Active Release Techniques (ART)®

Active Release Techniques ® soft tissue management system was designed to specifically target and remove soft tissue adhesions (or ‘scarring’) which results in increased soft tissue tension, pain and dysfunction. These adhesions can be the result of acute injuries such as sprains, strains, or bruises; or can be the result of repetitive motions that are common in athletic training and competition, or in the daily routines of the workplace.

When tissues (muscles for example) are repetitively contracted as would occur with the leg muscles in running, or in the muscles of the forearm with typing, blood flow becomes restricted to those muscles and the surrounding tissues. The purpose of blood flow is to carry oxygen to the tissues which is used to create energy for the tissues’ cells so that they can carry on their activities (i.e. Reproduction, metabolism, etc.). Muscles require a considerable amount of oxygen to function. If muscles are over used it chronically limits blood flow thus decreasing the oxygen supply. When this occurs, the body, in an effort to conserve energy and resources, begins to replace the muscle tissue, which is oxygen dependent and energy consuming, with a tissue that doesn’t require oxygen or energy to function…namely scar tissue. Scar tissue is a very ‘rough’ substance which will cause irritation (friction) to the surrounding nerves therefore both causing pain and decreased function.

What types of conditions are treated with ART?

Realistically, all musculoskeletal injuries will have a component of soft tissue dysfunction. Thus, Active Release Therapy is often used as a component of almost all treatment protocols. The following are just a few examples of what the SPC sports specialists treat at our Thornhill and Mississauga Sports Injury Clinics with Active Release Techniques:

• Cervicogenic Headache
• Tempromandibular Joint Pain (TMJ pain or TMD)
• Neck Pain
• Shoulder Impingement Syndrome
• Rotator Cuff Pain
• Lateral Epicondylosis (aka. Lateral Epicondylitis or Tennis Elbow)
• Medial Epicondylosis (aka. Medial Epicondylits or Golfers Elbow)
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Nerve Entrapment
• Low Back Pain
• Patellar Tendinosis (aka. Patellar Tendinitis or Jumpers Knee)
• Iliotibial Band Syndrome (ITB Syndrome)
• Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
• Shin Splints
• Plantar Fasciitis
• Repetitive Strain Disorder (RSD)
• Tendinitis or Tendinosis
• Whiplash

Click here to visit an Active Release Techniques therapist in Mississauga

Click here to visit and Active Release Techniques therapist in Vaughan (Thornhill)

To learn more about Active Release Techniques, visit www.activereleasetechniques.com