TECHNIQUES ® Treat Soft Tissue Injuries & Improve Performance
did you know
Husband and wife , Dr . Kris Kondrad and Dr . Lisette Miller are chiropractic physicians and boardcertified acupuncture practitioners at First State Health & Wellness — Brandywine . Both doctors are certified in the Graston Technique while Dr . Kondrad is also certified in full-body Active Release Techniques and Flexion Distraction Techniques .
ACTIVE RELEASE
TECHNIQUES ® Treat Soft Tissue Injuries & Improve Performance
by Dr . Kris Kondrad and Dr . Lisette Miller
Imagine pulling a string as taut as possible until it can ’ t be stretched any further . Yet , if you clasp the middle of the string and pull , it will move . . . just a little bit more . Essentially , this depicts the concept behind Active Release Techniques ® ( ART ), a state-of-the-art deep stretching system that treats problems with muscles , tendons , ligaments , fascia , and nerves .
ART will often permanently resolve health complaints such as :
• Headaches
• Back pain
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Shin splints
• Shoulder pain
• Sciatica
• Plantar fasciitis
• Knee problems
• Tennis elbow
• Achillies tendonitis
• IT band syndrome
• Peripheral neuropathys
First and foremost , ART is a stretch . When a certified practitioner strategically applies pressure and massage , he is able to ease deeper into a muscle , where it can be stretched significantly further than you can do on your own .
STUCK ON REPEAT
ART is a highly regarded treatment for repetitive stress injuries , making athletes , especially runners , prime candidates . Overuse can produce dense scar tissue , which constricts movement . Patients may experience a loss of strength , reduced range of motion , and pain , while a trapped nerve may cause a sensation of tingling , numbness , or weakness .
Patients who experience chronic tightness , feeling like they can never get their hamstrings or calves loose enough , respond well to ART . Combined with chiropractic care , ART takes treatment to the next level – pain resolves faster and often holds permanently .
Patients are encouraged to exercise caution and listen to their bodies because repetitive stress injuries don ’ t only affect athletes . Daily activities such as sitting at a desk , holding children , driving , using a phone , and carrying packages or backpacks are also causing constant strains . ART can be very effective in relieving residual tension throughout the body .
ART is a highly regarded treatment for repetitive stress injuries , making athletes , especially runners , prime candidates .
new ,” recalls Murzyn , a certified personal trainer . “ But after suffering for weeks with neck and shoulder pain , I decided to give it a try .” In addition to working on his neck and shoulder , Murzyn ’ s doctor used ART to relieve thumb and foot pain . “ ART is one of the most helpful techniques I ’ ve ever used for an injury ,” Murzyn says .
MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
During an ART session , a strong sense of intuitive touch is utilized to manually evaluate the texture , tightness , and movement of muscles , fascia , tendons , and ligaments . Once the problem is detected , a personalized treatment plan is created by selecting from over 500 specific protocols used to free restrictions and restore blood flow to the area . Most patients describe the sensation as an intense stretch that ultimately feels good .
A lifelong athlete , Daniel Ramer was introduced to chiropractic and ART in high school . “ I ’ ve experienced numerous repetitive stress injuries from running and have always found relief from chiropractic and ART ,” says Ramer . When pain resurfaced after moving to Delaware , locating a certified ART practitioner became his priority . “ I was experiencing calf pain that would worsen until I couldn ’ t run anymore ,” explains Ramer .
A combination of ART and the Graston Technique – which uses stainless steel hand instruments to release soft tissue restrictions – was used to help Ramer recover . “ After just three treatments , I was able to reintroduce biking . After five treatments , I was back to light running , and now I have no pain and no worries that my calf will seize up ,” says Ramer . “ I returned to a healthy , balanced state . I haven ’ t found anything to be as quick or helpful in maintaining active recovery .”
Ryan Murzyn had never considered chiropractic care prior to his injury . “ At first , I hesitated to try something enhance magazine | MARCH 2017 39