Soft tissue therapies are designed to rid injured areas of scar tissue. We usually think of scar tissue as only being seen after an injury to the skin, however our body uses scar tissue extensively in the way that tar patch repairs are added to fix small cracks in the road. When muscles or other tissues are overstressed or injured, our bodies use scar tissue as a patch repair. This is a natural part of the healing process, however if the cause of the injury is not alleviated properly the muscle will accumulate too much scar tissue and then become a problem. This is similar to when a road has been overly patched and becomes unsmooth.
Common conditions we treat that benefit from this therapy:
Headaches, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, shin splints, shoulder pain, sciatica, Plantar Fasciitis, knee problems, and tennis elbow just a few of the many conditions that can be resolved quickly with a combination of the soft tissue techniques employed by Dr. Hickman.
How does it work?
At Body in Motion we have three different soft tissue therapies:
ART (Active Release Technique and Myofascial Release) ART is not a massage, which is useful for decreasing muscle tension. Instead, the intent is to “resurface the road.” This technique works out the scar tissue and helps the muscle heal normally with long-lasting results.
Graston and IASTM (Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Manipulation) Graston is similar to ART, but with the use of a tool to work out the scar tissue to promote healthy healing of the muscle.
FAKTR (Functional and Kinetic Treatment with Rehab) FAKTR involves treating soft tissue / fascial disorders through the use of instruments by treating the kinetic chain while using various forms of rehabilitation at the same time. This may include a combination of the above soft tissue therapies while the patient is performing movement patterns or other rehabilitative movement.
It is important to state that pain, numbness, or other symptoms may not resolve if the scar tissue is not broken up properly.