Effects of the Graston Technique on Overhead Throwing Velocity in Collegiate Baseball Players

Introduction: Graston Technique (GT) is a form of Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM) that utilizes stainless steel instruments to allow clinicians to detect soft tissue adhesions in a precise manner. This form of IASTM is currently used as a therapeutic modality and has not been formally utilized as a performance enrichment instrument. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of GT on the overhead throwing velocity of baseball players. Methods: Nine collegiate club baseball participants (18-22 years) were involved in a total of eight 30-minute treatment sessions (GT group), while six participants were assigned to the control group. The study had a timespan of four weeks with treatments occurring twice a week with a minimum of 48 hours between sessions. Treatment sessions consisted of 10 minutes of hot pack application over the dominant posterior shoulder, 8 minutes of GT followed by glenohumeral (GH) stretching in the motions of external rotation (ER), internal rotation (IR) and horizontal adduction. Results: The two-way repeated measures ANOVA indicated significant interaction (group x time) effects on throwing velocity, ER, and IR (p < .05). Therefore, paired samples t tests were employed, which indicated no change in throwing velocity from baseline (M=30.786; SD=4.323) to posttest (M=30.657; SD=3.972) among GT group, while significant decrease was shown among control from baseline (M=32.644; SD=2.307) to posttest (M=34.277; SD=1.744). No change in IR occurred among GT group, while significant increase observed in control from baseline (M=62.56; SD=12.095) to posttest (M=85.00; SD=16.086). Both GT and control groups increased ER from baseline to posttest. Conclusions: Use of GT may prevent a decrease in throwing velocity in apparently-healthy baseball players. It would be of interest to examine the impact of GT on throwing during the season among overhead throwers with chronic GH conditions.