By Sumaiya Farheen and Andrew Siyabalawatte, March 2023
What is Active Release Technique (ART)?
Active Release Therapy (ART) or Technique is a manual therapy approach used to treat soft tissue injuries and dysfunction. It was developed by Dr. Michael Leahy, a chiropractor, in the mid 1980s. ART uses a combination of movement and pressure to release adhesions and scar tissue that may have developed in the soft tissues of the body, such as muscles, tendons, ligaments, and nerves following injury.
What is the goal of Active Release Technique?
The goal of ART is to restore proper function and range of motion, reduce pain, and improve performance. Practitioners use their hands to apply pressure while the patient performs specific movements. This technique actively breaks up adhesions and scar tissue, which can restrict movement and cause pain.
Active Release Technique In Massage
During a massage therapy session, the therapist uses ART techniques to treat specific areas of the body, such as the neck, shoulders, back, hips, and legs. The therapist will use their hands to apply pressure to the affected area while the patient moves through a series of specific movements. This can help to break up adhesions and scar tissue, which can restrict movement and cause pain.
What Are Adhesions?
Adhesions are bands of scar tissue that form between different organs or tissues. Adhesions can make your organs or tissues stick together. The abdomen is a common site for adhesions following surgery. Duse to the lack of blood flow to the area, adhesions can stop proper functioning of the surrounding tissue.
What Conditions do Active Release Therapy Commonly Treat?
ART commonly treats conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome, plantar fasciitis, tennis elbow, shoulder impingement syndrome, and other soft tissue injuries. Practitioners also address iliotibial (IT) band syndrome, piriformis syndrome, sciatica, low back pain, thoracic outlet syndrome, tension headaches, neck pain, rotator cuff strains and tears, golfer’s elbow, wrist pain, and hand pain. They often combine ART with chiropractic and massage therapy to provide a comprehensive approach to treating soft tissue injuries and dysfunction.
Only trained and certified practitioners should perform ART, because improper application can cause further injury or pain.
What is A Myofascial Release?
Myofascial release is a way of manipulating and restoring movement to the tissues through a connective tissue called fascia. Myofascial release is very effective at restoring restricted range of motion in your joints. It also decreases pain by breaking up scar tissue and adhesions that cause pain, swelling, and inflammation. Myofascial release can also be used to improve the function of your nerves, that when irritated cause numbness, tingling, and radiating pain.
Massage therapists and Osteopaths in general, commonly incorporate Myofascial Release in their treatments.
What is The Fascia?
Fascia is a connective tissue that surrounds every part of your body. It provides support to your muscles, tendons, ligaments, tissues, organs, nerves, joints and bones. When your fascia is healthy, it’s flexible and stretches with you. When your fascia tightens up, it can restrict movement and cause painful health conditions.
Active Release Technique (ART) Vs Myofascial Release Technique – The Difference
Both methods incorporate similar techniques in stretching and releasing restricted soft tissue. As a result, They have very similar applications. The difference is that ART requires practitioners to obtain certification, while most massage therapy courses include myofascial release in their curriculum.
Alternative Treatments for Scar Tissue
Other than myofascial treatment, we commonly use Laser Therapy, a type of non-invasive light therapy that is clinically proven to reduce inflammation by creating more cell activity to increase the speed of recovery.