Active Release Technique (A.R.T.)

WHAT IS ACTIVE RELEASE TECHNIQUE (A.R.T.)?

• A.R.T. is a patented, state of the art soft tissue management system. It is a movement based 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 many "conditions" that can be resolved quickly and permanently with A.R.T.
• These conditions all have one important thing in common: they are often a result of overused muscles.

HOW DO OVERUSE CONDITIONS OCCUR?

• Overused muscles (and other soft tissues) change in three important ways:
  
      * acute conditions (pulls, tears, collisions, etc)
      * accumulation of small tears (micro-trauma)
      * loss of tissue 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 adjacent 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 experience tingling, numbness and weakness.

WHAT IS AN A.R.T. TREATMENT LIKE?

• Every A.R.T. session is actually a combination of examination and treatment. The A.R.T. provider uses his or her hands to evaluate the texture, tightness and movement of muscles, fascia, tendons, ligaments and nerves. Abnormal tissues are treated by combining precisely directed tension within very specific patient movements.
  
  These protocols are unique to A.R.T. They allow the provider to identify and correct the specific problems that are affecting each individual patient. A.R.T. is not a cookie-cutter approach. It requires and in-depth knowledge of the human anatomy and an advanced skill in palpation in order to adapt the protocols to each individual case.

WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF ACTIVE RELEASE TECHNIQUES?

• A.R.T. has been developed, refined and patented by P. Michael Leahy, D.C., 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 treatment, Dr. Leahy was able to consistently resolve over 90% of his patients' problems. He is the team Chiropractor for the Denver Broncos and now teaches and certifies health care providers all over the world to use A.R.T.