Active Release Techniques® are effective soft tissue techniques that can help alleviate pain and improve your mobility. Emkiro’s Doctors of Chiropractic use ART® to treat restrictions in the soft tissues of your body.
Our experts use their hands to evaluate the texture, tightness and movement of muscles, fascia, tendons, ligaments, and nerves. They use their training and expertise to identify the problematic areas that may limit your movement.
Once they find the restrictive tissue, the chiropractor applies a very specific tension in combination with particular movements to soften and stretch it. This strengthens the tissue and promotes circulation, easing pain and improving your range of motion.
Conditions Treated with Active Release Techniques
ART® was specially designed to break up the adhesions between your soft tissues, so it can help you recover from most soft tissue injuries. ART® breaks up the existing adhesions in your soft tissues, enabling your muscles and joints to move smoothly and without pain.
ART® is usually the right choice for most problems caused by overused muscles or muscle imbalances.
Active Release Techniques® can be effective treatments for multiple conditions, including:
- Neck pain
- Lower back pain
- Shoulder pain
- Tension headaches
- Shoulder impingement
- Sciatica
- Shin splints
- Plantar fasciitis
- Hip tightness
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Tennis or golfer's elbow
- Peripheral nerve entrapments
Manual Therapy Fees
We offer direct billing so you pay less. If you’ve got a benefit plan, your insurance provider will cover most of your physical therapy expenses.
How Active Release Techniques® Work
Your body may repair your overused or injured muscles with scar tissue. After repeated injuries or long-term overuse, the scar tissue can build up between your muscles, which can result in pain and may limit the mobility of the surrounding area. Sometimes, scar tissue collections can entrap nerves, which can lead to acute, sharp pain.
But even though these scenarios are painful, they can also be completely reversible. Our chiropractors can manipulate the soft tissues and use Active Release Techniques® to stretch them and release the tension they accumulated.
ART® breaks up the scar tissue in your muscle, joints, connective tissue, and nerves, relieving your pain and helping you regain your mobility. ART® can restore your range of motion and enable you to move freely, without pain or stiffness.
Our team of healthcare professionals is dedicated to providing you with the best medical solutions for your injury or condition. Our specialists collaborate to find pain treatments that are second to none. We strive to make our services accessible to everyone, which is why we bill insurance.
Book an Active Release Techniques® consultation and start your journey toward a pain-free life.
Emkiro’s ART® Specialists
Dr. Michelle Kang, DC, R.Ac
Specializes in treating acute and chronic spinal/muscular conditions, common neuromusculoskeletal diseases, headaches/migraines, shoulder/elbow/knee injuries, postural correction, women’s health, sports injuries, and more.
- Doctor of Chiropractic
- Certified in ART and Guasha treatment techniques
- Registered Acupuncturist
- Certified in the Webster Technique
Dr. Kristyn Capizzano, DC
Dr. Capizzano graduated from Palmer College of Chiropractic West in San Jose, California, where she excelled in providing a variety of hands-on Chiropractic techniques and soft tissue therapies. Dr. Capizzano continues to be passionate about leading a healthy and active lifestyle and is committed to providing evidence-based chiropractic care in her practice.
Dr. Capizzano captained Team Canada U18 Women’s hockey team and was a first-round pick in the 2017 Canadian Women’s Hockey League Draft.
Dr. Capizzano is a registered member of the College of Chiropractors of Ontario (https://cco.on.ca)
Dr. Victoria Clay, D.C.
Dr. Victoria Clay holds a Bachelor’s degree in Human Kinetics at the University of Windsor majoring in Movement Science, and graduated with Honours and completed her Doctorate of Chiropractic degree at the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College.
Dr. Clay uses an evidence-based, patient-centred approach that is unique to each individual and their body. Her practice focus is on using a combination of manual chiropractic manipulation, mobilizations, myofascial release therapy, IASTM, neurofunctional/dry needling acupuncture, electrostimulation, and patient specific exercise programs. She works to educate and empower all her patients, believing that the more you understand your body, the better of a player you can be in your healing recovery and lifelong wellness.
