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

SummaryBackgroundPain pressure thresholds (PPT) have not been investigated when Active Release Techniques (ART®) is directed at treating soft tissue injuries.AimTo investigate the immediate effects of ART® employed in the management of adductor muscle strains to modulate pain threshold.MethodsPatients 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 2 min post-intervention.ResultsWithin group effect sizes were calculated using a paired samples t-test to assess clinical effect. The mean pre-intervention and 2 min post-intervention PPT values were 4.2 ± 0.83 and 5.3 ± 0.99 significantly different (p < 0.001).ConclusionThe 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®.