If you’ve suffered from an injury, your body will start to produce scar tissue as part of the healing process. In most cases, scar tissue will be minimal, but if you experience repeated injury to the same area, or if your body doesn’t keep scar production under control, you may find that you develop adhesions – areas of dense scar tissue that can cause pain and make moving around more difficult.


These adhesions can also trap nerves, making your symptoms worse. Fortunately, Active Release Technique has been shown to be a hugely beneficial treatment in overcoming this issue and this technique is now being offered by an increasing number of chiropractors and physical therapists across the country.  

What are Active Release Techniques?

Active Release Technique is a non-invasive treatment system that is designed to accurately locate and treat soft tissue disorders that are causing pain or mobility issues. Predominantly, this involves breaking down areas of scar tissue so that the body can function optimally again. Active Release Technique can be used to address all manner of soft tissues, including the muscles, ligaments, tendons, nerves, and fascia. 

Despite many people being unfamiliar with Active Release Technique, it isn’t a new concept, having been in use for around three decades. The technique involves more than 500 specific manual techniques, all of which combine manual manipulation and movement in order to break down scar tissue, increase blood flow and prompt the faster and more efficient healing of injuries. 

What Conditions Can Active Release Techniques Help With?

Active Release Technique has shown to be very successful in treating a range of different issues affecting the musculoskeletal system, or which are caused by problems with it. These conditions include but aren’t limited to:

• Lower back pain
   

• Chronic neck pain
   

• Tension headaches
   

• Shoulder strain (aka frozen shoulder)
   

• Carpal tunnel syndrome
   

• Sciatic nerve pain
   

• Shin splints
   

• Plantar fasciitis
   

• Bursitis
   

• Tennis elbow

If you aren’t sure if Active Release Technique could help you, speak to your practitioner to explain your symptoms and ask for their advice. 

How Does Active Release Technique Work?

Active Release Technique uses a combination of manual manipulations and moving your body in different ways in order to eliminate adhesions and enable the muscles, joints, and nerves to move more freely again. Once your practitioner has identified the contact points that they will be working on, they will position the soft tissue so that it’s ‘active’. They will then use small, massaging movements to release tension held in the tissue while simultaneously asking you to stretch and lengthen the tissue and return to your original position. 

While Active Release Technique isn’t painful in the traditional sense, it can feel quite intense since it increases your nervous system’s tolerance for stretching the muscle. Many patients describe the sensation as a ‘good pain’, much like deep tissue massage can be. 

Exactly how many sessions of Active Release Technique you will need will depend on the severity of the symptoms you have been experiencing and how well your body responds to treatment. 

If you have any questions about Active Release Technique, visit Aktiv Integrative Chiropractic in El Paso, Texas. Call (915) 975-9094 to schedule an appointment.