Getting Neck Pain Relief with Active Release Technique

“The reward for work well done is the opportunity to do more.” — Jonas Salk

We can’t agree with this quote any greater than we already do. The reward for doing great work is also happiness and a healthy mind and body. All these factors can lead you down a path of healing. Whether it’s from sadness, worry, or even injuries. Hard work, dedication, and patience are keys to recovery. Getting neck pain relief with ART is what we’ll discuss during this blog post and the ways that it can be achieved are indeed through your patience, dedication, hard work, and trust. Trusting in the fact that we at Pain and Performance Solutions can help in getting neck pain relief with Active Release Technique.

Let’s talk about Active Release Technique (ART)

We will dive into how getting neck pain relief with ART can help shortly, but the first thing we want to do is explain what Active Release technique is. ART is an elite soft-tissue management system developed by Dr. P. Michael Leahy. It is the most well-known technique among chiropractors, physical therapists, and bodyworkers. ART® works by breaking up adhered and unhealthy tissues in the body. When muscles are exposed to an unusual amount of stress the body attempts to reinforce the muscle through increasing tension and laying down collagen fibers. While these collagen fibers and tension help adapt the body to the specific stress it is being exposed to (typing at a keyboard all day for example) these adaptations may become prevent proper tissue movement (resulting in carpal tunnel symptoms).

How can ART Help with your Neck pain?

Despite the neck’s strength, its function and flexibility make it vulnerable to injury or strain. Stress on the cervical spine can lead to acute neck pain or long-term, chronic neck pain involving the soft tissue, joints, and discs. Often, neck and shoulder pain accompany one another and can even impair the mobility of the arms and hands. Neck problems can range from an uncomfortable, stiff neck, to neck sprain, to more serious conditions of whiplash or herniated discs. Many patients believe that a sore neck will resolve itself in time but getting neck pain relief with Active Release Technique can be the proper diagnosis that can lead to a full recovery.

How will Active Release Technique work?

Getting neck pain relief with ART begins through a combination of examinations and treatments. As the ART website explains, “the provider uses his or her hands to evaluate the texture, tightness, and movement of muscles, fascia, tendons, ligaments, and nerves. Abnormal tissues are treated by combining precisely directed tension with very specific patient movements.”

The specific techniques that may be used are while getting neck pain relief with ART are catered to each patient’s needs. Active Release Technique (ART) allows the therapist to isolate treatment to each individual small muscle of the neck and treat it through its full range of motion.  The neck muscles are layered, and to isolate them during treatment requires careful attention. During the movement, the therapist maintains a tension on the muscle, as it slides out from under the therapist’s fingers.  The treatment hurts a bit, and it feels like a stretch that you need but can’t do yourself. When a muscle is tight the technique works by increasing the nervous system’s tolerance to stretch the muscle.  ART is used on-site by hundreds of corporations to treat repetitive strain injuries and in thousands of clinics around the world. This is because it can provide a quick result in treating conditions such as tennis elbow, frozen shoulder, shoulder rotator cuff injuries, and plantar fasciitis.

Getting neck pain relief with Active Release Technique and Pain and Performance Solutions

With any injury, the first step in recovery is letting us get to know you. When you set up your first appointment, we want to know about your present discomfort as well as any history of discomfort. Getting neck pain relief with ART can only begin when we can understand where your pain started. That could mean it started a while back with another injury you might have sustained. A full examination will help us determine which form of treatment is needed to help you on your road to recovery. Our bodies start to compensate for pain, so it can allow you to move on with your day. Your body can shift that pain around to compensate for the discomfort and lead to other forms of pain. Your trust in us is key, as is your honesty. At the end of the day, getting your body working properly and healthy is the only way to achieve total recovery. With that said, don’t hesitate to reach out. We are here to help and will answer any, and all questions that you may have. You can reach us at (707) 636-4404 or by filling out our online contact form.