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Deep tissue massage and active release techniques(ART)?
I am having some issues with my right leg starting at my hip and heading down to my achilles. This has been going on for over a month now. The most painful area is my calf. I know there are all sorts of tendons and ligaments attached to all these areas so it is all related and I can't seem to work out the stiffness no matter how much stretching, icing, self massage and sticking I do. I even cut back my mileage considerably the entire month of June (see log if interested) to see if that would help. It didn't.
I'm trying to decide which massage technique to try. I've never had either, just the "spa" type massages and not sure which would be better for my issues.
TIA for any advice.
They have similar purpose unlike massage for relaxation. ART is a relatively recently developed idea.
Deep tissue massage is what it sounds like and involves work in any and every direction. ART focuses on stretching out the problem in the direction that the muscles move and sometimes involves the patient in moving while the treatment is taking place - hence the A in ART.
That's about how I'd describe it, based on being the recipient of both techniques. ART, at least as I thought it was being done, also involved lightly stretching the muscle while pressure was being applied to a trigger point.
Tomorrow never comes. Eventually never happens. Today. Now. Shut up and start.
Thanks for the clarification.
I kind of thought some of the techniques I read online about both types of massage therapy sounded similar but I wasn't sure.
Going for my first treatment next week.
*fingers crossed* He can work out this leg issue.
And I was wrong.
Saw the MT today and asked him. He said DTM is just as its name implies. ART uses the patient and MT to actively stretch muscles past where the patient "normally" could/would go. Typically involves flexing against resistance, then releasing tension while the muscle is stretched. No trigger point anything.
Oops.
Clive,
Did you MT suggest one is bettter than the other for nagging aches and pains related to running?
I'll ask him about relative advantages and which technique might be more beneficial for the nagging stuff. What kind of nagging aches/pains do you have? [MTA: duh, I just read your opening post.]
(Myself, for example: (weak) hip flexors tighten up on long runs, had a calf strain last summer, lower-leg soreness on one side due to some long-ago torn ligaments.) The dude works the areas, usually DTM, and gives me strengthening/stretching exercises to do on my own. My guy is very much a massage therapist, as opposed to a masseuse/masseur. I only see him for problem areas, and especially for nipping things before they grow into major problems. I have to give him props for helping me stay healthy.
Hi all - I've been getting ART to address age old issues with my glutes and hamstrings. I'm seeing a chiro who happens to be the lead ART instructor west of the Rockies, so he really knows his stuff.
Personally, I like ART much better than DT massage, but that's just me. Part of that is my general dislike of massage and all that goes with it (new age muzak, smelly oils, etc.).
ART is more like a physical therapy session. I get them on the way to work. I could never go anywhere after a massage without showering.
ART is an on-going process. I'm making good progress.
Indeed the "active" part of ART means sometimes I am moving muscles while he is pressing, prodding or poking something.
I had ART for 4 weeks for my upper hammy tendonitis. I was desperate to try anything. It did nothing for me. He said in 3 sessions I would notice a nice change and he got 10 out of me with no change. It is basically pushing on muscles fibers while moving them through a range of motion. It is nothing like deep tissue massage.
I would recommend a manual therapist if you can find a good one that does true manual therapy. I went to one for my hammys and he could find nothing structurally wrong, no misalignment, no flexibility issues......that made it even more frustrating which led me to ART. He did help me in the past for an SI joint issue which was totally related to an structural issue he corrected. I refer many people to him.
Clive, received and responded to you PM. Many thanks!
Todd, thanks for your personal experiences with ART and MT. I know you know what you are talking about as you really helped me out with my last femoral stress fracture by suggesting the ultrasound therapy which worked wonders.
Arc, glad the ART is helping you.
With all that said I have an appointment next Monday with a chiropractor who has a background in strength conditioning and exercise physiology. He also has a MT on staff that does both ART and DT massage.
I've never been to a chiropractor before but I'm willing to try pretty much anything to get back to the mileage I was doing before this nagging pain started.
I think this is important. The chiro I went to was overweight and no fitness/exercise background. I am not ripping on ART, it just didn't do anything for me. Good luck!
Right on Hereford...
Personally, I like ART much better than DT massage, but that's just me. Part of that is my general dislike of massage and all that goes with it (new age muzak, smelly oils, etc.). ART is more like a physical therapy session.
ART is more like a physical therapy session.
Sounds like you have only seen "spa"-type massage therapists. If you get a chance to see a real sports massage therapist or deep tissue therapist, your opinion might change.
My update.
I've been going to the chiro/MT twice a week for the past two weeks now and I'm feeling an improvement.
Once a week I meet with the MT and she performs evil, evil things on me like trigger point massage, ART, deep tissue massage and something truely evil that I'm sure was used in torture chambers called muscle stripping!
The chiro visit once a week consists of adjustments using the table, muscle stim and some massage type machine that I don't even know the name of. He has also given me some great core exercises to incorporate into my routine.
I've been using the foam roller twice a day too and that has really helped. Up until he suggesting purchasing one I was relying on the stick for self massage. Don't know why I waited so long to get the roller.
Our plan of action was give to give this 4 weeks and re-evaluate. He has mentioned orthotics as my gail analysis shows some imbalances.
He has asked me to keep my mileage at 20-25 mpw during the four weeks as well.
I had never, ever been to a chiro before and wasn't sure what to expect but I must say I'm happy with the treatment and results so far. My leg feels good most of the time now and the IT band is much less tight. My achillies and soelus are still still being a pain in the ass as is my heel but I am seeing improvement in those as well.
We'll see what happens in two more weeks.
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