Vibration therapy is a relatively new technique for physical therapists. Danielle Hass, DPT shares information about the Rapid Release tool that can make a big difference for clients suffering from muscle tightness and pain.
Danielle’s ARC Physical Therapy+ Journey
Danielle started with ARC Physical Therapy+ in September of 2016 after graduating earlier that year from Southwest Baptist University.
She loves the field of workers’ compensation because of the creativity and critical thinking involved in the treatment of unusual accidents.
“It’s our job to create solutions that treat every component of the injury,” Danielle said. “We have to be creative with the progression of exercises because every job is unique. I enjoy working with my clients to figure out the best way for them to successfully return to work.”
Rapid Release: What Is It?
Rapid Release is a tool that uses vibration therapy for treatment of tight, painful muscle groups. The high intensity vibrations move at 10,000 RPM and are engineered to overstimulate muscles in a way that helps them to relax and release.
“The patient is positioned in a way that the tissue is in and out of a stretched position during treatment, which then allows the tissue to lengthen and move more effectively,” Danielle said. “By the end of the treatment, the patient is less stiff and the stretches can be deeper, making them more beneficial and more comfortable.”
For patients who have trouble relaxing, Rapid Release can make a huge difference in their overall physical therapy experience. It’s also much less invasive than deep tissue massage or trigger point therapy.
What Types of Injuries Benefit from Rapid Release?
Rapid Release can be used almost anywhere on the body. With five different surfaces, the Rapid Release tool can treat smaller trigger points such as in between fingers or bigger muscle groups like the back or shoulder. The tool glides over the body part, so a towel or pillow case is placed between the tool and the skin.
Treatment is fast, taking just two to five minutes to complete, and patients typically see results right away. Therapists also incorporate specific protocols to increase long-term effectiveness of the tool.
“I personally like to use Rapid Release on the back, shoulder and hamstrings,” Danielle said. “Shoulders tend to tighten up when injured and we have to do a lot of manual stretching, so Rapid Release target vibrations can be a really good complement to manual therapy. With the back, there are so many muscles that it can be hard to get them to relax. It can also be great to help with tight hamstrings before stretching to alleviate lower back pain.”
The ARC Physical Therapy+ Difference
ARC Physical Therapy+ is the only physical therapy provider in the area using the Rapid Release tool. The team completed training with Matt Gloyd, DPT, PT, CDN and the Kansas City metro clinics all have the Rapid Release tool available to treat patients.
“It’s exciting that we have the opportunity to provide patients with something that so dramatically improves their experience,” Danielle said. “With just a few minutes of gentle treatment, the way our patients can move and stretch is remarkable.”
To learn more about Rapid Release and see if it might complement your physical therapy experience, contact your local ARC Physical Therapy+ clinic or call scheduling at 844-755-4272 (4ARC)!
