By Monique Roth

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – The Rehabilitation Team at St. James Parish Hospital recently completed training to become certified in the Graston Technique, an innovative form of instrument-assisted soft tissue therapy.

The Graston Tech  nique utilizes special stainless steel tools to detect and effectively treat areas exhibiting soft tissue fibrosis or chronic inflammation. The technique increases diagnostic treatment options, helps therapists by detecting fibrotic changes and benefits patients through decreased treatment times, quicker recovery, reduction in medications and relief from chronic conditions.

“Using the Graston Technique allows us to more effectively treat soft tissue dysfunction, which is a problem often associated with recovering injuries,” said Master of Physical Therapy and Director of Rehab at SJPH Shannon Juneau. “We have noticed a significant decrease in recovery time of our patients, which allows them to have more normal, natural motion sooner with less pain.”

SJPH provides a staff of highly-qualified phy  sical, occupational and speech therapists. Services are provided for outpatients Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Monday through Satur  day for inpatients.

For more information or to schedule an ap  pointment, call 225-258-5934.