Active Release
Shawn is a wonderful person and a very talented therapist with a breadth of knowledge in sports injuries and bodywork techniques to heal. I am from California and Shawn was recommended by a couple friends, a pro athlete and avid skier/sports adventurer. I presented with a complicated knee post-surgery and Shawn used ART (Active Release Technique) and several other techniques to help recover the knee while teaching me additional exercises and strength training to help me stay active. In a short period of time, I am back to hiking, cross country skiing and almost ready for downhill. I have seen many therapists in the past few months and Shawn is, without a doubt, the best bodywork therapist I have seen and is a complete delight to work with. I highly recommend Shawn to anyone looking for cutting edge techniques and positive outcomes.
– Sherri Antoniak, Entrepreneur
What Is Active Release?
Active Release is a soft tissue system/movement-based massage technique that treats acute dysfunction 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 addressed. Frequently these conditions all have one important thing in common: they are often a result of an overuse pattern and over-used muscles.
Over-used muscles (and other soft tissues) change in three important ways:
- acute conditions (pulls, tears, collisions, etc)
- accumulation of small tears (micro-trauma)
- not getting enough oxygen (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.
Every session is a combination of examination and treatment. Shawn will evaluate the texture, tightness and movement of muscles, fascia, tendons, ligaments and nerves. Abnormal tissues are treated by combining precisely directed tension with active and sometimes passive movements, allowing him to identify and correct the specific problems that are affecting you.