Effects of Active and Positional Release Techniques on Musculo-Skeletal Disorders: A Review of the Literature

Document Type : Review Article

Authors

1 MSc Student in Physiotherapy , Student Research Committee, School of Rehabilitation, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

2 PhD, PT., Professor, Physiotherapy Research Centre, School of Rehabilitation, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

3 PhD., PT., Professor, Physiotherapy Research Centre, School of Rehabilitation, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

4 PhD in Biostatistics, Professor, Physiotherapy Research Centre, School of Rehabilitation, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Background and Aim: Prolonged bad postures or traumas following accidents or sports injuries may result in soft tissue damage. A variety of treatment protocols including medical, surgical, and physical treatments comprising electrical, manual, and exercise therapies are routinely used for this purpose. Soft tissue releases including active and positional types are recently used to relieve local muscle spasms. To date, no study has been reported reviewing the findings of the researchers in this area. The current library-based study aimed to deliberately focus on this area to find out if any of these techniques is preferred to other one in soft tissue damage.
Materials and Methods: PubMed, google scholar, scopus, and sciencedirect databases were searched from 2000 to 2015 for the studies investigating the comparative effect of ART and PRT versus control group and other routine treatments. Only the papers that studied Active or Positional release techniques on patients and were written in Persian or English languages were included. Conference proceedings were excluded from the study.
Results: A total of 27 relevant papers were found: one review article, eight case reports, eight clinical trials, five pilot studies, three studies with before-after techniques, and two comparative studies.
Conclusion: The results showed that PRT and ART manual techniques can reduce pain and improve ROM, and functional activities in short time. It was also found that these techniques can be used as a non-invasive and safe treatment in treating patients in addition other physical modalities.

