation, quietly, without making a big deal out of it-- the client will still benefit when you the LMT speaks nonverbally to the tissue.
Maryshka said:Gua sha make-over, that's funny but true. While PTs and chiros have their place -- and with all their schooling and lording over massage therapists -- it still comes back to the 'lowly' massage therapy modality that wins the prize often enough. I had a chiro tell me he doesn't do 'that energy stuff' in his clinic when he was looking to hire a MT. Seems he doesn't get it -- that energy IS a part of what MTs do. MTs are always exchanging energy by virtue of touch. Needless to say, I walked out of the chiro's office and didn't look back. Unfortunate for chiro's patients. Yes, I could have 'educated' this chiro but one cannot educate arrogance.
So who's the Graston behind the technique? Reinventing the wheel. Ugh. Oriental medicine has it hands down. Should we expect an acupuncture make-over next? Duh.
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Hmmmm. I inquired about the difference between Gua Sha and the Graston Technique (GT) and this is the reply that I received:
"Thank you for your inquiry regarding the differences between Gua Sha and the Graston Technique. These 2 treatment modalities share only one thing in common (they both use an instruments) but the differences in treatment approach, philosophy, the actual instruments and physiological effects are vast.
Gua Sha is part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and involves a literal scraping of the skin to cause a visible tissue reaction (bruising often occurs) in an effort to unblock energy flow and rid the body of toxins. I have personally received Gua Sha as part of an acupuncture session. I am no expert on Traditional Chinese Medicine so I would refer you to a practitioner trained in TCM for additional information.
The Graston Technique (GT) an evidence-based treatment intervention, was developed in the late eighties/early nineties by a team of multidisciplinary clinicians. Since that time GT has developed into the premier system of evidence based instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization from continuous input from our growing community of clinicians. Today that multidisciplinary community consists of 40% Physical Therapists/Occupational Therapists, 30% Athletic Trainers and 30% Chiropractors. All individuals who complete our mandatory education (we offer 26 hours of training, 12 is mandatory) must be licensed in those disciplines and are credentialed before they are allowed to participate. As the Clinical Advisor, I continuously review and revise our educational materials as new evidence in the fields of manual therapy and neuromusculoskeletal interventions becomes available.
The Graston Technique has developed 13 strokes to simulate what can be done with the human hand when applying soft tissue mobilization. It is a highly effective intervention when a patient is dealing with pain and restricted or dysfunctional mobility due to primarily soft tissue lesion(s). The Graston Technique consists of the use of our 6 stainless steel instruments that have been developed with specific treatment edges and angles as applied with our 13 strokes and when combined with specific and appropriate therapeutic exercise. The Graston Technique should never be applied in a way to promote bruising, pain or a visible tissue reaction during its application. The expected benefit is the restoration of painfree mobility and motor control.
The Graston Technique has proven to be a highly effective intervention for a variety of neuromuscular conditions. I suggest that you visit our website www.grastontechnique.com and view our patient specific information and our Research page which includes an updated listing of all of the research that has been conducted to date and is classified by level of evidence. Our website also includes a Provider Locator feature so that you can find a GT trained clinician in your area if you are interested in experiencing the Graston Technique yourself.
In conclusion, the differences between the Graston Technique and Gua Sha are many. In my opinion, the 2 interventions do not belong in the same discussion. Gt is evidence-based, requires mandatory education before purchase of instruments, NEVER promotes bruising or pain during a session and requires the performance of appropriate therapeutic exercise.
I hope that this information has helped clarify any questions that you might have concerning the Graston Technique and thank you for your interest!
Respectfully,
Dr. Jackie Shakar DPT MS PT OCS LAT
GT Clinical Advisor"
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The tiny url is to youtube videos of Graston in action. Funny, sure looks like scraping/ bruising of the skin to me. Sure looks just like gua sha to me. http://tinyurl.com/pdqo85p
Evidently, if the scraping is done using plastic or tin tools, it's gua sha (and bruising as I remarked earlier); if it's done by a PT or DC using expensive Graston stainless steel tools, then it's "therapeutic" and the redness isn't indicative of capillary damage in the skin. Hmmmmmm.
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Both produce hyperemia, etc., same as massage therapy...
I think GT is a form of territory protection. GS has been around for centuries, long before GT came around.
I inquired about GT tools/training. As of now, from what I can find out, GT is only available to DCs and PTs ... yet MTs are masters of soft tissue manipulation. Guess I'll try to find GS training since I'm leaning toward TCM/modalities anyway.
Thank you.
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