active release techniques®
ART® is the gold standard in soft tissue care. Manual treatment of soft tissue removes limiting adhesion or scar tissue. Many things can cause adhesion or scar tissue formation. Blows, pulls, tears, and overuse injuries such as prolonged positions like sitting or standing can all deprive tissues of oxygen. This lack of oxygenation to structures can result in the formation of dense, fibrotic tissue. This is what we refer to as adhesion. Next to degeneration and arthritis, adhesion is arguably one of the premier causes of muscle and joint pain, yet the most underdiagnosed condition. Adhesion can prevent structures from moving correctly by sticking tissues and nerves together; think glue-like substance. This results in the entrapment of nerves causing numbness, pain, and tingling. Some examples of nerve entrapment include sciatica, tarsal tunnel syndrome, and carpal tunnel syndrome. Adhesion can also cause weakness and loss of strength and flexibility, which can further develop into secondary injuries. Impingement of the shoulder and hip joints, neck pain, low back pain, shin splints, plantar fasciitis, tight hamstrings, rotator cuff tendonitis, are just a few examples of conditions treated at BSW.
Instrument treatment of soft tissue
Instrument treatment is a form of manual treatment using a specialized instrument that is designed to effectively remove adhesion without damaging the overlying healthy tissue. Using the correct instrument and technique produces vastly superior results with greater ease and comfort. This is not a generic form of soft tissue “mobilization”. This highly targeted instrument and training combination allows for improved diagnoses and faster, more effective treatment. Using any instrument to treat soft tissue adhesion requires 3 key components:
A complete and accurate diagnosis
An instrument with the correct size, shape, edge, and material
Hands-on training
BSW is proud to have prioritized each of these components as essential to our practice and your care.
Spinal Manipulation
Spinal manipulations restore joint mobility by manually applying a controlled force into joints that have become hypomobile, or restricted in their movement, as a result of tissue injury. Spinal manipulations in unison with soft tissue treatment and corrective exercise can produce a sustained result of normal joint mobility and reduced disc load.
Corrective Exercise
Corrective exercises are often applied in the rehabilitative phase of a treatment plan. Rehabilitative exercises vary case to case. The goal of treatment is to first reduce adhesion and restore normal range of motion. Once range of motion is restored, it is important to address muscles that have weakened or atrophied due to the previous presence of adhesion. Strengthening the musculature will support surrounding structures, renew muscular imbalances, and prevent future injury and pain. At BSW, we provide concise and targeted exercises that are as detailed and catered to each case as our treatment prescriptions. Effective treatments combined with effective exercises lead to better patient outcomes and sustained results.