Using Active Release Technique (ART) for Injury Rehabilitation
At Insight Chiropractic in San Jose, chiropractor Dr. Jennifer Forster is certified to provide Active Release Technique to patients in need of rehabilitation for injuries and chronic conditions. ART can be considered a highly-developed and specific type of massage therapy that breaks down scar tissue preventing your muscles, tendons and other soft tissues from working properly and painlessly. Dr. Forster pursued many hours of additional study and training to become certified in ART and has been able to help patients find relief from back pain, shoulder pain, sciatica, sprains and strains, knee problems, tennis elbow, plantar fasciitis and carpal tunnel syndrome, and more.
Active Release Technique Restores Normal Muscle Function
Active Release Technique goes to the heart of soft-tissue injuries. When you play sports, exercise or simply work or move in the same way over and over again, muscle tears (small or large) and strains can build up scar tissue called “adhesions” inside the muscle. This tough, inflexible, oxygen-poor tissue inhibits normal muscle movements and can cause a lot of pain—and not only in the affected muscle. When one muscle isn’t working at full capacity, it forces other muscles to overcompensate for it, leading to pain and difficulties like a domino effect. Our chiropractor uses ART massage therapy to break down this scar tissue and recondition the muscles so they can go back to pain-free, healthy movement patterns.
During an ART session, Dr. Forster will use her hands to evaluate the affected muscle groups. She will look for tightness, texture, discomfort and range of motion. Then she will use targeted massage strokes to knead out adhesions. There are four progressive levels of ART treatment. During level 4, Dr. Forster teaches patients specific stretches and exercises to continue the healing process later on. The end goal is to remove the scar tissue, increase circulation to oxygen-starved tissues and release any pinched nerves.
Have you been struggling with persistent soft-tissue injury pain? ART may be what you need. What would you like to know about how Active Release Technique could help you?