Active Release Technique: Best Way To Treat Over-Use Of Muscles
If you are an athlete or you constantly engage in physical activities, the chances are very high that some of your muscles will be over-used. At Itasca Health & Chiropractic, we believe that muscle overuse is inevitable because there’s no clear distinction between normal use and overuse of muscles.
That’s why Dr. Joel specializes in treating sore muscles and other conditions. As a chiropractor practice, we offer deep-tissue massage for acute injuries and sore muscles, but for over-used muscles, we offer a treatment known as Active Release Techniques (ART). ART is a state of the art soft tissue system/movement based technique that treats problems with muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia and nerves. Headaches, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, shin splints, shoulder pain, plantar fasciitis, knee problems and tennis elbow are just a few of the many conditions that can be resolved quickly and permanently with ART. These conditions all have one important thing in common: they are often a result of overused muscles.
Dr. Joel is a certified full-body "Elite Provider" within the ART network. We encourage all of our patients to utilize ART as part of their treatments because it is effective, and it has several other benefits. So, what are the benefits of the Active Release Technique?
Increased flexibility
ART promotes the flexibility of your muscles, tendons, and ligaments, therefore, making you more flexible. Flexibility is important, because it leads to an increased range of motion.
Decrease in lower back pain
The lower back is one of the most vulnerable parts of the body. This is why lower back pain is one of the most common types of pains. It is one of the conditions that our office has been treating with ART, and we have been getting great results.
Gets to the root of pains
The ART treatment resolves pains more effectively, because it gets to the root of the pain. It gives permanent results, instead of giving temporary relief. If the massage does not resolve or reduce any pain, there must be an underlying condition causing the pain. Treat the condition first.
While we have been providing treatment for overuse injuries, we still believe that prevention is always better than cure. So, we have listed some ways to prevent sore or overused muscles.
How to prevent acute injuries resulting from overuse
- Change your running shoes regularly
When your running shoes begin to wear out, they’ll expose your soles to more pressure, and the symptoms of overuse will begin to set in. This is why we will advise you to change your running shoes every 500 miles. There are apps/shoes that you can get to keep track of your foot mileage. Also, you should not exceed 45 miles per week. This will reduce your chances of overusing your muscles and also extend the lifespan of your running shoes. - Don’t do hard training every day
The harder the training, the higher the likelihood of overusing your muscles. Therefore, you don’t have to engage in hard training every day. Always alternate hard training with easier training. - Don’t train through pain
If you’re experiencing pains in any part of your body, don’t go for training. Try and treat the pain before you resume your training. Also, we feel it is a better idea to get yourself warmed up before you embark on any stretching exercise.
For more information on how to treat your sore muscles around Schaumburg, Elk Grove Village or Wood Dale, contact us at Itasca Health & Chiropractic, Itasca IL at 630-250-9200.