ART ®

ART ® is a therapeutic soft tissue technique that was developed to correct dysfunctions in muscles, ligaments and tendons, that are not responding to more traditional treatments. Headaches, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, shin splints, shoulder pain, sciatica, plantar fasciitis, knee problems, and tennis elbow are just a few of the many conditions that can be resolved quickly and permanently with ART® at Excelsior & Grand Chiropractic in St Louis Park.

The goal of ART® is to remove any adhesions or scare tissues in the area treated in order to restore it’s optimal texture, range of motion, and release any entrapped nerves or blood vessels. This is accomplished through specific protocols that involve precise targeting and stretching of the involved tissues. Adhesions may occur as a result of an acute injury, repetitive motion, and constant pressure or tension.

ART® eliminates the pain and dysfunction associated with these adhesions and increases flexibility. ART® helps resolve injuries faster than other treatment methods so you can get back to doing what you love sooner! This technique is widely used by many college, amateur, professional, and Olympic athletes to treat and prevent injury as well as anyone looking to improve their health and be free from pain.

CUPPING

Cupping treatments in St Louis Park use decompression in order to treat tightness in the fascia and soft tissues, helping improve blood circulation and lymphatic drainage. During the treatment, specially designed cups are placed on the skin and a vacuum is created by suctioning out the air. From this suction the underlying tissue is raised, or sucked, partway into the cup, which tugs on the tightest muscles, stretching the fascia.

The vacuum lifts the connective tissue off the muscle or bone and helps break up adhesions and drain stagnation, while increasing blood and lymph flow. Cupping is a very comfortable, noninvasive, therapeutic technique that helps treat stiff muscles, neck and back pain, fatigue, cold and allergies, cellulite, migraines, and many other issues.

Graston Technique®

Graston Technique® is a therapeutic treatment that allows us to detect and treat areas of scar tissue or adhesions throughout the body that can lead to pain and dysfunction. This technique can be very helpful in treating headaches, migraines, plantar fasciitis, fibromyalgia, sprains/strains, rotator cuff issues, and shin splints just to name a few. This technique is suitable for all ages and is currently used by many college and professional sports teams, along with rehabilitative facilities to treat and prevent injuries.

During the healing process our body attempts to repair muscles, tendons and ligaments with scar tissue, just like the scar that forms on your skin when you scrape your knee. That scar tissue is not as strong and flexible as normal, healthy, undamaged tissue. Over time we can tend to build up this fibrous scar tissue, particularly in muscles, tendons and ligaments that we use regularly. This can cause pain and lead to dysfunction because this replacement tissue lacks the strength, and flexibility of healthy tissue.

Graston Technique® allows us to easily detect, and treat these areas using a precise stainless-steel instrument that glides along a patient’s muscle, tendons or ligament acting like a scar tissue stethoscope. When adhesions or scar tissue are encountered, both the doctor and the patient sense a restriction or a granular feeling. The instrument can then be used to “break up” this restriction or adhesion and restore normal texture, function and range of motion to the muscle.