Does treatment include use of techniques such as Active Release Therapy (ART)? What is Active Release Therapy?
Active Release Therapy, or ART is one of many forms of soft tissue mobilization that makes use of the client’s active muscle contraction (also called “functional mobilization”). We use “functional mobilization” as a normal part of our physical therapy treatments (i.e., the therapist calls for the client’s active contraction while also manipulating the muscle or soft tissue directly). This is a powerful technique because it’s SAFE (client decides how hard to work), and it optimally mobilizes LAYERS of tissue which can become stuck together after injury/surgery. Most importantly, functional mobilization also directly trains PROPRIOCEPTION (the ability to tell where your body is in space) because the brain gets far more feedback from active work that from passive massage, which in turn enables the body to reinforce positive physical changes derived from treatment via more normalized physical movements.
