Muscle Release Therapy
At Re:Chiropractic Lavender, our Active Release Technique Singapore program goes beyond standard chiropractic adjustment to treat the soft tissue root cause of your pain.As chiropractors, joint mobility is always the first area of injury we want to address when it comes to chronic pain management, sports injury recovery, or prevention. After the adjustment, people will gain more mobility. But what is the next? This is where soft tissue and muscle come into play.
During our 13 years of experience in sports injury recovery and chronic pain management, we have learned that for a patient to maintain and progress in health in a sustainable way, rather than constant chiropractic adjustments with no end in sight, three times a week, in our clinic, we combine the chiropractic adjustment with other forms of treatment to guide our patients toward a more sustainable method of full recovery.
I want to introduce two additional treatment methods: ART (Active Release Therapy) and the Graston Technique, in addition to Chiropractic adjustment, dry needling, sports massage, and decompression therapy.
ART/Active Release Therapy
What is Active Release Therapy? Unlike your usual massage therapy, active release therapy takes your muscles into movement while applying trigger point therapy. Chiropractic treatment removes the fixation of the joints, ART removes the muscle tension to help patients "hold" the adjustment longer.
The benefits of ART :
- Lengthen the muscle fiber
- Allow the muscle group to go in a deep stretch
- Promote blood circulation
- Improve mobility
- Speed up the healing process
Graston Technique
The Graston technique removes scar tissue from injury, eases fascial tension, and reduces chronic inflammation (an excellent treatment approach for chronic pain management). The tool we use for this technique is called Graston blades, which are usually made of titanium. The Gaston blade glides back and forth on the target muscle group to break the muscle adhesion and promote blood circulation.
If you suffer from plantar fasciitis, IT band syndrome, tennis/golfer's elbow, tight hamstrings from running or weight lifting, or post-surgical muscle tension, the Graston technique is a great approach.
The benefits of Graston Technique :
- Break down the muscle adhesion
- Remove the scar tissue
- Release the fascial tension
- Promote blood circulation
- Speed up the healing
How are we different from other clinics:
Our clinic is one of the few clinics trying to combine Western and Eastern approaches to getting our patients back to their everyday lives as fast as possible. We take what works well in the different recovery treatments and customize a treatment plan to help our patients.
We use the Graston technique for fascial release and Eastern Treatments, such as cupping, for myofascial release.
The vacuum effect created by the fire or dry cupping can target the fascial region, trigger lymphatic drainage, and improve blood circulation in that area. Combined with chiropractic care, our patients who have the following conditions are experiencing great recovery results:
- Chronic stiffness in the neck and back
- Chronic shoulder tension
- IT band syndromes
- Chronic tension in the hamstrings and calf.
Bonus tips: Mindset matters
Stress can affect our physiology. Although this seemed like a very far-fetched theory 50 years ago, in today's medical science, it is one of the key elements that affect our health.
Positive thinking works: When patients believe they will get better, they will usually recover faster than other patients who don't think positively about their recovery, even if they are following the same treatment plan.
Negative thoughts can set you back: if patients are constantly worrying about recovery outcomes or having fear toward the treatment, even if they are using the best medicine or even the best medical team, the additional stress and anxiety will slow down their recovery.
Empower yourself by being actively involved with your recovery. Actively follow through with the treatment plan, keep up with home rehab and therapy, and make sure you are getting enough good quality sleep.
If you are struggling with recovery or feeling discouraged, or disappointment I encourage you to use the following five tips:
Over-pushing yourself can adversely affect your progress.
By the end of the day, our goal is to help our patients get better faster. As much as we want to help our patients achieve full recovery, there is also a limitation on how much the treatment can do for you. But keep a positive mindset and follow the treatment plan; with our expertise, you will achieve recovery. Don't give up; keep trying, and encourage yourself. No matter what, my team is here to walk this journey with you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is active release technique worth it?
Yes — Active Release Technique (ART) is particularly effective for soft tissue injuries, muscle tightness, and conditions caused by overuse or repetitive strain. At Re:Chiropractic, we combine ART with chiropractic adjustment so that both the joint and the surrounding muscle are treated together, which leads to faster and more lasting results than adjustment alone.
Is active release technique the same as chiropractic?
No — they are different but complementary. Chiropractic adjustment focuses on restoring joint mobility and spinal alignment. Active Release Technique targets the soft tissue — muscles, tendons, fascia, and nerves. At Re:Chiropractic Lavender, we use both in the same session because most pain conditions involve both joint and muscle components.
How does active release technique work?
ART works by combining precise tension with specific patient movement. The practitioner applies targeted pressure to the affected muscle or tissue while guiding the patient through a range of motion. This breaks down adhesions, releases trapped nerves, and restores normal tissue movement. Sessions typically take 10–15 minutes and results are often felt immediately.
What is the difference between massage therapy and active release technique?
Regular massage therapy uses pressure and strokes to relax muscles and improve circulation. ART is more specific — it targets scar tissue and adhesions that form after injury or overuse, and it actively moves the muscle through its range of motion during treatment. ART is better suited for stubborn injuries, sports recovery, and conditions where massage alone hasn't resolved the problem.
