active release technique

Active Release Therapy is a specialized massage technique which uses intense localized pressure combined with simple stretching exercises to relieve soft tissue pain caused by injured muscles, whiplash, or repetitive stress injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome.

The therapist manipulates muscle tissue to restore sliding of layers of muscle across each other, loosen knots in the muscle, or release nerves which are stuck to the muscle tissue.

Problems are typically relieved in three to six 10 - 15 minute sessions, after which some practitioners claim a 96% success rate.

Developed by Colorado Springs chiropractor Michael Leahy in the early eighties, the technique has become especially popular among athletes. Conventional treatments for these conditions include anti-inflammatory drugs, deep-tissue massage, or splinting and for the most serious cases, surgery is often indicated.

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