Fight Inflammation with Active Release Technique

Suffering from inflammation and painful muscles? If so, it’s time to consider active release technique. Active release technique is an innovative massage technique that precisely targets the affected muscles, nerves, tendons, and ligaments. This is a treatment that can help reduce inflammation and alleviate pain. It has been shown to be effective for a variety of conditions, including chronic back, neck, shoulder, and leg pain, muscle and ligament tears, carpal tunnel syndrome, and more. In this blog post, we will discuss active release technique in more detail and explain how it could help patients find relief from their pain.

Understanding Inflammation

Inflammation is a natural response of the body to injury or irritation. It is characterized by redness, swelling, and pain. This occurs when the body’s white blood cells and chemicals flood the area of injury or irritation to protect it from further damage. This process is crucial for healing; however, sometimes it can become chronic and lead to pain and other problems.

Types of Inflammation

There are two types of inflammation: acute and chronic. Acute inflammation is the body’s immediate response to an injury or irritation and typically lasts for a few days. Chronic inflammation, on the other hand, is a long-term reaction to an irritant or injury and can last for weeks, months, or even years.

Acute

Acute inflammation comes on rapidly, usually within minutes, but is generally short-lived. Many of the mechanisms that spring into action to destroy invading microbes switch gears to cart away dead cells and repair damaged ones. This cycle returns the affected area to a state of balance, and inflammation dissipates within a few hours or days.

Chronic

Chronic inflammation often begins with the same cellular response, but morphs into a lingering state that persists for months or years when the immune system response fails to eliminate the problem. Alternatively, inflammation may stay active even after the initial threat has been eliminated. In other cases, low-level inflammation becomes activated even when there is no apparent injury or disease. Unchecked, the immune system prompts white blood cells to attack nearby healthy tissues and organs, setting up a chronic inflammatory process that plays a central role in some of the most challenging diseases of our time, including rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, asthma, and even Alzheimer’s.

What is Active Release Technique?

Active release technique (ART) is a type of massage therapy that is used to treat conditions that are caused by inflammation, such as chronic back pain, neck pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and more. ART is a hands-on treatment that involves applying pressure to the affected area and then moving the tissue in a specific way. The goal of ART is to break up adhesions, or scar tissue, that have formed in the muscles, nerves, tendons, and ligaments. These adhesions can cause pain and restrict movement.

How Does Active Release Technique Work?

During an active release technique session, the therapist will use their hands to apply pressure to the affected area and then move the tissue in a specific way. The therapist will also stretch the tissue. This process is done to break up adhesions and release the tension that has built up in the muscles, nerves, tendons, and ligaments. The therapist may also use instruments during the treatment to help release the adhesions.

What Are the Benefits of Active Release Technique?

Active release technique has been shown to be an effective treatment for a variety of conditions that are due to inflammation, such as chronic back pain, neck pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and more. This treatment can provide relief from pain and restore range of motion. It is important to note that active release technique is not a cure for these conditions, but it can help manage the symptoms and improve quality of life.

Fighting Inflammation at Home

In addition to active release technique, there are a number of things that you can do at home to fight inflammation. However, the most important thing you can do is to fight inflammation with the foods you eat.

Foods to Beat Inflammation

One of the main ways that people can reduce inflammation naturally is through their diet. A diet that contains a lot of saturated fat and refined sugar has a connection to higher rates of inflammation. Foods with a high glycemic index may also contribute. These foods are common in the typical Western diet. However, it is possible to begin an anti-inflammatory diet by making simple swaps. Medical News Today suggests to start by reducing the amount of processed, sweetened, or fried foods in the diet and introducing more:

• Fruits and vegetables
• Nuts and seeds
• Fiber
• Herbs and spices
• Polyphenols
• Healthy fats

Another way that diet can reduce inflammation is by helping people reach or maintain a moderate weight.

Fight Inflammation with Texas Spine and Sports Therapy Center

If you are looking for an effective way to reduce inflammation and manage pain, contact Texas Spine and Sports Therapy Center. We offer active release technique and other services that can help you feel your best. Give us a call today to schedule an appointment.