Treating the body can be like a master painter using canvas and paint. It demands mastery of fundamentals, yet the addition of the creative. The chiropractor is placed in a similar position, working with the body demands great scientific knowledge about the body, but adding the creative and artful flair is where the healing takes place. Masterly blending treatment concepts at times may help bolster treatment outcomes. Such is the case with Active Release Technique and Dry Needling.

This is one of my favorite pairings when it comes to making the body perform better. One course of single type of therapy is rarely applied as combining different therapies help complement the work of the other. This is similar to applying heat before one does massage, Active Release Technique and Dry Needling are also complimentary to treating the body.

Most issues that present to the chiropractic office are rooted in movement dysfunction patterns coupled with poor nutrition . This is seen as static postures or repetitive overuse postures. It boils down to moving the same way too much, or not moving enough. Both of these scenarios create local changes in the muscle and the surrounding fascia.

When a muscle is constantly required to contract, especially for long period’s time, the motor neuron unit becomes dysfunctional. The motor neuron unit is where the nerve attaches to the muscle and is primarily responsible for having the muscle undergo cycles of contraction and relaxation. The motor neuron unit becomes dysfunctional and starts to overly secrete its chemicals. A biochemical mess ensues that disturbs the pH balance and increases the inflammatory mediators. This creates the need for trigger point therapy.

This situation creates a dysfunctional motor neuron unit and a trigger point. The trigger point is the taught and tender band like portion of the muscle that causes local and referred pain. As a Denver chiropractor, trigger points are always a co-conspirator with spine related problems. The primary trigger point disrupts the region, which creates other areas that ends up having to compensate and work harder, which thus starts a cycle of creating more trigger points. Sustained trigger points will then alter the tissues framework, creating scar tissue.

Scar tissue shows as leathery type tissue that has little to no give or pliability. So, now you have two problems, and two solutions. Active Release Technique aids in ridding the area of scar tissue, and Dry Needling helps reestablish the motor neuron unit to work correctly and deactivate the trigger points.

In summary, the vast majority of problems that the chiropractor sees is based in movement dysfunction patterns that create scar tissue and trigger points. I received my Dry Needling in Denver training from Kinetacore, a very reputable company and professional company that emphasizes patient safety and thoroughness.

Author: Dr. Trent Artichoker MS, DC, ART

Denver Chiropractic, LLC
3890 Federal Blvd Unit 1
Denver, CO 80211

303-455-2225