Active Therapy Clinic - Frequently Asked Questions

Massage therapy is recognized as one of the oldest methods of healing, with references in medical texts nearly 4,000 years old. In fact, Hippocrates, known as the "father of medicine," referenced massage when he wrote, in the 4th century B.C.: "The physician must be acquainted with many things, and assuredly with rubbing."

Today, in addition to "rubbing," massage therapy refers to the application of various techniques to the muscular structure and soft tissues of the body that include applying fixed or movable pressure, holding, vibration, rocking, friction, kneading and compression using primarily the hands, although massage therapists do use other areas of the body, such as the forearms, elbows or feet. All of the techniques are used for the benefit of the musculoskeletal, circulatory-lymphatic, nervous, and other systems of the body. In fact, massage therapy positively influences the overall health and well-being of the client:

Physical and Mental Benefits

relaxes the whole body
loosens tight muscles
relieves tired and aching muscles
increases flexibility and range of motion
diminishes chronic pain
calms the nervous system
lowers blood pressure
lowers heart rate
enhances skin tone
assists in recovery from injuries and illness
strengthens the immune system
reduces tension headaches
reduces mental stress
improves concentration
promotes restful sleep
aids in mental relaxation

Currently, there are well over 100,000 massage therapists practicing in Canada and the United States. Training requirements varies between jurisdiction, although to practice as a massage therapist in New Brunswick must meet certain qualifications and pass the requirements of the provincial board.

In New Brunswick, and most other Canadian Provinces, a massage therapist must have at least 2200 hours of training from a recognized educational institution and an additional 200 hours of clinical practice and community outreach.

Massage therapists are trained in several techniques, anatomy and physiology, orthopedic assessment, biomechanics, and remedial exercise.

All the therapists at the Active Therapy Clinic are registered and recognized by extended health care plans as they have have passed the requirements of the provincial board.

Arthritis
Achilles Tendonitis
Ankle Injuries
Athletic recovery
Back Pain/Injuries
Bicipital Tendonitis
Bunions
Bursitis
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Compartment syndrome
Chronic pain
De Quervains's tenosynovitis
Dupuytren's contracture
Foot pain/injury
Frozen shoulder or adhesive capsulitis
Gait Imbalances
Golfers Elbow
Golf Injuries
Hammer Toes
Hand Injuries
Headaches & Migraines
Hip Pain
Iliotibial Band Syndrome
Impingement syndromes
Injury recovery and prevention
Insomnia
Joint dysfunction
Knee meniscus injuries
Knee Pain
Leg Injuries

Low vitality/energy
Muscle pulls or strains
Muscle tension
Muscle weakness
Myofascitis
Neck / shoulder tension & pain
Nerve Entrapment Syndromes
Performance Care
Plantar Fascitis
Post surgical
Repetitive strain injuries
Rib Pain
Rotator cuff syndrome
Running Injuries
Scar Tissue Formation
Sciatica
Shin splints
Shoulder Pain
Sports Injuries
Stress Reduction
Swimmers Shoulder
Tendinitis
Tennis elbow
Thoracic outlet syndrome
Throwing Injuries
TMJ
Weight Lifting Injuries
Whiplash (Hyperextension / hyperflexion injury)
Wrist Injuries

Most extended health care plans do not require a physician’s referral for massage therapy. However, each plan is different, so we advise our clients to check with your provider prior to scheduling an appointment.

The first time you visit our clinic, you will be asked to complete a confidential health history form to ensure massage is safe for your condition. We will review all the information you provide and discuss your areas of concern for this treatment.

Upon your consent, the therapist will then perform a thorough examination that will include a postural assessment; Range of Motion Testing; Orthopaedic tests and neurological assessments.

The therapist will explain the treatment plan and inform you of what areas will be touched, what clothing to remove, what position you will be lying in (i.e., on your back or on your belly), etc.

Upon the client’s consent to the treatment plan, the therapist will leave the room and you will undress privately and get on the table covering up with the sheet.

After the session is completed, you will be instructed how to get off the table before the therapist leaves the room.

The first visit requires an assessment and therefore the client should bring with them a one piece bathing suit or shorts and a tank top. This allows for more accurate testing of the client.

During your session your therapist will instruct you how to get on the table, the treatment plan, and will leave the room to allow you to undress privately.

The only areas that will be exposed during the treatment are the areas to be massaged. For example, for a back and neck treatment, you will remove clothing from the waist up, all other areas will be covered by a sheet.

If you prefer leaving your clothes on, the therapist can work through the clothing, however, the massage would be most effective with direct contact on the skin.

Being well hydrated with extra water intake will help to remove the toxins and other metabolites that are released during your treatment.

On your first visit, be prepared to have your blood pressure taken. This is most accurately done a minimum of a half our after the intake of caffeine or tobacco.

You may feel very relaxed, even a bit lightheaded due to the release of toxins into your bloodstream. If the treatment was intense, you may experience some fatigue or possible discomfort in the areas that required deeper techniques in order to help restore them to normal. The tenderness usually lasts no longer than 24-48 hours post-treatment. Typically, a client that feels tired immediately after a treatment, will experience an increase in energy levels anywhere from half and hour to two hours post-treatment. If there are any added problems, contact your therapist for further instructions.

The therapist will ensure that the client is sent home with the appropriate home care techniques to further the healing process. A sequence of remedial stretching and strengthening exercises will be provided to encourage recovery. Along with the exercises that are specifically chosen for your condition, the appropriate hydrotherapy will be taught (whether to ice or use heat and for how long). In most instances, the therapist will provide added tips on postural adjustments and relaxation techniques that will also aid in stress management and recovery from injury.

