Soft Tissue Therapies

Active Release Techniques

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Active release is a myofascial soft tissue mobilization technique aimed treating problems with muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia and nerves. 






How do muscle over-use injuries occur?

Over-used muscles (and other soft tissues) change in three important ways:
  • Acute conditions (pulls, tears, collisions, etc)
  • Accumulation of small tears (micro-trauma)
  • Not getting enough oxygen (hypoxia)

Each of these factors can cause your body to produce tough, dense scar tissue in the affected area. This scar tissue binds up and ties down tissues that need to move freely. As scar tissue builds up, muscles become shorter and weaker, tension on tendons causes tendonitis, and nerves can become trapped. This can cause reduced range of motion, loss of strength, and pain. If a nerve is trapped you may also feel tingling, numbness, and weakness.


Active release is used to treat a variety of conditions, but not limited to:
  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
  • Cervicogenic Headache
  • Lateral Epicondylosis (a.k.a. Tennis Elbow)
  • Low Back Pain
  • Iliotibial Band Syndrome (ITB Syndrome)
  • Medial Epicondylosis (a.k.a. Golfers Elbow)
  • Nerve Entrapment
  • Neck Pain
  • Patellar Tendinosis (a.k.a. Jumpers Knee)
  • Rotator Cuff Pain
  • Shoulder Impingement Syndrome
  • Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
  • Plantar Fasciitis
  • Repetitive Strain Disorder
  • Shin Splints
  • Tempromandibular Joint Pain (TMJ pain)
  • Tendon injuries
  • Whiplash

Graston Technique

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Graston Technique® is an innovative, patented form of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization that enables clinicians to effectively break down scar tissue and fascial restrictions. 

The technique utilizes specially designed stainless steel instruments to specifically detect and effectively treat areas exhibiting soft tissue fibrosis or chronic inflammation.

How does it work?

The Graston Technique® Instruments, much like a tuning fork, resonate in the clinician's hands allowing the clinician to isolate adhesions and restrictions, and treat them very precisely. 

A spotlight on the scientific literature:

Researchers at Ball Memorial Hospital and Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana, found that the controlled micro trauma induced through Graston Technique® protocol, increased the amount of fibroblasts to the treated area. That amount of inflammation to the scar tissue helps initiate the healing cascade. The structure of the tissue is rearranged, and damaged tissue is replaced by new tissue. Ice is then applied to reduce the pain and exercise is implemented to increase function and range of motion.