Active Release Technique

(ART)

Background

Muscle stretching and nerve gliding

were developed but, no treatment
method were there to treat traction
neurodesis.
This
process
causes
neurologic
symptoms distal and sometimes
proximal to any of the "tunnels"
through which the nerves pass.
ART has been developed, refined, and
patented by P. Michael Leahy
In 1985

Definition
Active Release Technique (ART) is a
soft tissue method that focuses on
relieving tissue tension via the removal
of fibrosis/adhesion that develops in
tissue. This is because the tissue is
overloaded with repetitive use.It is
both
diagnostic
and
treating
techniques for the disorders which may
lead to weakness, numbness, tingling,
burning, aching etc.

Research Article
The effects of active release technique on carpal tunnel
patients: A pilot study. (2007) George JW, Tepe R, Busold D,
Keuss S, Prather H, Skaggs CD.
RESULTS:
There was significant improvement (p < 0.05) in the mean
symptom severity and functional status scores of the BQ
following the intervention. There were no significant
differences found in the EMG analyses.

Muscle Energy
Techniques (METs)

Background
MET evolved out of osteopathic
procedures developed by pioneer
practitioners such as T. J. Ruddy
(1961), who termed his approach
'resistive duction', and Fred Mitchell
Snr (1967).

Definition
Muscle energy techniques are a class
of soft tissue osteopathic (originally)
manipulation
methods
that
incorporate precisely directed and
controlled, patient initiated, isometric
and/or
isotonic
contractions,
designed to improve musculoskeletal
function and reduce pain.

Research Article
Effectiveness of Muscle energy technique, Ischaemic
compression and Strain counterstrain on Upper Trapezius
Trigger Points: A comparative study G. Yatheendra Kumar, P.
Sneha, N. Sivajyothi (2015)
Abstract
The aim of this study is to compare the effectiveness of Muscle
energy technique, Ischaemic compression, Strain counter strain
with conventional therapy on upper trapezius trigger points in
patients with mechanical neck pain.
All the participants underwent three outcome measures pre and
post intervention which included a Visual analogue scale (VAS)
for pain, cervical lateral flexion range of motion (CROM) and
neck disability index (NDI). The obtained results demonstrated a
significant difference exist among the groups after 4th week
(p<0.05). This study concludes that Muscle energy technique is
superior in the treatment of upper trapezius trigger points.

Strain/Counterstrain

Background
Counters train is a manipulative
technique initially developed by Dr.
Lawrence
H.
Jones, a rural
osteopathic physician in eastern
Oregon.
He
developed
this
technique by chance through which
he discovered on a clinical basis the
means
of
correcting
somatic
dysfunction.

Definition
Withinmanual
therapy,StrainCounterstrainis a type of "passive
positional release" created in the early
1960s byLawrence Jones,D.O.It is a
hands-on
treatment
that
alleviates
muscle and connective tissue tightness
by the use of very specific treatment
positions held for 90 seconds (can be
held for up to 3 minutes in neurological
patients).

Research

Immediate effects of the strain/counterstrain technique in local

pain evoked by tender points in the upper trapezius muscle
Albert Atienza Meseguera,
Csar Fernndez-de-las-Peasa,b,,,,Jose
Luis Navarro-Pozaa,
Cleofs Rodrguez-Blancoa,c, Juan Jos Bosc Gandiaa (2006)
Within-group changes showed a significant improvement in the visual
analogue scale following either classical or modified application of the
strain/counterstrain technique (P<0.001). The control group did not
show any change (P>0.3). Pre-post effect sizes were large in both
strain/counterstrain groups (D=1.1), but small in the control group
(D=0.01). Differences were found between both strain/counterstrain
groups as compared to the control group (P<0.001), but not between
both strain/counterstrain groups (P=0.8).
Conclusions
Our results suggest that strain/counterstrain was effective in
reducing tenderness of tender points in the upper trapezius
muscle. The application of a longitudinal stroke during the
strain/counterstrain did not influence the effectiveness of the classical
description of the technique.