broadway @ yew chiropractic



 

Print Article

Active Release Techniques® (ART)

Answers to your questions about the gold standard in soft tissue treatment

What is ART®?

A.R.T. stands for Active Release Techniques® and it is a hands-on, movement-based treatment for soft tissue. Your soft tissue includes muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia and nerves all of which are intimately connected with your joints and each other. Originally ART treatment gained popularity among high-level athletes for successfully resolving stubborn repetitive strain injuries quickly, and now these same techniques are being used to treat diverse groups of people and conditions with equally successful results.

What conditions can ART® help to resolve?

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 and permanently with ART. These conditions all have one important thing in common: they are often a result of over-used muscles.

How do overuse conditions occur?

Over-used muscles (and other soft tissues) change in three important ways:

  • Acute conditions (pulls, tears, collisions)
  • Accumulation of small tears (micro-trauma, repetitive sprains and strains)
  • Not getting enough oxygen or “hypoxia” (prolonged static positions, postural stresses)

Each of these factors (from a traumatic slip and fall to simple poor posture over time) 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, tension and pain. If a nerve is trapped you may also feel tingling, numbness, and weakness.

What is an ART® treatment like?

Every ART session is actually a combination of examination and treatment. Your certified ART provider uses their hands to evaluate the texture, tightness and movement of muscles, fascia, tendons, ligaments and nerves. Abnormal tissues are treated by combining precisely directed tension with very specific patient movements. These treatment protocols (over 500 specific moves) are unique to ART and they allow for quick identification and correction of specific problems.

Can ART® help me?

Chiropractors are specialists in neuromusculoskeletal health (nerves, muscles, bones and joints). The best way to determine if you can benefit from treatment with ART is to consult your ART certified chiropractor. For more information contact info@vancouverbackpain.com.

P. Michael Leahy, DC,. 2006 Active Release Techniques, LLC License #UE550 Upper Extremity Manual. http://www.activerelease.com