During pregnancy a woman's body undergoes many changes, some of them stressful and uncomfortable. Massage is a perfect way to reduce stress and promote general well-being.

Our traditional full-body massage alleviates aches and pains, and leaves you feeling completely relaxed from head to toe.

Get energized and feel ready-to-go! We warm up and stretch your muscles before you take to the tennis court, swimming pool or an aerobic class. This massage will help decrease your chances of injury and improve recovery time.

Active Release Techniques has become one of most sought after soft tissue treatments in the world today. It is one of the most effective forms of treatment for repetitive-motion injuries (RSI), and has helped Olympic athletes achieve gold medals.

ART is not Massage Therapy! Massage Therapy is able to aid in rehabilitating physical injuries by acting directly upon the muscular, nervous, and circulatory systems. ART and massage therapy work extremely well together as adjunctive therapies, with each serving different functions. Massage therapy, by itself, does not effectively address issues related to scar tissue.

ART is not Physiotherapy! Physiotherapy includes procedures such as manual therapy, therapeutic exercises, and the application of electro-physical modalities. These are valuable procedures, but again, they do not address or resolve the underlying problems caused by the formation of scar tissues.

ART is not Chiropractic Care! Traditional Chiropractic care focuses upon the relationship between the spinal skeletal system and the nervous system; it does not focus upon the treatment of soft-tissue. ART and Chiropractic do work well together, but without ART, the results of Chiropractic techniques are often limited in their ability to provide complete resolution for many soft-tissue conditions. Chiropractic works well to release joint capsule restrictions, but these restrictions will return if the original soft-tissue problems are not addressed.

Proficiency at ART takes a long time to develop. Training is hands on. The right touch is the most difficult aspect learn, and takes a strong commitment of time, effort, and resources. There is a small but growing number of ART providers who have been personally trained. ART is rapidly becoming THE treatment choice for top athletes.

There are many people who claim to practice the Active Release Techniques. However the only individuals who are legally allowed to to make this claim are those have undergone rigorous training and testing.

Our bodies contain special protein structures called Fascia (a type of connective tissue). Fascial tissue interconnects all the components of your body, and acts as a flexible skeleton. When this tissue is healthy, it is smooth and slippery, allowing the muscles, nerves, blood vessels, and organs to move freely and function properly.

Imagine a piece of scotch tape, the smooth side is healthy fascia, the sticky side is scar tissue or unhealthy fascia. Try rubbing both sides of the tape along your skin. The smooth side slips easily across your skin. The sticky side drags across your skin. The drag that you feel, the "pulling" sensation is how an adhesion affects the smooth functioning of your body.

Adhesions attach to muscles, decreasing their ability to work properly. You know you have an adhesion on a nerve if you get many abnormal sensations like numbness, tingling, or pain.

Many professional athletes have come to regard ART very highly for it almost miraculous treatment of serious injuries. Big names like Canadian Olympic gold medalist Donovan Bailey and NHL hockey player Gary Roberts have benefited from ART.

Gary Roberts, for example, was unable to return to hockey after two neck surgeries failed to correct his dizzy spells. He accredits ART with correcting the problem, and for allowing him to return to professional hockey.

ART is not a magic medical bullet or a cure-all. Active Release Techniques is non invasive, very safe, has virtually no side effects, and has a record of producing very good results.

Treatments can feel uncomfortable during the movement phases as the scar tissue or adhesions "Break up". This discomfort is temporary and subsides almost immediately after the treatment. It is common to feel a duplication of your pain symptoms during the treatment, a good indication that the problem has been identified.

Treatments take about 8-15 minutes for area treated and may require 2 to 10 visits. Patients report that "It hurts good".

Once the ART practitioner has released the restrictive adhesions between tissues, post-treatment exercises become a critical part of the healing process and act to ensure the RSI does not return.

There are four fundamental areas that must be addressed in any exercise program:

Flexibility: Good flexibility enables muscles and joints to move through their full range of motion. Poor flexibility leads to a higher chance of injury to muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Stretching exercises are only effective if they are executed after the adhesions within the soft-tissue have been released. Stretching exercises that are applied to adhered tissues will only stretch the tissues above and below the restrictions. The actual restricted and adhered tissues are seldom stretched, leading to further biomechanical imbalances.

Strength: Strengthening exercises are most effective after the adhesions within the soft-tissue have been released. Attempts to strengthen already-shortened and contracted muscles only results in further contraction and restriction. This causes the formation of yet more adhesions and restrictive tissues, and exacerbates the Repetitive Injury Cycle. This is why the application of generic or non-specific strengthening exercises for RSI seldom works.

Balance and Proprioception: Proprioception describes the body’s ability to react appropriately (through balance and touch) to external forces. Proprioception exercises should begin early in the rehabilitation process. Effective proprioception exercises are designed to restore the kinesthetic awareness of the patient. These exercises form the basis for the agility, strength, and endurance required for complete rehabilitation.

Cardiovascular: Cardiovascular or aerobic exercises are essential for restoring good circulation and for increasing oxygen delivery to soft-tissues. Lack of oxygen and poor circulation is a primary accelerant of repetitive strain injuries.

After patients have received ART treatments to resolve obvious soft-tissue injuries, they are often keen to return to activities and sports that were previously denied to them by their injury.

At this point, ART can provide patients with a means to enhance their sports performance by identifying and releasing restrictions that reduce their performance in that activity. This typically occurs after the practitioner conducts a biomechanical analysis of the patients motion. During the biomechanical analysis and the subsequent treatment, the practitioner:

ART Performance Care has been used to improve athletic performance for everyone from the amateur athlete to Olympic Gold medalists. Many well-known athletes and celebrities have benefited from ART Performance Care, including: