A Guide to Active Release Therapy

Do you experience soreness or tightness in your muscles or joints? Do you have trouble moving or performing certain activities? If so, you may benefit from active release therapy (ART). ART is a gentle and effective massage technique that can ease pain, enhance mobility, and help you feel better.

What Is Active Release Therapy?

ART is a method that involves moving and exerting manual pressure on the body’s soft tissues. Soft tissues include fascia, nerves, tendons, ligaments, and muscles. These tissues can sustain damage due to overuse, trauma, poor posture, or stress. When this happens, they can form scar tissue or adhesions that restrict movement and cause pain.

ART aims to break up these adhesions and restore normal tissue function. A certified ART practitioner or chiropractor will use their hands to evaluate the affected tissues’ texture, tightness, and movement. Then, they will apply specific pressure and stretch the tissues in different directions to release the tension and restore blood flow.

How Does Active Release Therapy Work?

ART works by stimulating the body’s natural healing process. Breaking up the scar tissue and adhesions can improve blood circulation and oxygen delivery to the injured tissues. This can lessen stiffness, pain, and inflammation. ART can also enhance the flexibility and range of motion of the joints and muscles. This can help you stand straighter, move better, and control your movements more.

ART can also help prevent further injury or damage to the tissues. Restoring normal tissue function and movement can reduce the stress and strain on the surrounding structures. This can prevent chronic pain and dysfunction.

Benefits of Active Release Therapy

If you have different kinds of pain or problems with your muscles and bones, ART can help you. Some of the common conditions that it can treat include:
 

• Back pain
• Neck pain
• Headaches
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Tennis elbow
• Golfer’s elbow
• Plantar fasciitis
• Shin splints
• Knee pain
• Shoulder pain
• Sciatica

ART can help athletes improve their performance and recovery. Enhancing their mobility and flexibility can help them prevent injuries and optimize their training. It can also help them recover faster from workouts and competitions by reducing muscle soreness and fatigue.

How to Find an Active Release Therapy Practitioner?

To experience ART, seek out a certified practitioner. You want a professional who underwent comprehensive training and successfully passed a rigorous exam to demonstrate their expertise in the technique. 
 

Discuss this treatment with your primary care physician before booking an appointment with an ART practitioner. They will evaluate your symptoms and determine the appropriateness of ART for you. They can also tell you how to prepare for your session and what to anticipate afterward.

Conclusion

Active-release therapy can treat many kinds of pain and problems with your muscles and bones. It can ease pain, enhance mobility, and help you feel better. To try this treatment, find a certified, experienced practitioner who can provide quality care. You might feel better after just one session.

For more information on ART, visit Dr. Chris, the Chiropractor, at our Calgary, Alberta offices. Call (403) 454-1701 or (403) 243-8114 to schedule an appointment today.