Soft Tissue Issues
Active release technique is shortening and lengthening muscle fibers to break up adhesions and get the body back to moving the way it normally does. The structures in your body may become injured due to overuse and repetitive trauma, causing pain and limited motion. Trauma to these soft tissues may also cause the fascia and tissue to bind to nearby structures in the form of adhesions.
What does ART do?
During ART, a practitioner uses their hands to identify areas of tissue tension and then uses specific pressure points and movement to restore normal motion. The practitioner can feel and see when there is a muscular skeletal zone that may need to be opened up or released.
When can ART help?
Active release technique has proved beneficial for a variety of conditions. These are typically injuries to the soft tissues in your body. Any soft tissue condition that may cause painful and limited motion in the body may benefit from ART. These include, but not limited to:
- Shoulder pain
- Iliotibial band syndrome
- Shin splints
- Plantar fasciiti
- Surgical Scars
- Knee pain
- Hip pain
- Sciatica and back pain
- Neck pain
- Tennis Elbow
- Golfer’s Elbow
What Happens During ART?
Active Release Technique may decrease your pain and break up soft tissue adhesions that occur after injury, and improve the way you are able to move. During Active Release Technique, when providing pressure to the tender area, practitioners will ask you to move in specific directions. This movement under pressure helps to pull on the underlying tissue in specific ways, freeing it from painful adhesion. Some people find ART to be painful and experience a lot of pressure. For many athletes and people who want to move past the daily pain from an injury or years of wear and tear on their bodies, It definitely is a perfect representation of ‘no pain, no gain.’
How Do You Know if ART is Helping?
After a treatment you will normally feel looser. However, muscle holds memory so the stiffness may come back the next day. It is important to give ART at least five visits and keep the appointments scheduled close together. During the five sessions, the impact of each treatment will last a bit longer with each visit. Our goal is to create longer periods of time where you feel less restricted. Eventually you will not require as many treatments because your pain is eliminated or significantly decreased. Within those five visits, you should know whether the ART treatments are helping you. You may not be cured in five visits, but you will know that you are on the right track.