Dr. Clay grew up as a competitive dancer, and was a gymnast herself as well as a gymnastics teacher for 3 years. She also grew up competing in soccer, volleyball, basketball, cross country and tennis and it was during these experiences where she got her fair share of injuries and discovered her passion for chiropractic and rehabilitation medicine. When she isn’t in the clinic, Dr. Clay can be found staying active in the gym, taking yoga classes, or on a hike, camping, lounging with her cat Kylie, exploring the city with her twin sister, or socializing with her friends and family.
Dr. Clay is a registered member of the College of Chiropractors of Ontario (https://cco.on.ca), the Canadian Chiropractic Association, the Ontario Chiropractic Association, and the Canadian Chiropractic Protective Association.
Dr. Barry Nguyen, DC
Dr. Barry has been a practicing chiropractor for 10 years after graduating from the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College (CMCC) and University of Waterloo. He takes an evidence-based treatment approach for each of his patients to allow them to lead a fully functional and active lifestyle. Dr. Barry’s goal is to educate my patients on what is truly causing their pain or dysfunction and working together to help manage it. Treatment options and services include:
- Spinal manipulation and Joint mobilizations
- Manual Release Soft Tissue Therapy
- Neurofunctional and Dry Needle Acupuncture
- Rehabilitative and Functional Home/Office exercises
- Custom Orthotics and Compression Stockings
- Athletic Taping
Book an in-person or virtual consultation with one of Emkiro’s experts and find out if ART® can help with your condition.
Active Release Techniques® Frequently Asked Questions
What is Active Release Techniques® (ART®)?
Active Release Techniques® is a patented hands-on treatment approach to injuries to a muscle, tendon, ligament, nerve, and the surrounding soft tissue.
Active Release Techniques® is a very specific technique that allows the highly-trained Emkiro Chiropractor to know where to look for adhesions and scar tissue, how to feel for them, and how to use the active motion of the specific body part to break them up.
Common Health Problems Treated With Active Release Techniques®
Active Release Techniques® can help with a multitude of health problems. However, ART® is particularly helpful with neck and back pain, shoulder impingement, golfer’s or tennis elbow, shin splints, carpal tunnel, swimmer’s shoulder, plantar fasciitis, and ITB syndrome.
ART® can speed up your recovery time and produce lasting therapeutic effects.
How Does Active Release Techniques® Work?
Active Release Techniques® are provided by the Doctors of Chiropractic at Emkiro, who evaluate the texture, tightness and movement of muscles, fascia, tendons, ligaments and nerves.
Any abnormal tissues are then treated by applying a very specific tension to the muscle involved while moving the muscle underneath the contact (thumb or fingers of doctor’s hand). This softens and stretches the scar tissue, improving range of motion, strength and circulation, which all optimize healing.
Do I Need A Referral For Active Release Techniques®?
A referral is not necessary to be assessed or treated with Active Release Techniques® at Emkiro. However, we welcome patients who have been referred by their family doctor, or other health care specialists.
What Can I Expect On My First Active Release Techniques® Appointment?
The initial assessment consists of a thorough health history and examination that helps identify factors that are influencing a patient’s health. At that point, the doctor will review the therapies that may be used in the treatment plan, the alternatives available including appropriate referral to other health care providers if necessary, and any risks relevant to the treatment.
Treatment is also performed on the first visit, unless further diagnostic tests are needed (i.e. x-rays). The typical initial assessment takes anywhere from 40 to 60 minutes, depending on each patient’s condition(s).
Emkiro now offers direct insurance billing.
What Should I Wear To My Initial Assessment For Active Release Techniques®?
We suggest that patients bring comfortable clothing that allows the doctor easy access to the area of concern. This ensures that the patient’s concerns can be assessed properly. We do have change-rooms at the clinic.
Do Insurance Plans Cover ART® Treatments?
Yes. ART® is a Chiropractic technique and falls under Chiropractic insurance coverage. The majority of Canadian workers have partial or full coverage for Chiropractic services in their workplace health care plans. OHIP does not cover these services.
The patient is provided with a detailed itemized receipt listing the services provided, the credentials of the Chiropractic ART® provider, as well as payment details for reimbursement.
