Active Release Techniques for Soft Tissue Injuries

At the Skopp Chiropractic Center for Spine, Sports & Soft Tissue Treatment in Alexandria, Virginia, we utilize the innovative “Active Release Technique” to treat problems with soft tissue—everything from knee and back pain to headaches and sport-specific stress (golf, swimming or running injuries, for example). This specialized technique gets results—fast.

Certification in ART requires rigorous training and many, many hours of practice and education. We are proud to be the greater Washington, DC area’s premier ART-certified chiropractic center, conveniently located in Alexandria, VA.

What is Active Release Technique (ART)?

ART is a patented, state of the art soft tissue system. ART is a movement based hands-on technique that treats problems with muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia and nerves. Headaches, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, shin splints, shoulder pain, sciatica, 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 (and other soft tissues).

What can ART Treat?

Among other discomforts, we recommend ART for:

Back Pain Hip Pain Foot Pain Knee Pain Elbow Pain

Wrist and Hand Pain Sciatica Headaches Rowing / Paddling Injuries Running Injuries

Golf Injuries Swimming Injuries Athlete’s Shoulder Athlete’s Knee Athlete’s Ankle

Understanding soft tissue injuries

Soft tissue injuries occur because of one or more of the following circumstances:

1. Acute injury (pulls, tears, collisions, etc)
2. Accumulation of small tears (micro-trauma)
3. Not getting enough oxygen to the soft tissues (hypoxia)

Each of these factors can cause your body to produce tough, dense scar tissue in the affected area. This scar tissue binds up and ties down tissues that need to move freely. As scar tissue builds up, muscles become shorter and weaker, tension on tendons causes tendonitis, and nerves can become trapped. This can cause reduced range of motion, loss of strength, and pain. If a nerve is trapped you may also feel tingling, numbness, and weakness.

What is an ART treatment like?
Every ART session is actually a combination of examination and treatment. Dr. Skopp uses his 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.

These treatment protocols - over 500 specific moves - are unique to ART. They allow Dr. Skopp to identify and correct the specific problems that are affecting each individual patient. ART is not a cookie-cutter approach.

Fast and Effective Results with ART!
It is very common to see most soft tissue injuries significantly improve or resolve within the first few visits. A perceivable improvement in function (nerve and muscle) and/or movement can be accomplished sometimes in the first visit.

To book an appointment, or to see if ART will be able to help with your injury or recurring pain, simply call our office at (703) 721-9600.