Active Release Therapy is a form of chiropractic care that helps to reduce pain, facilitate healing, and increase range of motion. Active Release Therapy uses Active Release Techniques (ART®), a patented technique that chiropractors need to be trained in and be certified to perform on patients. You may want to consider Active Release Therapy if you have chronic pain, are recovering from an injury, or have limited range of motion. This chiropractic technique can address the underlying cause while relieving current pain. Before you start ART® treatment, read more about this specialized chiropractic technique so you can understand how it benefits your body
What You Need To Know About Active Release Therapy
How Does Active Release Therapy Work?
This advanced chiropractic practice utilizes both pressure and motion together to break up scar tissue and facilitate healing. This technique uses manipulation and movement to identify, isolate, and target the affected area. During an ART® session, your chiropractor will detect areas of concern and address the treatment area. They will apply pressure to where scar tissue is built up and guide your body in specific motions. The combination of targeted pressure and specific movement breaks up scar tissue.
What Does Active Release Therapy Address?
ART® is used to address both chronic and acute pain. This form of chiropractic care is often used to aid in the recovery of injury from sports or motor vehicle accidents, but it can also be used to address pain caused by overuse and repetitive motion injury or chronic pain. Because Active Release Techniques also facilitate blood flow, this type of treatment boosts the natural healing process to improve overall musculoskeletal health.
What Parts Of The Body Does Active Release Therapy Address?
Some common areas Active Release Techniques are used to treat are the shoulders, knees, back, and wrists, although ART® can be used on any area of the body to relieve pain and aid in healing.
Active Release Therapy specifically addresses the fascia, the muscle, the tendons, and the ligaments. The fascia is the thin casing of connective tissue that is around all aspects of the body, including organs, muscles, bones, nerve fibres, and blood vessels. The fascia is designed to stretch and move and it has liquid between the layers to facilitate this movement, but it can dry up and become sticky, making movement difficult and painful. Ligaments are fibrous connective tissues that connect to the bones. The ligaments can tear and cause pain and when they heal they can develop tough scar tissue. Active Release Therapy can be used to address issues in the musculoskeletal system by re-establishing optimal texture within the tissues of the musculoskeletal system while increasing resilience and function in the soft tissue.
Active Release Therapy In Calgary
If you are experiencing soft tissue pain, ART® can help to restore your soft tissue to its pre-injury state and reduce chronic pain. Leaving soft tissue injuries untreated can cause further injury and lack of movement, but ART® can improve healing while addressing current pain. Dr. Jay Shephard is an accredited ART® Elite Provider and a member of the ART® Elite Provider Network and has been an ART® instructor for over 22 years. With his extensive ART® knowledge and skills, Dr. Jay Shephard is able to identify abnormalities in tissue texture, tension, and movement. To explore your options for Active Release Therapy, speak with a chiropractor at Shephard Health by calling 1-403-543-7499.
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 achy as they would 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.
