What is Active Release Technique (ART®) ?
Active Release Techniques ® is a patented soft tissue treatment system. It was designed to provide clinicians with an advanced system of diagnosis and manual treatment for soft tissue disorders. These include cumulative trauma disorders (tendonitis, plantar fasciitis), Repetitive Strain Injuries (carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger finger), postural strain, sports injuries and general wear and tear on the muscles, ligaments and joints of the body. Many athletes seek ART treatment before and after competition to improve their range of motion and speed their recovery from injury and repetitive strain. Dr. Brennan Dynes at Joint Health Mobile Chiropractic has achieved full-body certification in Active Release Technique.
How Does Active Release Technique (ART®) Work?
ART® helps to allow for free and unimpeded movement of muscles, tendons, nerves and joints, to allow for a dramatic change in comfort, flexibility and strength. ART® is used to enhance and optimize your performance, improve the form and function of your body's tissues. ART® works by releasing the level of tension and tightness in your tissues, and freeing up scar tissue that has accumulated as a result of injury overuse, postural imbalances, or traumatic injury.
Every ART® session is actually a combination of examination and treatment. The ART® provider uses his or her hands to evaluate the texture, tightness and relative movement of muscles, fascia, tendons, ligaments and nerves. Abnormal tissues are treated by combining precisely directed tension with very specific patient movements. ART® takes a systematic approach to treatment and combines over 500 specific movements unique to ART®. They allow providers to identify and correct the specific problems that are affecting each individual patient. ART® is not a cookie-cutter type approach.
What Conditions Can Active Release Technique (ART®) Help With?
Active Release Technique treats problems with muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia and nerves. These can include headaches, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, shin splints, shoulder pain, rotator cuff syndromes, golfer’s and tennis elbow, sciatica, plantar fasciitis, knee problems, tendonopathies, trigger finger, epicondylitis, mechanical low back pain, and most sports injuries are some of the many conditions that can be resolved quickly, and most often permanently, with ART®. These conditions all have one important thing in common: they often result from injury to over-used muscles.
How do overuse injuries occur?
Over-used muscles (and other soft tissues) change in three important ways:
acute injuries (pulls, tears, collisions, etc.)
accumulation of small tears (micro-trauma)
not getting enough oxygen (hypoxia)
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.
For more information about ART visit the official webpage
Dr. Brennan Dynes is a Chiropractor providing mobile chiropractic treatments in Whitby with Joint Health Mobile Chiropractic. If you are interested in Active Release Technique or have any questions please do not hesitate to contact the clinic.
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