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Active Release Technique

ART is a hands on approach to injuries of the muscles, tendons, fascia, nerves, and the surrounding tissues.  Active Release provides a way to diagnose and treat the underlying causes of a variety of conditions collectively called cumulative trauma disorders.  These disorders are also known as repetitive stress injuries or “overuse” syndromes.  Symptoms are sensations of tingling, burning, aching, and weakness.  When a muscle, tendon, ligament, or nerve is damaged from trauma or overuse, the body will attempt to repair the damage with adhesions or scar tissue.  Scar tissue is weaker, less elastic, less pliable, and more sensitive than healthy tissue.  These adhesions disrupt the normal function, which in turn affects the biomechanics of the joint complex; and if left untreated perpetuate the cumulative injury cycle and result in progressive loss of function and increased pain.  Soft tissue dysfunction often leads to a loss of flexibility, strength, and range of motion.  This makes prompt and proper treatment essential for healing and rehabilitation. 

ART is applied by hand using a specific pressure and tension on the muscle involved while moving the muscle underneath the contact from a shortened to elongated position.  This softens and stretches the scar tissue, resulting in increased range of motion, increased strength, and improved circulation which optimizes healing. 

ART separates, releases, and stretches the connective tissue adhesions, restores vascular and lymph circulation, and increases your range of motion, flexibility, and strength. 

The treatments can be a bit uncomfortable, or even a little painful, but this pain is an important indicator that the problem has been located and signals that the treatments a re correcting the injury.  Patients often report that it “hurts good”.

Regardless of your activity level you can benefit from ART.  From those who are victims of car accidents – or even the proud weekend warrior – ART has proven to be a fast, effective, non-invasive way to heal a wide variety of soft tissue injuries.