Active Release Technique

What is Active Release Technique®?

It is a soft tissue system/movement based massage technique that treats problems with muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia and nerves. Some of th specific conditions that can be treated are headaches, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, shin splints, shoulder pain, sciatica, plantar fasciitis, knee problems, and tennis elbow.  These conditions can be resolved quickly and permanently with ART, since these conditions can all have one thing in common, they are often a result of overused muscles. 

How do overuse conditions occur?

Over-used muscles, ligaments, tendons and other soft tissues are changed in three important ways:

• acute conditions (pulls, tears, collisions, etc)
• accumulation of small tears (micro-trauma)
• depleted oxygen (hypoxia)

Each of these factors can cause your body to produce scar tissue, which is a spider web of tough, dense tissue in the affected area. This tissue binds up and ties down other tissues that need to move freely. As scar tissue builds up, the resultant muscles become shorter and weaker, tension on tendons causes tendonitis and nerves can become trapped. Reduced range of motion, loss of strength and pain can be a result. If a nerve is trapped you may also feel tingling, numbness, and weakness in extremities (which can be the case in carpal tunnel syndrome).

What is a treatment like?

The doctor uses his hands to evaluate the texture, tightness and movement of muscles, fascia, tendons, ligaments and nerves. Abnormal tissues are treated by combining precisely directed tension with very specific patient movements.