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HOW
CAN ART HELP ME? Learn more from our answers to Frequently
Asked Questions.
- What is Active Release Techniques (ART)?
- Who developed ART?
- What separates Active Release Techniques from other therapies?
- Is ART similar to other soft tissue treatments like trigger point therapy, ischemic compression, etc.?
- Is the treatment painful?
- How long do the treatments take?
- How soon can I expect results?
- Can I benefit from ART even if I've already been evaluated and treated by other doctors and specialists?
- Once my problem has been corrected what are the chances of the problem returning?
- What kind of exercise do I need to do after ART has released the damaged and restricted tissue?
- What body areas does ART work on?
- What symptoms will ART relieve?
- How do overuse conditions occur?
What is
Active Release Technique (ART)?
ART is a breakthrough in the treatment of injury with a 90% success
rate. A revolutionary form of manual therapy, it's the first
program specifically designed to evaluate and treat damaged soft tissue.
It resolves many injuries considered untreatable before ART, sometimes
in just a few visits. ART is not just about muscle manipulation, it's
about resolving conditions and pain caused by adhesions
(scarring of injured tissue) and nerve entrapment. The
word "active" refers to the fact that "active
motion" of the patient is required to develop tension on
the adhesion.
Who developed ART?
Michael Leahy, D.C., C.S.S.P., a chiropractor and aeronautical engineer,
developed ART in the late 1980s. At the Air Force Academy, Leahy worked
on feedback control systems that guided rockets and recognized the connection
between the biomechanics of running and rocket science. "There are
mechanisms that feed information to the nervous system about position
and speed and motion, and that affects the way the muscles work,"
says Leahy, of Colorado Springs, CO.
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What separates
Active Release Techniques from other therapies?
ART is NOT deep tissue massage therapy
Although ART and Massage Therapy work extremely well together as adjunctive
therapies, massage therapy, by itself, does not effectively deal with
scar tissue. Deep tissue massage uses a kneading motion or deep pressure
to try to smash the adhesion which can be very painful.
ART uses a lighter pressure while generating more tension onto the scar
tissue. This creates a lot more friction to tear
the adhesion, is much less painful, and has longer lasting results.
Scar tissue adhesion is very resilient - it is very, very difficult to
break up by 'smashing' it. It is about like trying to break up a piece
of bubble gum by stepping on it repeatedly - it is just too elastic, resilient,
and sticky. Only by generating tremendous amounts of tension can the adhesion
be effectively and permanently removed.
Most soft tissue techniques also DO NOT follow the entire
length of the soft tissue structure NOR do they identify
restrictions at different depths and levels of the tissue. ART aims to
return complete translation and motion to the full length
of the affected soft tissue and its nearby structures. This means complete
freedom of motion for the entire restricted structure in relationship
to all adjacent structures!
ART is NOT Physical Therapy
Physical Therapy (PT) involves manual therapies, therapeutic exercises
and the application of electro-physical modalities, like ultrasound. Although
these are valuable procedures offered in office by physiotherapists and
chiropractors (which are integral in injury stabilization and prevention
of future flare-ups), they do not address nor resolve the underlying
problems caused by scar tissue.
Unlike Physical Therapy, Active Therapeutics of Bend provides true hands
on soft tissue manipulation. “In my experience ART is VERY challenging
to not only learn but to master,” says Mark DeJohn of Active Therapeutics.
“It requires excellent palpation skills that most PT's will
not possess. It requires more education and commitment to being a manual
therapist (hands on) rather than a prescriptive therapist (hands off).
Because PT's are usually not treating the soft tissues the way we
do. PT treatments are usually based on do this stretch or exercise and
apply ultrasound.”
ART is NOT Chiropractic Care
Although ART and Chiropractic work perfectly hand in hand with one another,
traditional Chiropractic care does not focus on the treatment
of the soft tissues! It mainly focuses upon the relationship
between the spinal skeletal system and the nervous system. Chiropractic
works well to release joint capsule restrictions and to restore motion
back to fixated joints, however these joint restrictions will often return
if the original soft tissue problem(s) are not addressed.
Since muscles and ligaments attach to bone directly, they will pull onto
the affected joints, forcing them back into fixation and/or misalignment
if the restricted/tightened tissues are left untreated. This explains
why many patients feel great immediately following an adjustment, but
then felt like they were stiff again a day or even a few hours later.
Without ART, the results of Chiropractic are often limited in their ability
to provide complete resolution for many musculoskeletal problems.
