ART (Active Release Techniques) Explained

What is Active Release Techniques®
ART is a patented, state of the art non invasive treatment for soft tissue injury. Using an active movement based massage technique that treats problems with muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia and nerves. 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 overused muscles.
ART is new to the UK, but has been developed in the United States over the last two decades


What is the history of Active Release Techniques?
ART has been developed, refined, and patented by P. Michael Leahy, DC, CCSP. Dr. Leahy noticed that his patients' symptoms seemed to be related to changes in their soft tissue that could be felt by hand. By observing how muscles, fascia, tendons, ligaments and nerves responded to different types of work, Dr. Leahy was able to consistently resolve over 90% of his patients' problems. He now teaches and certifies health care providers all over the world to use ART.

How is ART different?
Active Release Technique (ART) soft tissue management system is so different that it has been granted a medical patent. In order to become an ART provider, each professional must complete extensive hands-on instruction and written/practical testing unparalleled by other soft tissue programs. An ART provider is trained to palpate and treat more than 300 muscular and fascial injuries and over 90 nerve entrapments, which often cause numbness and tingling.
Every ART® session is a combination of examination and treatment. The ART® provider uses his or her hands to evaluate the texture, tightness, and movement of muscles, fascia, tendons, ligaments and nerves. Then abnormal tissues are treated by combining precisely directed tension with very specific patient movements. For example, trapped nerves may be gently moved through the tissues by moving every joint and body part that the nerve crosses.
While most healthcare providers use techniques of massage, trigger point, electrical modalities and ultrasound to treat soft tissue problems with reasonable results, ART® in our opinion, provides a much better way.

ART® injury treatment is simple, just not easy. An injury causes your body to produce tough, dense scar tissue in the affected area. The 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.
Applying the ART® protocols is as simple as playing a piano—and just as difficult. ART® practitioners have an excellent understanding of human anatomy and physiology. They develop a very advanced "feel" for tissues and their texture, tension, and movement, because they are taught to find every tissue by touch—and to make fast, permanent changes in tissues.

How do overuse conditions occur?
Over-used muscles (and other soft tissues) change in three important ways:
acute conditions (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.

What can be expected from treatment?
Active Release Techniques, as the implies, uses motion to fix the problem. Once the injury has been assessed, the provider uses hands on treatment and patient motion to “free up” the problem areas.
Treatment duration and frequency may vary depending on the severity and complexity of the injury. However, most patients experience rapid recovery.

In Sport - ART has become the treatment of choice for America's top athletes!

At work - With the incidence of repetitive strain injury (RSI) increasing by 670 percent in the last 5 years, people in the workplace and general population are finding ART is providing the pain relief they need.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS about ART®

Is the treatment painful?
The first one or two treatments may feel uncomfortable depending on the extent of the injury and severity of the condition. However, even if the treatment is uncomfortable and reproduces symptoms, this is only temporary and will stop within seconds after the treatment.
How long do the treatments take?
The initial consultation, history, examination, and treatment will usually require anywhere from thirty minutes to one hour. Subsequent treatments usually take only ten to fifteen minutes.
How soon can I expect results?
In most cases, following the first treatment a patient will experience a positive result. This may be an increased range of motion, less pain, increased muscle strength, or decreased numbness and tingling.
Is this similar to other soft tissue treatments like trigger point therapy, ischemic compression, etc.?
NO. ART® is very different than any other soft tissue therapy or massage.
ART® is very specific and the results achieved utilizing this technique are much more predictable.
Once my problem has been corrected what are the chances of the problem returning?
ART® is very effective. Along with lifestyle modifications and prescribed exercise/stretches, the likelihood of the condition recurring is very low.
What if my doctor recommends surgery?
There are cases where surgery might be inevitable. Since ART® is non-invasive and has no side effects, it is practical to try ART® first