Active Release Technique (A.R.T) is a hands on soft tissue treatment for ligaments, tendons muscles and nerves. It is the leading soft tissue treatment utilized widely in the treatment of soft tissue injuries and conditions among professional athletes and the general population alike. In the instance of chronic neck pain, along with shoulder and subscapularis pain, ART involves guided pressure being applied to a shortened muscle in the top region of the neck or cervical spine. Most commonly, a healthcare professional will move the patient’s head in a direction that lengthens the muscle. During the motion the doctor maintains a strain on the muscle, as it slides out from beneath the doctor’s fingers.
The active release technique hurts a bit (many patients describe it as a”good hurt”), and it feels like a stretch that you need but can’t do yourself. When a muscle is tight the procedure operates by increasing the nervous system’s tolerance to extend the muscle. ART is utilized to take care of repetitive strain injuries, and it is often used in a variety of other medical practices. This is because it can offer quick results in treating ailments like: tennis elbow, frozen shoulder, shoulder rotator cuff injuries and plantar fasciitis. ART permits the physician to isolate treatment to each individual small muscle of the neck, and treat it through its full selection of movement. The neck muscles are layered, and also to isolate them during therapy demands careful attention.
The following study compared the use of the active release technique (A.R.T.) to the use of joint mobilization to determine the best method for treating chronic neck pain symptoms. As it will be properly described below, the research study concluded that ART and joint mobilizations are both effective as treatment for patients with chronic neck pain. For more information, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at (915) 850-0900.