“It focuses on relieving tension in muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia, and nerves by breaking up scar tissue, adhesions, and other restrictions that may be causing pain, limited range of motion, or dysfunction.”
Active RELEASE technique
a.r.t.
Active Release Technique (ART) is a specialized, hands-on therapy used by chiropractors, physical therapists, and other healthcare professionals to treat soft tissue injuries. It focuses on relieving tension in muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia, and nerves by breaking up scar tissue, adhesions, and other restrictions that may be causing pain, limited range of motion, or dysfunction.
- Purpose:
- Pain Relief: Helps alleviate pain caused by soft tissue injuries, including repetitive strain injuries and overuse conditions.
- Improved Mobility: Restores normal movement and flexibility in the affected tissues.
- Enhanced Function: Improves muscle performance by reducing restrictions that can impair strength and coordination.
- Procedure:
- Assessment: The practitioner first assesses the patient’s range of motion, palpates the soft tissues, and identifies areas of tension or restriction.
- Specific Movement: The practitioner instructs the patient to actively move the affected body part through a range of motion while applying pressure to the tissue.
- Manual Pressure: The therapist uses their hands to apply precise, targeted pressure to the affected area, often along the path of the muscle or nerve.
- Breaking Adhesions: The combination of pressure and movement works to break up adhesions, scar tissue, and other restrictions in the soft tissues.
Key Aspects of Active Release Technique:
- Conditions Treated:
- Repetitive Strain Injuries: Such as carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, and golfer’s elbow.
- Muscle Strains and Sprains: Including conditions like shin splints, plantar fasciitis, and hamstring strains.
- Chronic Pain: Often used to address chronic conditions like lower back pain, sciatica, and neck pain.
- Nerve Entrapment: Helps relieve conditions like thoracic outlet syndrome or nerve impingements.
- Techniques:
- Dynamic Approach: Unlike static stretching or passive massage, ART involves active patient participation. The patient actively moves the affected area while the practitioner applies manual pressure.
- Specificity: ART is highly specific, targeting particular muscles, tendons, or nerves to address the exact source of the problem.
- Customizable: The technique can be adapted to treat a wide range of issues, making it versatile and effective for many types of injuries.
- Safety and Side Effects:
- Generally considered safe and well-tolerated when performed by a trained practitioner.
- Some patients may experience temporary soreness or discomfort after treatment, similar to the feeling after deep tissue massage.
- ART should be avoided in cases of acute inflammation, fractures, or severe osteoporosis unless specifically advised by a healthcare provider.
- Benefits:
- Quick Results: Many patients experience significant relief after just a few sessions.
- Non-Invasive: ART is a non-surgical, drug-free approach to pain relief and injury recovery.
- Enhanced Recovery: Helps accelerate recovery from injuries by restoring normal tissue function.
ART is often used in conjunction with other therapies, such as chiropractic adjustments, physical therapy, and exercise, to provide a comprehensive approach to musculoskeletal health.
