Active Release Techniques® (ART®) is a new and highly effective treatment for most types of soft tissue injury, whether from trauma, repetitive motion, or athletics. Almost anyone can benefit from ART® treatment, whether they are extremely active, or sit at a desk all day. Many daily activities cause repetitive stress and lead to the formation of scar tissue and adhesions, hindering movement and function of soft tissues (muscles, ligaments, tendons, and nerves). This creates symptoms of pain, decreased range of motion, numbness, tingling, and weakness.

The core of the treatment is locating scar tissue, then applying tension to the scar tissue while lengthening the muscles, tendons, and ligaments. ART® returns tissue to its correct tension, texture, movement, and function; thus eliminating pain and associated symptoms. ART® and Chiropractic manipulation powerfully compliment each other in many cases. Below, you will find some commonly asked questions about Active Release Techniques®.

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How does scar tissue become detrimental to us?
What is treatment like?
How long do treatments take?
When can I expect results?
Is this similar to other soft tissue treatments?
How is ART® different from deep massage therapy?
What are the chances of the problem returning after ART® therapy?
Can I benefit from ART® even if I've been treated by other doctors?
What if my doctor recommends surgery?
Why haven't I heard of ART® before?
Common Conditions Treated with ART®.

How do adhesions (scar tissue) become detrimental to us?

Most of us think of scar tissue as something that develops only after a cut, strain, tear, or a crushing injury, and occurs only at the site of injury. However, there are much more common ways that scar tissues can develop. Stress, poor posture, and repetitive motions like typing or driving, are all examples of things that can cause muscles to tighten up, leading to adhesions. When muscles tighten up for an extended time, the oxygen supply to the muscle is significantly decreased. When the muscle tissue does not get enough oxygen, the resulting condition is called hypoxia. Hypoxia leads to scar tissue development because some of our muscle cells and connective tissue cells die and stimulate fibrosis; the process that creates scar tissue and adhesions.

Before scarring, the tissue is healthy, smooth, and slippery, allowing the muscles, nerves, ligaments, and tendons to move freely and function properly. After the tissue is scarred with adhesions, the normal motion is altered and restricted, causing altered muscle and joint motion. This results in symptoms of pain, stiffness, weakness, and decreased range of motion. Nerves can also become adhered to the soft tissue (muscle, tendon, or ligaments), which can lead to numbness, tingling, or radiating pain. Carpal tunnel syndrome or sciatica (radiating leg pain) can be examples of this.

What is treatment like?

ART® is not a magic bullet or cure-all. Active Release Techniques® is non-invasive, very safe, has virtually no side effects, and comes with a record of very good results. Especially in the beginning, treatments can be uncomfortable during the movement phases, depending on the severity of the condition and the patient's pain tolerance. The discomfort is temporary, however, and subsides almost immediately after the treatment. It is common to feel a duplication of your symptoms during the treatment, a good indication that the problem has been identified.

How long do treatments take?

The initial consultation, history, examination, and treatment will require approximately 30-45 minutes with the doctor. Follow-up treatments take about 10-15 minutes.

When can I expect results?

In most cases, following the first treatment, a patient will experience a positive result. This may be an increase in 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, rolfing, etc?

NO. ART® is very different from any other soft tissue, bodywork, massage, or other therapy. ART® is very specific and the results achieved utilizing this technique are much more predictable.

How is ART® different from deep massage therapy?

They may look and sound similar, but the procedures are actually very different, as are the results they produce. There are many types of massage. General massage promotes relaxation and circulation. Neuromuscular massage gets more specific, but it does not fix the soft tissue adhesions. ART® is a protocol specific for the correction of adhesions and scar tissue. Anyone who has had ART® can tell you that it is not a massage.

What are the chances of my problem returning after ART® therapy?

If the patient is advised as to any lifestyle modifications and follows through with the prescribed exercises, the likelihood of the condition recurring is very low. Dr. Michael Leahy, DC, CCSP (developer of ART® therapy) reported a recurrence rate of only 4% in his carpal tunnel study, of which half (2%) had not followed through with their exercises.

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. Many cases seen in the office are patients who have been treated, unsuccessfully, by other health care providers. Most of these patients are happily surprised when they experience an improvement in their condition after one or two treatments.

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. One should know within a couple of treatments if ART® is right for them.

Why haven't I heard of ART® before?

ART® has been known throughout the elite and professional sports world for years as being an excellent tool for rehabilitation and athletic performance enhancement. In fact, a lot of well known athletes have publicly credited ART® with helping them achieve a higher level of performance and faster healing. Outside of the sports world, there have not been enough people trained in ART® to make a big impact. Proficiency at ART® takes time to develop and a substantial commitment of time, effort, and resources to become a provider. There is a small, but growing, number of providers that have been personally trained and credentialed by Dr. Michael Leahy, DC, CCSP, the developer of the technique. For a list of ART® providers and their credentials, you can call (719) 473-7000 or go to the ART® website by clicking here.

Common Conditions treated with ART®: