June 25, 2014 — For the first time in its 20-year history, Graston Technique LLC has reduced the cost of the instruments it produces for instrument-assisted soft-tissue mobilization (IASTM). As a result of more than nine months of discussion and collaboration with its manufacturer, unique processes have been developed, which resulted in a significant cost savings, allowing Graston Technique (GT) to pass these savings along to clinicians.
GT instruments are custom molded from stainless steel with edges hand-finished to exacting specifications. This lengthy process forced GT to keep the price of their 6- and 3-piece instrument sets at a level some clinicians were reluctant to afford. Now, new processes have produced instruments of the same quality and material more efficiently.
“We have known for a long time that our instrument price was a barrier to a large number of clinicians and students,” said Todd R. Lugar, president and CEO of GT. “We believe by reducing that cost barrier, practitioners will be able to provide the best therapies and ultimately improve the lives of their patients, which is the mission of our company.”
Through the years, GT has been a pacesetter in IASTM education. Unlike many competitors, the company has spent a great deal of time and money to develop unique, high-quality education courses, which are considered the gold standard of IASTM training. Additionally, GT was developed, and is continually supported and updated, by significant research and industry collaboration.
To maintain its integrity and high standards, GT will only sell instruments to clinicians and students who have completed at least the M1-Basic Training course. Graston Technique is the combination of GT training and GT instruments. A clinician cannot be a GT provider, or describe themselves as providing Graston or Graston Technique, without both of these critical elements.
“It is one thing to look at IASTM procedures online or in a video, but the education level is significantly higher when you participate in hands-on training during a 12- or 14-hour course with certified GT instructors,” Lugar said. “After successfully completing a GT training on the weekend, clinicians are fully prepared to use their instruments effectively on Monday morning.”
Lugar made this announcement prior to the opening of the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) annual conference in Indianapolis this week.
“We are not afraid of fair competition in the marketplace,” Lugar said. “However, we are concerned about less effective instruments, made from a variety of less effective materials, finding their way into the hands of untrained clinicians, with the ultimate risk being to the patient.”
Source: Graston Technique LLC
