Manual Therapy

Active Release Technique

Active Release Technique (ART) is a type of manual therapy used to treat injured or imbalanced soft tissue with a goal of increasing flexibility and function while reducing pain. It uses deep tissue massage together with active movements to gain mobility and release scar tissue and adhesion that tends to build up through repetitive work activities or heavy exercise.

 

ART helps with problems in muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia, and nerves. Headaches, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, shin splints, shoulder pain, sciatica, plantar fasciitis, knee problems, and tennis elbow are just a few of the many conditions that can be resolved quickly and permanently with ART.

Protected by the spine, the spinal cord relays information between the brain and all parts of your body. A misalignment of the spine, or subluxation, may compromise the functioning of your nervous system, which can affect the way your body moves and how efficiently it heals. Chiropractors perform specific spinal adjustments to restore proper motion and alignment in the spine, allowing your body to function the way it was meant to.

Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM)

IASTM is a manual therapy technique utilizing  specialized tools to gently massage and scrape the skin to help injuries to the connective tissue, muscle, nerve and skin. This technique is particularly helpful in breaking up scar tissue, or adhesions, that can build up over time due to repetitive tissue injury including:

  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

  • Rotator Cuff Pain

  • IT Band Syndrome

  • Plantar Fasciitis

  • Tennis Elbow

  • Low Back Pain

  • Ankle Sprains

Myofascial Release

Trigger point therapy, often referred to as myofascial release, involves the compression of specific muscle areas along the body, known as pressure, or trigger, points. Myofascial release is intended to relax trigger points within the fascia and restore normal blood flow to the muscle.

Fascia, which is a sheath-like, fibrous tissue encasing your musculoskeletal structures, is normally pliant and flexible; it is important for protecting muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones, and nerves, helping them move together in a coordinated way. However, when stress, injury, poor posture, repetitive movement, inadequate nutrition, or dehydration is imposed on the body, the fascia can become inelastic and stiff. This restricts the normal movement of the connective tissues beneath, leading to pain, immobility, and an increased risk of injury.

​Trigger point therapy is intended to “release” the tension within the fascia and soft tissue, restoring normal movement, relieving pain, and reducing your risk of further damage.