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Is ART similar to other
soft tissue treatments like trigger point therapy, ischemic compression,
etc.?
NO. ART is very different than any other soft tissue, bodywork, massage,
or other therapy. ART is very specific and the results achieved utilizing
this technique are much more predictable.
Is the treatment painful?
The first one or two treatments can be somewhat uncomfortable depending
on the severity of the condition and the patient's pain tolerance.
However, even if the treatment is uncomfortable and reproduces their symptoms,
this is only temporary and will stop a few seconds after the treatment.
How long do the treatments
take?
The initial consultation, history, examination, and treatment will usually
require 30 minutes to one hour. Subsequent ART treatments take fifteen
to thirty minutes. Deep tissue massage treatment is longer, usually an
hour.
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How soon can I expect results?
In most cases, following the first treatment a patient will experience
positive results. This may be an increased range of motion, less pain,
increased muscle strength, or decreased numbness and tingling.
Can I benefit from ART even
if I've already been evaluated and treated by other doctors and
specialists?
Only a provider experienced and trained in ART can determine if you might
benefit from this treatment. Most of the cases seen in my office are those
patients whom have been treated by other health care providers unsuccessfully.
Most of these patients are happily surprised when they experience an improvement
in their condition after just one or two treatments.
Once my problem
has been corrected what are the chances of the problem returning?
The likelihood of the condition recurring is very low. Dr. Leahy reported
a recurrence rate of only 4% in his carpal tunnel study, of which half
(2%), had not followed through with their exercises. Once the ART practitioner
has released the restrictive adhesions between tissues, post-treatment
exercises become a critical part of the healing process and act to ensure
the injury does not return.
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What kind of exercise do I need to do after ART
has released the damaged and restricted tissue?
There are four fundamental areas that must be addressed in any exercise
program, including:
Flexibility
Good flexibility enables muscles and joints to move through their full
range of motion. Poor flexibility leads to a higher chance of injury to
muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Stretching exercises are only effective
if they are executed after the adhesions within the soft-tissue have been
released. Stretching exercises that are applied to adhered tissues will
only stretch the tissues above and below the restrictions. The actual
restricted and adhered tissues are seldom stretched, leading to further
biomechanical imbalances.
Strength
Strengthening exercises are most effective after the adhesions within
the soft-tissue have been released. Attempts to strengthen already-shortened
and contracted muscles only results in further contraction and restriction.
This causes the formation of yet more adhesions and restrictive tissues,
and exacerbates the Repetitive Injury Cycle. This is why the application
of generic or non-specific strengthening exercises for RSI seldom works.
Balance and Proprioception
Proprioception describes the body's ability to react appropriately
(through balance and touch) to external forces. Proprioception exercises
should begin early in the rehabilitation process. Effective proprioception
exercises are designed to restore the kinesthetic awareness of the patient.
These exercises form the basis for the agility, strength, and endurance
required for complete rehabilitation.
Cardiovascular
Cardiovascular or aerobic exercises are essential for restoring good circulation
and for increasing oxygen delivery to soft-tissues. Lack of oxygen and
poor circulation is a primary accelerant of repetitive strain injuries.
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What body areas does
ART work on?
Over 500 ART manual techniques find and resolve soft tissue problems with:
- Muscles
- Tendons
- Ligaments
- Fascia
- Nerves
What symptoms will ART
relieve?
ART quickly and permanently resolve acute or chronic conditions that have
one important thing in common—they are often a result of overused
muscles.
- Headaches
- Back pain
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Shin splints
- Shoulder pain
- Sciatica
- Plantar fasciitis
- Knee problems
- Tennis elbow and more
How do overuse conditions
occur?
Over-used muscles 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.
When overuse—like the overuse inherent in marathon training—causes
the muscles, ligaments and tendons to tighten up, break down, and hurt,
ART helps get them back on track. Stuart Yoss, D.C., C.S.S.P., of Bannockburn
Chiropractic and Sports Injury Center in Bannockburn, IL, explains why
runners get stuck in a cycle of chronic injury. "In overuse, the
muscle becomes tight and weak, which causes an increased amount of friction,
pressure and tension within that muscle, which causes a state of hypoxia
(lack of oxygen), which causes adhesions to form, which causes the muscle
to become tight and weak. It just goes around and around. "Yoss,
an ART instructor as well as a practitioner, says, "That's the essence
of ART: It breaks the cumulative injury cycle."
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Talk to us about how ART combined with deep-tissue massage can
help you. Contact us for an appointment or free consultation today!
