| Active Release Technique (also known as ART) is an | | | | therapist first evaluates the tenderness, tightness and |
| advanced massage technique specifically designed | | | | texture of underlying tissues, such as the fascia, |
| massage for muscle and muscle attachments, | | | | muscles, tendons, nerves and ligaments. Then, the |
| tendons, and the fascia surrounding the muscles, to | | | | therapist provides specific advanced massage therapy |
| release and relieve tension in these areas. It can relieve | | | | techniques along with ART techniques. |
| such "overuse" problems as carpal syndrome, shoulder | | | | This type of treatment is effective because a trained |
| pain, shin splints, sciatica, plantar fasciitis, knee problems | | | | therapist can break up the scar tissue causing the |
| and tennis elbow. These problems all occur because | | | | nerve entrapment, reduced carpal tunnel syndrome |
| of overuse, and can be cured with his specific | | | | symptoms, nerve impingement or muscle adhesions. |
| massage therapy technique, called Active Release | | | | The therapist directs very specific tension at the |
| Technique. | | | | affected area usually focusing on or around muscle |
| When overuse occurs, nerve entrapments, muscle | | | | attachments and the patient works in tandem with the |
| adhesion, inflammation and scar tissue, carpal tunnel | | | | therapist by moving in specific ways to help break up |
| and impingement syndrome, among many other | | | | the scar tissue. |
| problems, can manifest. This is because overuse | | | | There are over 500 different movements specifically |
| causes injury or other situations where the tissue | | | | in ART that is meant to break down the scar tissue, |
| actually changes detrimentally in three important ways. | | | | muscle tension and entrapped nerves. For example, |
| · First of all, the tissue itself does not get | | | | with carpal tunnel syndrome, the median nerve is |
| enough oxygen, a condition also called "hypoxia." | | | | trapped in scar tissue (also known as "nerve |
| · Second of all, there can be an accumulation | | | | entrapment), which has been caused by repetitive |
| of small tears, also called a micro-trauma. | | | | movement, a poor diet or a host of many other |
| · And third of all, this can cause acute | | | | inflammation causing factors. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome |
| conditions, such as pulls, tears, and collisions. | | | | also known as "cumulative injury," because the injury |
| No matter the cause, what happens is that these | | | | itself (in this case, entrapment to the median nerve) |
| three types of changes cause the body to heal by | | | | occurs over a period of time. In many cases, ART can |
| producing tough, dense scar tissue in the area that has | | | | reduce or eliminate the need for surgery to correct |
| been injured, which replaces the healthy tissue. The | | | | these problems and restore function. |
| scar tissue itself then binds up the surrounding tissues, | | | | Impingement syndrome can also be helped with ART. |
| so that they can no longer move freely. As more scar | | | | Another type of injury, impingement syndrome, occurs |
| tissue builds up, muscles themselves can become | | | | when those who do a lot of lifting have pain in the |
| shorter and weaker. Scar tissue in not as strong and | | | | shoulder area. Most often, care for this problem |
| stable as healthy tissue, there for an advanced | | | | involves having surgery to shave off a small part of |
| massage therapist is needed to help break down | | | | the rotator cuff and make it flat, ensuring that there's |
| muscle adhesions and scar tissue. | | | | nothing to "catch" the muscle or muscle adhesion on. |
| Without treatment this results in tension on tendons, | | | | However, most often, the problem is in the muscle |
| which in turn causes tendinitis, and nerves can become | | | | itself and not in the rotator cuff, so ART can cure this |
| "trapped." This in turn can cause pain, loss of strength, | | | | problem if the problem is indeed occurring in the |
| and reduced range of motion. In some cases, when a | | | | muscle and not in the rotator cuff itself. This |
| nerve becomes trapped, you can also feel numbness, | | | | determination needs to be carefully identified before |
| tingling or weakness. | | | | any massage therapy or ART treatments are |
| A massage therapist who uses these ART | | | | implemented. Be sure to seek a professional massage |
| techniques can help clients with these muscles | | | | therapist who is certified in ART techniques and has a |
| adhesions and scar tissue [ build up, that restrict proper | | | | very firm knowledge of the human anatomy. |
| muscle function. When one receives ART treatment, a | | | | |