ART SOFT TISSUE THERAPY

Active Release Technique (ART) ®

Soft Tissue Therapies-ART ®

List of Questions/Topics

What is Active Release Technique (ART) ® ?

ART ® stands for Active Release Techniques. ART ® is a patented, state-of-the-art soft tissue system that treats problems with muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia and nerves. ART ® provides a way to locate, diagnose, and treat the underlying causes of cumulative trauma disorders. These disorders result in symptoms of:

• Numbness
• Tingling
• Burning
• Aching

Headaches, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, shin splints, shoulder pain, sciatica, plantar fasciitis, knee problems, and tennis elbow are just a few of the many conditions that can be resolved quickly with ART ®. These conditions all have one important thing in common: they often result from injury to over-used muscles.

How do Overuse Injuries or Cumulative Trauma Disorders (CTD) occur?

Overused muscles (and other soft tissues) change in three important ways:

• Acute injuries (pulls, tears, collisions, etc.)
• Accumulation of small tears (micro-trauma)
• Not getting enough oxygen (hypoxia)

Each of these factors can cause your body to produce tough, dense scar tissue in the affected area. This scar tissue binds up and ties down tissues that need to move freely. As scar tissue builds up, muscles become shorter and weaker, tension on tendons causes tendonitis, and nerves can become trapped. This can cause reduced range of motion, loss of strength, and pain. If a nerve is trapped you may also feel tingling, numbness, and weakness.

Cumulative trauma and overuse of soft tissue causes Repetitive Stress Injuries (RSI). The incidence of RSI's is skyrocketing. Recently, the healthcare costs for RSI in the U.S. surpassed costs for low back pain as the largest health care expenditure. It is estimated that the cost of RSI's in the U.S. alone exceeds $110 billion yearly. Soft tissue that is forced to perform the same job over and over becomes irritated and then inflamed.

The body responds to inflammation by laying down scar tissue (adhesive tissue) in an attempt to stabilize the area. Once this happens, an ongoing cycle begins that worsens the condition. The longer this condition persists, the harder it is to break this cycle.

Who developed the Active Release Techniques?

Dr. Michael Leahy, a Doctor of Chiropractic based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, developed Active Release Techniques (ART). Prior to becoming a Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Leahy was an aeronautical engineer with the U.S. Air Force. Combining his engineering background and his knowledge of human anatomy, Dr. Leahy formulated a unique and effective approach for dealing with soft tissue injuries, now known as ART ® . ART ® is a hands-on therapy that corrects muscular and soft tissue problems caused by the formation of adhesive tissues that are laid down due to overuse or cumulative trauma.

Conditions that can be treated with ART ®

Frequently Asked Questions

• What are adhesions?
• Is there a difference between ART ® and Massage?
• How do I know if someone provides ART?
• Who can benefit from ART?
• What is an ART ® treatment like?
• Will the condition return after ART ® treatments?
• How does ART ® improve performance?
• Is ART ® used with any other treatments?

What are Adhesions?

Our bodies contain special dense protein structures called Fascia (a type of connective tissue). Fascial tissue interconnects all the components of your body, from the tips of our toes to the structures within our head. This fascia acts a flexible skeleton. When this tissue is healthy, it is smooth and slippery, allowing the muscles, nerves, blood vessels, and organs to move freely and function properly. Envision a piece of scotch tape; the smooth side is healthy fascia, while the sticky side is scar tissue or unhealthy fascia. Try rubbing both sides of the tape along your skin. The smooth side slips easily across your skin. The sticky side drags across your skin. The drag that you feel, the “pulling” sensation is how an adhesion affects the smooth functioning of your body. Adhesions attach to muscles, decreasing their ability to work properly. You know you have an adhesion on a nerve if you get many abnormal sensations like numbness, tingling, or pain.

Is there a difference between ART ® and Massage?

The procedures used by Massage are very different from ART, and produce different results than ART ® . There are many types of massage, but most massage techniques promote relaxation and circulation. Neuromuscular Massage is a little more specific but it does not correct soft tissue problems to make them work properly. In contrast, the ART ® protocol is specifically designed to remove adhesions and scar tissues, and restore full range of motion to the tissues and joints.

How do I know if someone provides Active Release Techniques?

Proficiency at ART ® takes a long time to develop. Training is hands-on. The touch is the most difficult aspect to learn, and takes time, effort and resources to master. There are a small but growing number of practitioners who are becoming trained in ART ® . There are many people who claim to practice the Active Release Technique. However, the only individuals who are legally allowed to make this claim are those that have undergone rigorous training and testing with Dr. Mike Leahy. Accredited individuals must attend a 4-day workshop and pass both the written and practical examination with a greater than 90% proficiency. To maintain ART ® accreditation, providers must pass yearly evaluation.

Who can benefit from ART ® ?

ART ® can help everyone, from the athlete to office worker, to the homemaker. Many professional athletes are using ART ® to enhance their performance and prevent injuries. Well known athletes such as Donovan Bailey – an Olympic gold medal sprinter, Gary Roberts – NHL player, Bill Romanoski – NFL player, and Jamie Sale – Olympic gold medal winner in pairs figure skating, have all benefited from such treatments. So if high profile athletes such as these look towards ART, so can you.

What is treatment like?

ART ® is not a magic medical bullet or cure-all. Active Release Techniques is non-invasive, very safe, has virtually no side effects, and has a record of producing very good results. Treatments can feel uncomfortable during the movement phases as the scar tissue or adhesions “break up”. This discomfort is temporary and subsides almost immediately after the treatment. It is common to feel a duplication of your pain symptoms during the treatment (a good indication that the problem has been identified). While treatment lengths vary somewhat from person to person and from condition to condition, there are a few rules of thumb you can follow. Treatments take about 10-20 minutes per area treated, and may require 6-12 visits, depending on the severity of the condition. Patients report that “It hurts good.”

Will my condition or problem return after treatment?

Usually, the changes are permanent, but the ultimate answer depends on the patient compliance with post-care recommendations. “If you keep doing what you're doing, you will keep getting what you are getting.” This is especially true for those suffering from repetitive strain injuries (RSI) or cumulative trauma injuries. Once we have eliminated your pain and rehabilitated the injured tissues we do recommend that you maintain a schedule of periodic checkups. Repetition of injury causing behaviour or activities will cause the problem to reoccur. An important part of ART ® treatments are the accompanying recommendations for activity modification, stretching and exercises. Each patient should commit to carrying out these suggestions to obtain the best results.

How does ART ® improve performance?

Performance of any task, whether sport or work related, can improve significantly with ART ® treatments. Restoring proper muscle function and movement enables the body to perform at its most optimal level.

Is ART ® used with any other treatments?

Yes, ART ® can be used with many other strategic multidisciplinary therapies, such as Chiropractic, Low Intensity Laser Therapy and Physical Therapy. These therapies provide a comprehensive range of effectiveness that enhances the patient's end result of increased range of motion, decreased pain and optimal function.