Active Release Technique® (ART) is a patented, advanced soft tissue system/movement based massage technique that is used to help with problems of muscles, tendon, fascia, ligaments and nerves.
ART has been used to help people with conditions such as back pain, sciatica, headaches, shoulder pain, knee pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow and plantar fasciitis. In essence, ART is able to help conditions that have been caused by over-used muscles.
Muscles can be injured by acute trauma, such as a muscle tear, accumulation of small tears over time (micro-trauma) or via a lack of oxygen (hypoxia) to the muscle.
Each of these conditions cause the muscle to become fibrotic (scar tissue) as part of the healing process. However, the fibrotic muscle fibres are unable to move freely and affectively. If the scar tissue is not treated and it builds up, the muscle becomes tighter and weaker, tendons may become inflamed, nerves can become trapped. This can then lead to further loss of range of motion, loss of strength and pain.
When a nerve is trapped, you might also experience, numbness, tingling and weakness.