What is active release technique(ART)?
Over three decades ago a certified chiropractor known as P. Micheal Leahy introduced Active Release Technique (ART). This method functions by manipulating and mobilizing soft tissues reducing tension put on joints and nerves. It inhibits and breaks up scars that are dense to replace normal flexibility to joints.
He started working this technique with pro athletes who needed to be on their best performance as early as possible.
By studying the professional athlete’s motions and applying his chiropractic knowledge, he was able to develop this technique that was able to help the athletes recover from injuries faster and perform much better.
How active release technique works?
Whenever a muscle, tendon, nerve, or ligament is damaged from convulsion or overuse, the body will make an effort to repair the breakdown with adhesions or scar tissue.
These adhesions interfere with normal functioning, affecting the biomechanics of the joint complex.
If left untreated, the cumulative damage cycle is maintained, and leads to progressive loss of function and increased pain and discomfort. Soft tissue dysfunction often results in loss of strength, flexibility, and range of motion. So, It becomes really essential for proper treatment to heal quickly.
Active Release Technique (ART) is manually applied to the affected muscle with specific pressure and tension, moving the muscle from a short position to an extended position during contact.
This smoothes and expands the scar tissue, leading to a wider range of motion, greater strength, and better circulation, maximizing healing.
Irrespective of your activity level, you can benefit from ART. It has been shown to be a fast, effective, and non-invasive treatment for extensive soft tissue damage/ injuries.
What can be treated with the active release technique?
ART can relieve the following overused muscles:
- Headaches
- Back pain
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Shin splints
- Knee problems
- ligaments
- tendons
- Nerves
- Shoulder pain
- Sciatica
- Plantar fasciitis
- Knee problems
- Muscle strain
- IT Band pain
- Post-operative scar tissue
- Chronic low back pain
- Bursitis
- Arthritis
Active Release Technique Benefits
Here’s a brief overview of the 10 benefits of the (ART) Active Release Technique. If you have one of these conditions and are looking for relief or want more information about active release therapy. Benefits Include:
- Decreases Lower Back Pain
- Useful against headaches
- increased flexibility
- Helps Prevent Injuries
- Enhance athletic performance
- Relief from Common Injuries
- Treats Carpel Tunnel Syndrome
- Increase range of motion
- corrects muscle problems easily
- Improves Quality of Life
Active release technique providers
There are many medical practitioners who are trained in Active Release Technique (ART). A few of them are:
- Physicians
- Chiropractors
- Massage therapists
- Physical therapists
- Certified athletic trainers
- Medical doctors
Active Release Techniques for Neck & Shoulder Pain
Care after ART Treatment
After the limited adhesions between the tissues disappear, post-treatment exercise becomes an important part of the rehabilitation process, so that symptoms do not recur.
There are 3 main areas to remember in any exercise program after Active Release Therapy:
1. Flexibility: Good flexibility allows muscles and joints to move throughout the range of motion. Loss of flexibility increases the risk of damage to muscles, ligaments, tissues, and tendons.
Flexibility depends on the joints. A person can do a wider range of exercises in one joint, but limited in another. Stretching exercises are effective only after the soft tissue adhesions disappear. Stretching exercises performed before adhesions include only tissues above and below the perimeter.
The biomechanical imbalance is even more severe as the closed tissue and true adhesion are hardly expanded.
2. Strength: Strengthening exercises are most effective after treatment. Efforts to strengthen shortened, contracted muscles can lead to more contractions and limitations. This leads to the formation of more adhesions and tissue contractions, which worsens the frequent cycle of injury. This is why regular or unspecified strengthening exercises for RSI rarely work.
3. Cardiovascular System: Cardiovascular or aerobic exercise is essential to smooth blood circulation and increase oxygen supply to soft tissues. Lack of oxygen and impaired circulation are the main stimulants of recurrent strain injuries.
How to do active release technique – Shoulders
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