Immediate effect on pain thresholds using active release technique on adductor strains: Pilot study

Summary Background Pain pressure thresholds (PPT) have not been investigated when Active Release Techniques (ART ® ) is directed at treating soft tissue injuries. Aim To investigate the immediate effects of ART ® employed in the management of adductor muscle strains to modulate pain threshold. Methods Patients were administered ART ® commensurate with the extent and nature of their adductor muscle injury. The outcome measureused was PPT over the adductor muscle strain which was assessed pre-intervention and 2min post-intervention. Results Within group effect sizes were calculated using a paired samples t -test to assess clinical effect. The mean pre-intervention and 2min post-intervention PPT values were 4.2±0.83 and 5.3±0.99 significantly different ( p Conclusion The application of ART ® to treat groin strains may be of benefit in increasing pain thresholds amongst ice-hockey players. Future research requires sufficient sample sizing, a control group, and correlations with objective outcome measures (VAS and range of motion) to validate the therapeutic effect of ART ® .