title: Immediate effect on pain thresholds using active release technique on adductor strains: Pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pain pressure thresholds (PPT) have not been investigated when Active Release Techniques (ART(®)) is directed at treating soft tissue injuries.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  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<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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(®).
authors.affiliation: Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College, 6100 Leslie Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. drarobb@gmail.com
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Robb
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pajaczkowski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006119:Groin; D006688:Hockey / Q000293:injuries*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D026201:Musculoskeletal Manipulations / Q000379:methods*; D017288:Pain Threshold; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013180:Sprains and Strains / Q000534:rehabilitation*