About Soft Tissue Release (STR)

Soft Tissue Release is a relatively new technique and has become more and more popular within Sport Therapy. It is also a wonderful way to help patients stretch muscles and fibres in an efficient and effective way.

Normal stretching exercises will stretch the muscle as a whole but will not be able to focus on particular areas of tension within the same muscle belly.

STR is specific, and can localise and stretch particular areas of the muscle with immediate results. It works by applying a "lock" to the tight area and where the fibres have become adhered, and tissues are then stretched away from that point.

The beauty of this technique is that it does not affect surrounding areas, or those areas away from the stretched side, and therefore allows the therapist to work extremely closely in a safe manner to release muscle tension close to an area of acute damage.

Contraindications & Precautions

Recent injury (still in the inflammatory stages of repair)
Direct pressure over a bony prominence
Clients with fragile skin and soft tissue
Over treating a chronically congested region
Applying too much pressure can lead to an increase in the muscle guarding of a joint
 
Benefits

Realigning muscle fibres that have been stressed due to injury
Breaking up of adhesions between muscles
Restoring balance
Aiding posture
Mobilisation of joints