Have you developed an ache deep within the socket of your shoulder? Do you struggle to move your arm or lift it above your head? Do you feel sharp or intense pain in the shoulders or neck? If so, you may have an injury to your shoulders, specifically in the group of tendons called the rotator cuff. Pain within the rotator cuff and shoulder can be caused either by repetitive use or by sudden injury. Sometimes these injuries will heal with rest, ice, heat, and stretching, but this doesn’t work on all shoulder pain. When your injuries don’t heal well or if they cause chronic pain, Active Release Technique (ART®) performed by a trained chiropractor can help.
Active Release Technique And Shoulder Pain Reduction
Rotator Cuff And Shoulder Injuries
Your rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that surround your shoulder joint. These muscles and tendons keep the shoulder in its socket while giving you the ability to move your shoulder. One of the most common injuries to the shoulder is called rotator cuff tendinopathy or tendinitis and it develops from overuse and repetitive action. These injuries lead to micro-tears in the muscles and tendons and cause pain just outside of the joint. This injury is commonly caused by overhead action, such as baseball, tennis, swimming, paddling, or housework. When micro-tears occur, the body tries to heal them by developing fibrous scar tissue. While this can help heal the micro-tears, this type of fibre is not very stretchy and can cause stiffness and a lack of mobility within the shoulder.
Active Release Technique (ART®)
ART® is an innovative, non-invasive, effective treatment option to address a variety of soft tissue injuries. Active Release Technique is highly effective at releasing tissue tension. ART® works to remove fibrosis and adhesions that develop when tissues become damaged. This technique is specifically designed to restore motion in the soft tissue, reduce pain caused by a build-up of scar tissue, and release trapped nerves that are causing pain. During treatment, your chiropractor will apply tension to the damaged area(s) with their hands while you move as instructed, often lengthening and shortening the treatment area. This encourages the soft tissue to move and it helps to break up scar tissue and restore movement.
How Active Release Technique Can Help Shoulder Injuries
Shoulder injuries, whether they are acute or chronic, can cause stiffness, aching, loss of movement, or intense pain. ART® can be used to help treat shoulder pain by breaking up scar tissue and other adhesions that limit movement and create stiffness. Your chiropractor will help to restore your full range of shoulder motion through multiple active release technique sessions facilitating a return to the muscles' ability to stretch and glide normally.
Active Release Technique is not limited to rotator cuff and shoulder pain. ART® can be used to help reduce pain from acute or chronic injury in various places within the body.
Active Release Technique Treatment In Calgary
At Shephard Health in Calgary, our chiropractors are trained in Active Release Technique to help restore your shoulder’s full range of motion and reduce pain. As a member of the ART® Elite Provider Network, Dr. Jay Shephard will completely customize a treatment strategy to address your unique injury and support your goals for recovery. With over 20 years of experience in services ranging from chiropractic care and physical rehabilitation to Active Release Technique and Biomechanical Analysis, Dr. Jay Shephard and his team are committed to providing personalized treatment solutions to patients with thoughtful care and experienced competence. To schedule a no-obligation, complimentary consultation, call Shephard Health at 1-403-543-7499 to book your appointment.
FAQ
Q: How long does Active Release Technique treatment take?
A: One session is only about 15 to 30 minutes. The initial treatment phase is usually about 4-6 treatments followed by an assessment. Your chiropractor can advise if further treatments are recommended.
Q: Does Active Release Technique hurt?
A: A proper ART® treatment should not be painful. It is non-invasive, so there are no known short or long-term side effects when appropriately delivered by an ART® Certified Provider. Following a treatment session, your tissue may feel like the muscles ache following intense training.
Q: Are all chiropractors trained to use Active Release Technique?
A: No, this is a specific technique that chiropractors must train to use. A chiropractor not ART® certified cannot perform this technique. Be sure that your ART® provider is certified for the type of injury or disorder for which you are seeking treatment. Professionals who are not credentialed to provide ART® treatments may inadvertently cause muscle and nerve damage by applying incorrect pressure to anatomical structures, causing undue pain or further injury. If it hurts, it is being performed incorrectly. At Shephard Health, Dr. Jay Shephard holds an advanced certification in Active Release Techniques and has been an active instructor of ART® since 1998.
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