Any experience with active release technique (ART)?
 

Considering going to an ART practitioner to release soft tissue around shoulders and pecs. Any suggestions?

I started seeing a chiro who does both ART and Graston. I know my C-spine is a problem and needs to be addressed at some time, but I've flared a bit in the past when anyone messes with it and my occiput.

So far, the jury is still out on the ART and Graston. Last week, my scapula got really messed up doing an exercise he suggested. I knew better too. :rolleyes: He was unable to "fix" it with both ART and Graston, but my Myfascial Release PT could get it back to about 75% of awful normal with one visit.

It's not as deep as my myofascial and I do not feel any release with either modality, ART or Graston. I have 3 more visits left before both the Chiro and I decide it's worth our while.

I've had 3 ART treatments and was planning to post about them after I had a couple more. It's not a miracle treatment, but it has been helpful and I'll give it a thumb's up at this point.

My muscle tension, especially in my neck, has come way down.

I'm was already seeing another chiro who does myofascial release on various neck muscles like the scm. I was seeing mild progress each week, but not as much as I liked. And I wanted a broader search for trigger points and muscle issues. Hence I went to the ART site and found a practitioner. I focused on one who had more certifications.

My ART practitioner is really good at finding trigger points / adhesions / whatever, and really seeks them out based on my TOS symptoms. I would say it accelerated my progress.

@Anne4tos: How much pain do you experience during treatment? I noticed people grimacing on the YouTube vids and that was when they knew they were being filmed! :eek: During the treatment, I find the pressure applied to trouble spot to be strongly painful. Most of the pain is gone right afterwards although sometimes I have a spot or two that will be sore that day and sometimes the next.