Soft Tissue Release

Soft Tissue Release (STR) is a manual therapy technique used by physiotherapists, massage therapists, chiropractors, and athletic therapists to assess and treat various soft tissues in the body. Let’s dive into the details:

What Is Soft Tissue Release?

• Definition: Soft tissue release targets specific areas of tension within individual muscles, aiming to remove scar tissue and adhesions.
• Purpose: It helps relieve muscular tension and pain, restore mobility, and improve overall function.
• Tissues Involved: STR focuses on various soft tissues, including muscles, tendons, fascia, and ligaments.
• Application: Practitioners perform precise stretches on specific muscles through multiple planes of movement.

How Soft Tissue Release Works:

Lock and Stretch Technique:

• The therapist identifies an area of tension within a muscle through palpation.
• One hand is used to “lock” or “fix” one end of the muscle to underlying structures.
• Deep pressure is applied with the other hand or a massage tool, using lotion or oil to reduce friction.
• The muscle is actively or passively stretched during the technique.

Benefits of Soft Tissue Release Massage:

• Breaks down muscle adhesions.
• Improves blood flow to the area.
• Re-establishes optimal muscle length, resilience, and function.
• Effective for both acute and chronic injuries.