Graston Technique in Burnsville, MN — instrument-assisted soft-tissue therapy that breaks down scar tissue and adhesions to restore motion and speed injury recovery.
Eagle Trace Spine & Sport
Graston Technique in Burnsville
When an injury heals, the body lays down scar tissue — and that scar tissue can leave a muscle or tendon stiff, weak, and prone to re-injury long after the original problem should be gone. Graston Technique at Eagle Trace Spine & Sport uses specially designed instruments to find and break down those adhesions so the tissue can heal properly. It's a go-to tool for stubborn overuse injuries and old strains that never quite resolved.
Your clinician glides the instruments over the area to locate the exact adhesions and scar tissue driving your pain and stiffness.
Step 2
Targeted instrument work
Controlled strokes break down the restrictions and trigger a fresh healing response — brief, focused, and matched to what your tissue can tolerate.
Step 3
Reinforce with movement
We pair Graston with stretching, rehab, and chiropractic care so the freed-up tissue rebuilds strong and the injury doesn't simply return.
Why patients choose it
Benefits of graston technique
Breaks down scar tissue and adhesions from old injuries
Restores normal motion to stiff, restricted tissue
Speeds recovery from stubborn overuse injuries
Reduces chronic tendon and muscle pain
Complements chiropractic adjustments and rehab
Helps prevent re-injury by restoring healthy tissue
The basics
About graston technique
Healthy muscle, tendon, and fascia glide smoothly against one another. After an injury, surgery, or chronic overuse, the body repairs the area with disorganized scar tissue and adhesions that bind those layers together. The result is a tissue that feels tight, hurts with use, and doesn't tolerate load the way it should — which is why so many overuse injuries become chronic.
Graston Technique uses stainless-steel instruments contoured to the body. As the clinician glides them across the tissue, they can detect the rough, restricted areas and apply controlled pressure to break down the adhesions. That kick-starts a fresh healing response, brings circulation back to the area, and lets the tissue reorganize along healthy lines. Paired with adjustments and rehab, it's one of the most effective ways to get a stubborn soft-tissue injury moving again.
What is Graston Technique?
Graston Technique is a form of instrument-assisted soft-tissue mobilization (IASTM). Using specially designed stainless-steel instruments, a trained clinician can detect and treat areas of scar tissue, adhesions, and fascial restriction in muscles, tendons, and ligaments — the kind of damage that keeps an injury feeling stiff and weak long after it should have healed.
At Eagle Trace Spine & Sport in Burnsville, Dr. Jeff Plaster pairs Graston with chiropractic care and rehab so the technique does more than provide temporary relief — it helps the tissue heal in a way that lasts.
What to expect
Your clinician begins by gliding the instruments over the affected area. Restricted, scarred tissue feels different under the instrument, which helps pinpoint exactly where the problem is. From there, controlled strokes break down the adhesions and stimulate a fresh healing response.
Sessions are short and focused. You may feel some tenderness, and minor short-term bruising is normal as circulation returns to the area. Most patients are surprised how much looser the tissue feels even after the first few visits — especially when Graston is combined with stretching and the right rehab exercises.
Who it helps
Graston Technique is a strong fit for patients dealing with:
Graston works best as part of an integrated plan — not a standalone fix. Dr. Jeff Plaster’s team combines it with chiropractic care, Active Release Technique, and targeted rehab so the freed-up tissue rebuilds strong. Visit our new patients page or contact us to find out whether Graston is right for your injury.
Still have questions? Contact us — we're happy to help.
Does Graston Technique hurt?+
You may feel pressure and some tenderness over restricted areas, and mild short-term bruising is normal. It shouldn't be sharp or unbearable — your clinician adjusts pressure to what you tolerate, and most patients find it very manageable.
What conditions does Graston help most?+
It works especially well for soft-tissue injuries with scar tissue or chronic tightness — plantar fasciitis, tennis and golfer's elbow, rotator-cuff issues, shin splints, and lingering strains that never fully healed.
How many sessions will I need?+
Many patients notice improvement within a few sessions; a typical course runs several visits over a few weeks, often paired with adjustments and rehab. Dr. Plaster will include a recommendation in your care plan after your exam.
Is the bruising normal?+
Light bruising or redness over treated areas can happen and fades within a few days. It's a normal part of the healing response the technique stimulates. Let your clinician know if you bruise easily so they can tailor the pressure.
“The best chiropractor and massage therapist I have ever been to! My mom was suffering from neck and back pain for several months; she got relief in just one visit! Thank you to Dr. Jeff and the massage therapist! The atmosphere is great, the staff is very friendly, and the place is welcoming! Highly recommend! Thank you all!”
SEShewit EqubazgiVerified review · Google”
“Dr. Jeff is the man. Very transparent and professional, and fun to talk to. Whole staff is very friendly and focused, and theyll make you feel at home.”
DWDave WatneVerified review · Google”
“I’m a career firefighter and have suffered from a back injury from the job for the last 8 years. I was sent to a chiropractor years ago after reinjuring my back, initially I felt a little relief from my injury, but it never really went away and after 3 years of going to them I wasn’t getting better. I started to think I was going to spend the rest of my life with some degree of back pain. I stumbled across Dr Jeff at my daughters gymnastics class and we started talking about my injury. He invited me to his practice to see how he could help relive my pain. Within the first week I was feeling better than I had felt in 8 years since my initial back injury, week 2 was continued progress in reducing my pain to almost nothing. The truest test of his great work has been how good I’ve felt after shoveling and snow blowing after these last few storms. Dr Jeff’s multiple disciplines in chiropractic care and ability to customize your treatments to best suit your injury, coupled with his genuine care and concern are Amazing! When you tell him how your feeling from visit to visit he is listening and using your input to to maximize the output of your care. This is Good Ole Fashioned Service, his whole office has a great attitude and do their Best to work with you.”