Keywords

Main Subjects


  1. Da Costa BR, Vieira ER. Risk factors for work-related musculoskeletal disorders: a systematic review of recent longitudinal studies. Am J Ind Med. 2010; 53(3):285–323.##
  2. Karimi A, Taheri H, Mahdavinejad R, Minasian V.The effect of Two Selected Exercise Therapy Programs on Neck Pain,Strength and Range of Motion (ROM) of the Neck in Computer Users. IJHPA. 2014; 5(1):35-42.##
  3. D.Woolf A, Pfleger B. Burden of major musculoskeletal conditions. Bull World Health Organ. 2003; 81(9):646-56.##
  4. Abelson B, K.T. Abelson. Release your pain: Resolving repetitive strain injuries with active techniques. Rowan Tree Books Limited:2003.##
  5. George JW, Tunstall AC, Tepe RE, Skaggs CD. The effects of active release technique on hamstring flexibility: a pilot study. J Manipulative Physio Ther. 2006; 29(3): 224-27.##
  6. Kuhn DR. Efficacy of active release technique on active cervical rotation.Logan College of  Chiropractic. 2006.##
  7. Prentice WE. Rehabilitation techniques for sports medicine and athletic training with laboratory manual and esims password card. 5th ed. McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages, Fifth ed; 2004, ISBN 978-0-07-337661-5 P. 190-191.##
  8. Saavedra FJ, Cordeiro MT, Alves JV, Fernande HM, Reis VM, Mont’Alverne DGB. The influence of positional release therapy on the myofascial tension of the upper trapezius muscle. Rev Bras Cineantropom Desempenho Hum. 2014; 16(2): 191-9.##
  9. D'Armbrogio KJ, Roth GB. Positional release therapy: Assessment&Treatment of musculoskeletal dysfunction. St. Louis: Mosby;1997, ISBN 0-8151-0096-5.P:20.##
  10. Drover JM, Forand DR, Herzog W. Influence of active release technique on quadriceps inhibition and strength:apilot study. J manipulative physiol ther. 2004; 27:408-13.##
  11. George JW, Tepe R, Busold D, Keuss S, Prather H, Skaggs CD. The effects of active release technique On carpal tunnel patients:A pilot study. J Chiropr Med. 2006; 5(4):119–22.##
  12. Howitt S, FCCSS, FCCRS, Wong J, Zabukovec S. The conservative treatment of Trigger Thumb using Graston Techniques and Active Release Techniques®. JCCA. 2006; 50(4):249–54. ##
  13. Spina AA, BKin. External coxa saltans (snapping hip) treated with active release techniques:a case report. JCCA 2007; 51(1):23–9.##
  14. McHardy A, Hoskins W, Pollard H, Onley R, Windsham R. Chiropractic treatment of upper extremity conditions:asystematic review. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2008 Feb;31(2):146-159.##
  15. Yuill EA, MacIntyre LG. Posterior tibialis tendonopathy in an adolescent soccer player: a case report. J Can Chiropr Assoc. 2010; 54(4):293-300.##
  16. Robb A, Pajaczkowski J. Immediate effect on pain thresholds using active release technique on adductor strains: Pilot study. J Bodyw & Mov Ther. 2011 Jan; 15(1): 57-62.##
  17. Benner D, Dixon E, Plumley T. The Effectiveness of Active Release Therapy on Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome. 2011 June16.##
  18. Thacker D, Jameson J, Baker J, Divine J, Unfried A. Management of upper cross syndrome through the use of active release technique and prescribed exercises. Logan College of Chiropractic. 2011 April.##
  19. Andrew L. Miners Tracy L. Bougie. Chronic Achilles tendinopathy: a case study of treatment incorporating active and passive tissue warm-up, Graston Technique®, ART®, eccentric exercise, and cryotherapy. JCCA. 2011; 55(4):269-79.##
  20. Gliedt AJ,  Daniels CJ. Chiropractic Treatment of Lateral Epicondylitis:A Case Report Utilizing Active Release Techniques. J Chiropract Med. 2014; 13(2):104-9.##
  21. Gliedt JA, Daniels CJ. Chiropractic management of elbow tendinopathy following a sports related trauma. JCCA. 2014; 58(1):52-7.##
  22. Trivedi P, Sathiyavani D., Nambi G, Khuman R, Shah K, Bhatt P. Comparison of active release technique and myofascial release technique on pain, grip strength & functional performance  in patients with chronic lateral epicondylitis. Int J Physiother Res. 2014; 2(3):488-94.##
  23. Dispenza M, Iannazzo D, Johnson M, Younger k, Zonarich A. The effects of positional release therapy on trigger pointof the upper trapezius muscle. 2004.##
  24. Harlapur M.A, Vijay B K, Chandu B. Comparison of myofascial release and positional release therapy in plantar fasciitis – A clinical trial. IJPOT 2010; 4(4):8-11.##
  25. Kelencz CA, F.Tarini VA, Amorim CF. Trapezius upper portion trigger points treatment purpose in positional release therapy with electromyographic analysis. North Am J Med Sci. 2011; 3(10):451-55.##
  26. Alagesan J, S. Shah U. Effect of positional release therapy and taping on unilateral uppertrapezius tender points - randomized controlled trial. IJHPS. 2012;1(2):13-7.##
  27. Mohamadi M, Ghanbari A, Rahimi jaberi A. TensioneTypeeHeadache treated by Positional Release Therapy: A case report, Manual Therapy. 2012; 17(5):456-8.##
  28. Baker RT, Nasypany A, Baker GJ. Treatment of Acute Torticollis Using Positional Release Therapy: Part 2. Human Kinetics – IJATT.2013;18(2): 38-43.##
  29. Doley, Warikoo M, Arunmozhi D. Effect of Positional Release Therapy and Deep Transverse Friction Massage on Gluteus Medius Trigger Point - A Comparative Study. J Exe Sci and Phys. 2013; 9(1): 40-5.##
  30. AL-Shawabka SA.M, M. S.S Shenouda M, A.Balbaa A. Positional Release Technique Versus Manual Pressure Release on the Upper Trapezius Muscle in Patients with Myofascial Pain Dysfunction Syndrome. Bull. Fac. Ph. Th. Cairo Univ. Jan 2013; 18 (1): 55-63.##
  31. Diwadkar P, KhatriS. Immediate effectiveness of positional release therapy in acute ankle sprain. IJPT. 2013;1(1).##
  32. SM K, SS S. Immediate effectiveness of diathermy, positional release therapy and taping on acute wry neck in a post-partum woman: single case report. IJPT. 2013;1(1).##
  33. Mohamed N. Mohamed, Ahmed M. F. Effect of therapeutic exercises with or without positional release technique in treatment of chronic mechanical low back pain patients: a randomized controlled trial. Egyp J Occu Med. 2014; 38(2):125-39. ##
  34. Singh L.R, Chauhan V. Comparison of Efficacy of Myofascial Release and Positional Release Therapy in Tension Type Headache. JMSCR. 2014; 2(9): 2372-9.##
  35. .Pattanshetty R, S.Raikar A. Immediate effect of three soft tissue manipulation techniques on ain response and flexibility in chronic plantar fasciitis: a randomized clinical trial. Int J Physiother Res. 2015; 3(1):875-84.##

4.       Badley EM, Rasooly I, Webster GK. Relative importance of musculoskeletal disorders as a cause of chronic health problems, disability, and health care utilization: findings from the 1990 Ontario Health Survey. J Rheumatol.1994 Mar; 21(3):505-14.##

5.       Matheson GO, Macintyre JG, Taunton JE, Clement DB, Lloyd-Smith R. Musculoskeletal injuries associated with physical activity in older adults. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1989 Aug; 21(4):379-85.##

6.       Goldby LJ, Moore AP, Doust J, Trew ME. A Randomized Controlled Trial Investigating the Efficiency of Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy on Chronic Low Back Disorder. J Spine. 2006 May 1; 31( 10):1083-93.##

Volume 5, Issue 4
January and February 2017
Pages 290-301
  • Receive Date: 02 July 2015
  • Revise Date: 12 March 2016
  • Accept Date: 04 April 2016
  • First Publish Date: 21 December 2016