How The Graston Technique Uses Soft Tissue Therapy to Help Relieve Back Pain
Back pain can limit everything from your workday to your sports performance and family life. At Strive Fitness & Therapy in Winnipeg, we often see that stiffness, muscle knots, and scar tissue around the spine contribute to persistent discomfort and reduced movement. Instrument-assisted soft tissue therapy, commonly known as the Graston Technique or “Graston massage,” is one approach that may help reduce pain, improve mobility, and support long-term function as part of a complete rehab and training plan.
In this guide, we explain how Graston-style soft-tissue manipulation works and how it may affect fascia and scar tissue. We also outline how we integrate it with physiotherapy, chiropractic, massage, and performance training to support back pain and improve movement.
What Is Graston Technique Therapy?
Graston Technique therapy is a form of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM). It uses specially designed stainless-steel tools—often called therapeutic massage tools or Graston tools—to glide along muscles, fascia, and connective tissue. This style of soft tissue therapy is used to identify areas that feel tight, thickened, or restricted. It is applied as part of a broader approach to back pain care.
How Graston-Style Soft Tissue Therapy Can Help Back Pain
Back pain often involves more than just a “pulled muscle.” Connective tissue, fascia, and scar tissue can all contribute to stiffness, protective muscle guarding, and changes in how you move. Graston-style soft tissue therapy aims to address several of these factors simultaneously by using controlled instrument-assisted strokes alongside exercise and other care.
1. Targeted soft tissue mobilization for pain reduction
Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization has been shown to help reduce pain in people with musculoskeletal disorders, particularly in the spine. IASTM has been associated with reduced pain and improved function in some spinal conditions. This may help people move more comfortably in daily life. At our clinic, we combine Graston-style soft tissue therapy with manual therapy and physiotherapy exercises to support both short-term comfort and long-term strength.
2. Improving range of motion and easing stiffness
Restricted movement—especially in the thoracic, lumbar, and hip regions—can prolong back pain. IASTM can support improvements in range of motion. Better mobility can help reduce compensations, ease muscle tension, and improve your movement efficiency during work, sports, and daily activities. During back pain sessions, our practitioners may use Graston tools along the paraspinal muscles, hips, and surrounding fascia. We include this as part of a broader mobility and myofascial release plan tailored to your needs.
3. Supporting functional improvement
For people with spine-related musculoskeletal disorders, IASTM is associated with improvements in functional measures, including bending, lifting, walking, and daily activities. While the functional effects across all body regions are more variable, spine-specific outcomes show clearer improvements, which may be encouraging for those dealing with chronic or recurrent back pain. At Strive Fitness & Therapy, we build on these gains by integrating personal training, core strengthening, and sport-specific programming so you can maintain and build on your results in the gym or on the field.
How Does Graston Therapy Affect Fascia and Scar Tissue at the Microscopic Level?
Fascia is the connective tissue that supports and surrounds muscles in your back. After injury, surgery, or repetitive strain, this tissue can become stiff or restricted, limiting movement and contributing to discomfort. Graston therapy uses specialized instruments to apply controlled pressure to these areas as part of a targeted soft tissue treatment approach.
Rather than forcefully breaking down tissue, this form of instrument-assisted therapy focuses on improving how tissues move and respond. By applying precise, guided pressure, Graston therapy may help improve tissue mobility, support circulation, and reduce muscle tension over time. This approach allows care to be adjusted based on your comfort, movement patterns, and overall rehabilitation goals.
Can Graston Technique Be Combined with Other Therapies for Enhanced Chronic Back Pain Relief?
Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization may perform best as part of a multimodal plan rather than as a stand-alone treatment. At Strive Fitness & Therapy, our multidisciplinary team often combines Graston-style soft tissue work with:
- Physiotherapy for exercise-based rehab and load management
- Chiropractic and manual therapy techniques for joint mobility
- Massage therapy and myofascial release therapy for tension reduction
- 1-on-1 personal training for strength, conditioning, and long-term resilience
- Sport-specific training and large group training to translate gains into performance
This integrated approach helps address not only pain but also the underlying movement patterns, strength deficits, and lifestyle demands that influence your back over the long term.
Who Might Benefit from Graston-Style Back Treatment?
Our team may use Graston technique therapy as part of a broader care plan for people with:
- Chronic or recurrent low back pain and stiffness
- Spine-related musculoskeletal disorders limiting range of motion or function
- Sports injuries involving the back and hips, especially when returning to play
- Work injuries where prolonged sitting, lifting, or repetitive tasks irritate the spine
- Complex or persistent chronic pain patterns that include muscular and fascial components
Our team in Winnipeg often sees active adults, professionals, and youth athletes who begin with therapy to help relieve chronic back symptoms and then transition into ongoing strength & conditioning, sports injuries rehab, and long-term performance training to support durable change.
FAQ: Graston Technique & Back Pain at Strive Fitness & Therapy
How does Graston work in a typical session?
After a thorough assessment, your practitioner applies a small amount of lotion and uses Graston tools to scan and treat targeted areas of muscle and fascia in your back. We adjust the strokes to your tolerance and goals, then follow instrument-assisted work with mobility drills, activation exercises, and strength training to support lasting improvements in pain and movement.
Is Graston massage painful?
You may feel firm pressure or mild, temporary soreness in tight areas, and we adjust each session to your comfort. Some temporary redness is common, and our goal is to help reduce pain and muscle tension over time rather than push aggressively.
How many sessions do I need for back pain relief?
The number of sessions depends on your symptom history, activity level, and whether we also address strength and movement patterns. Some people notice improvements within a few visits, especially when we combine Graston therapy with exercise and other rehabilitation approaches.
Can Graston technique help with chronic back pain?
IASTM has shown positive effects on pain, function, and range of motion in some spinal musculoskeletal conditions. This approach may support chronic back pain when combined with a plan that also focuses on strength and movement habits. At our clinic, we use Graston-style techniques as one part of a broader strategy that includes exercise, education, and performance-focused training.
Is Graston therapy safe after surgery?
For some post-surgical patients, we may include this when timing and technique are appropriate. We individualize all post-surgical rehabilitation, and your physiotherapist, chiropractor, or athletic therapist will consider the type of surgery, healing stage, and your goals before deciding whether and when to introduce any instrument-assisted soft tissue work.
Can it be combined with strength training?
Yes. We often integrate Graston-style treatment directly with strength and conditioning at our facility. Following soft tissue work with targeted loading may help reinforce new range of motion, build resilience, and support long-term back health as part of a structured training plan.
Ready to Explore Graston Technique for Back Pain in Winnipeg?
At Strive Fitness & Therapy, we blend instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization, evidence-informed physiotherapy, chiropractic, massage, and progressive training to help you reduce pain, improve mobility, and return to the activities you love.
Book an Appointment today to find out whether Graston-style soft tissue therapy may fit your back pain treatment plan and how we can support your long-term health and performance.
Learn more about our integrated rehab and training services at Strive Fitness & Therapy and how our multidisciplinary approach may help you move with more confidence.
References
- Liu Y, et al. Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization for musculoskeletal disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis of its effects on pain, function, and range of motion. Eur J Med Res. 2026. doi:10.1186/s40001-025-03752-4