Shockwave Therapy
Shockwave therapy (SWT) uses focused acoustic sound waves, delivered through the skin with a handheld device, to address pain in muscles, tendons and joints. It is offered at our Irvine clinic.
Service
Active Release Technique
Active Release Technique (ART) is a non-invasive, movement-based soft tissue technique designed to locate and treat soft tissue problems. Your physical therapist applies pressure to a tight area while you move it.
What is Active Release Technique?
Active Release Techniques® (ART) is a trademarked, movement-based soft tissue technique that treats problems in muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia and nerves. It focuses on relieving tension in tissue where fibrosis or adhesions may have built up from overuse.
Your physical therapist uses their hands to find areas of tightness and restriction in the soft tissue. They then hold firm pressure on that area while you actively move the body part through a specific motion.
At KOH Physical Therapy Lab, ART is used as one part of an individualized plan, often alongside exercise and other treatments such as shockwave therapy, kinesiology taping, fascia stretching, and cold laser therapy.
Benefits
Benefits of active release technique
- May help improve flexibility in tight muscles and connective tissue
- Can help restore range of motion in a restricted area
- May support circulation to the treated tissue
- May help reduce inflammation and discomfort related to overuse
- Can make everyday movement feel easier as part of a broader plan
Who it is for
Who it may be right for
- People with overuse-related pain in muscles, tendons or ligaments
- Headaches, including tension headaches
- Lower back pain
- Chronic neck pain
- Shoulder strains
- Frozen shoulder
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Tennis elbow
- Bursitis
- Knee pain
- Shin splints
- Sciatic nerve pain
- Plantar fasciitis
The technique
How is ART different from other physical therapy techniques?
ART stands out because you take an active part in the treatment. During the session you move the injured structure while your therapist applies firm pressure to it.
Because you move while the therapist works, they can feel how each muscle, tendon or ligament shifts under their hands and adjust the pressure and position to your response. This lets treatment target the specific restricted tissue.
Research
How effective is Active Release Technique?
ART is used for conditions that involve overuse of muscles and soft tissue, such as headaches, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, shin splints, sciatica, tennis elbow, and shoulder and knee pain.
Research on ART is still limited, and results vary from person to person. Your physical therapist evaluates your condition first and uses ART as one part of a plan that includes exercise.
Related
Related services
Kinesiology Taping
Kinesiology therapeutic taping uses an elastic tape applied to specific areas of the body to support muscles, tendons, and ligaments, help relieve pain and swelling, and support athletic performance.
Fascial Stretching
Fascia stretching therapy is therapist-assisted stretching and mobility work for plantar fasciitis, neck pain, and other musculoskeletal conditions. It works on the whole connective tissue system, not just single muscles.
Ready to get started?
Request an appointment online, or text our scheduling team. Text is the fastest way to reach us.