Active Release Therapy

Active Release Techniques (ART) is a movement-based massage technique we use at Integrated Pain & Joint Care that helps treat soft tissue problems with muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia and nerves. In an active manual therapy session, the provider will use their 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. Our providers incorporate manual therapy release techniques with most treatments.

What We Treat

Headaches, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, shin splints, shoulder pain, sciatica, plantar fasciitis, knee problems, and tennis elbow are just a few of the many conditions that can be with active manual soft tissue work. These conditions all have one thing in common: they are often a result of overused muscles.

Over-used soft tissues occur in three ways: acute conditions (pulls, tears, collisions, etc), accumulation of small tears (micro-trauma) and not getting enough oxygen (hypoxia). These injuries can further cause your body to produce tough, dense scar tissue in the affected area. The scar tissue then binds up and ties down tissues that need to move freely. As your scar tissue builds up, muscles become shorter and weaker, tension on tendons causes tendonitis and nerves can then become trapped. This can likely cause reduced range of motion, loss of strength, and pain. If a nerve is trapped, you may also feel tingling, numbness, and weakness.

How We Treat

Our treatment protocols are individualized to the patient. We have over 500 specific moves unique to ART. They allow providers to identify and correct the specific problems that are affecting each individual patient.