Support your recovery plan
When chronic tendonitis, fascial restrictions, or scar tissue limit your movement and refuse to improve with rest or stretching, scraping therapy uses specialized instruments to detect and treat areas of soft tissue dysfunction that other methods cannot reach. You may have dealt with persistent pain in Elm Grove for months or even years, trying multiple treatments without lasting relief because the adhesions and scar tissue were never directly addressed.
At Ares Physical Therapy, scraping therapy is also known as instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization or the Graston Technique. We use metal tools to apply controlled pressure along muscles, tendons, and fascia, creating micro-trauma that stimulates your body's natural healing response. This process breaks down adhesions, improves blood flow, reduces chronic inflammation, and restores range of motion. We treat chronic tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, IT band syndrome, tennis and golfer's elbow, shin splints, frozen shoulder, carpal tunnel syndrome, and post-surgical scar tissue. Scraping is integrated into your complete treatment plan with manual therapy, corrective exercise, and movement retraining to ensure lasting results.
If you have tried everything without relief in Elm Grove, reach out to see how scraping therapy can help you move and perform without pain.
These are the most common questions people ask when considering scraping therapy for chronic injuries or conditions that have not improved with other treatments.
If stubborn pain or stiffness has kept you from training or moving the way you want, scraping therapy at Ares Physical Therapy in Elm Grove may be the missing piece. Get in touch to schedule an assessment and find out how this technique fits into your recovery plan.
What does scraping therapy do?
It uses controlled instrument-assisted pressure to address fascial restrictions, scar tissue, and soft tissue areas that are not moving well.
Will it leave marks?
Temporary redness or marks can happen as circulation increases, but they usually fade and are monitored throughout treatment.
It is usually paired with mobility work, strengthening, and movement retraining so tissue changes translate into better function.
Stubborn tendon irritation, scar tissue, chronic tightness, overuse pain, and mobility restrictions may respond well.
Is the treatment painful?
It can feel intense over restricted tissue, but pressure is adjusted to your tolerance and treatment goals.
Start your therapy now
Your session begins with an assessment in Elm Grove to identify areas where tissue feels restricted, thickened, or painful. We apply a lubricant to your skin and use stainless steel instruments with beveled edges to scrape along the affected muscles, tendons, and fascia. The instruments allow us to detect adhesions and scar tissue that feel like gravel or sandpaper under the surface. You will feel pressure and some discomfort during treatment, and we work within your tolerance to ensure the technique remains effective without causing unnecessary pain.
After treatment, you will notice improved range of motion and reduced stiffness, often immediately. Scraping improves muscle and tendon function by breaking down the adhesions that limit sliding and gliding between tissue layers. You may see temporary redness or bruising, which is a normal healing response and indicates increased circulation to the area. Most people experience gradual pain reduction over several sessions as tissue quality improves and inflammation decreases.
Ares Physical Therapy combines scraping with strength training and movement retraining to address the biomechanical causes of your injury, not just the tissue damage itself. This approach prevents the same dysfunction from returning after treatment ends. Your recovery timeline depends on how long the condition has existed and how much scar tissue has formed, but most clients see meaningful improvement within four to six sessions.
