Active Release Technique

Overuse Injuries, Sports Chiropractic and the Active Release Technique® (A.R.T.)?

Active Release Technique (ART)

Countryside Chiropractic offers A. R. T. as a treatment part of our treatment protocol for many overuse related injuries. Whether is part of our Sports Chiropractic treatments for athletes and sports injury or, other common problems like work related injuries that may be due to repetitive movements.

A.R.T. is a patented, state-of-the-art soft tissue movement and stretching technique that treats problems with muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia and nerves often associate with overuse and sports injuries. It is also effective in treating: 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 A.R.T. This is an effective technique for sports chiropractic on athletes because these conditions all have one important thing in common; they are often a result of overused muscles.

How do overuse inuries 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 cause 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 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 with very specific patient movements.

These treatment protocols - over 500 specific moves - are unique to ART. They allow providers to identify and correct the specific problems that are affecting each individual patient. A.R.T. is not a cookie-cutter approach.

What is the history of Active Release Techniques?

A.R.T. 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 A.R.T..

Common overuse, work related and sports injuries treated by ART

  • Arthritis
  • Achilles tendonitis
  • Ankle Injuries
  • Back Pain/ Injuries
  • Bicepital Tendonitis
  • Bunions
  • Bursitis
  • Carpal Tunnel Symptoms
  • Compartment syndrome (Chronic)
  • De Quervains's Tenosynovitis
  • Dupuytren's contracture
  • Foot pain/injury
  • Frozen Shoulder/ Adhesive Capsulitis
  • Gait Imbalances
  • Golfer's/ Tennis Elbow (Tendinitis)
  • Golf Injuries
  • Groin Injuries/Strain
  • Hammer Toes
  • Hand Injuries
  • Headaches
  • Hip Pain including snapping hip syndrome
  • Iliotibial band syndrome
  • Impingement syndromes
  • Joint dysfunction
  • Knee meniscus injuries
  • Knee Pain including meniscus conditions, collateral ligament sprains, patella ligament sprains
  • Leg Injuries
  • Muscle pulls or strains
  • Muscle weakness
  • Myofascitis
  • Neck Pain
  • Nerve Entrapment Syndromes
  • Plantar Fascitis
  • Post surgical
  • Repetitive Strain Injuries
  • Rib Pain
  • Rotator Cuff Syndrome
  • Running Injuries
  • Scar Tissue Formation
  • Sciatica
  • Shin splints
  • Shoulder Pain
  • Sports Specific Injuries, eg, Triathletes, Baseball,Basketball, Football, Hockey, Soccer players
  • Swimmer's Shoulder
  • Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
  • Tendinitis
  • Thoracic outlet syndrome
  • Throwing Injuries
  • TMJ (Temporo Mandibular Joint Dysfunction)
  • Weight Lifting Injuries
  • Whiplash (Hyperextension / Hyperflexion Injury)
  • Wrist Injuries

ART Success Stories

"Making action films has really been tough on my body. Thanks to ART, I'm able to perform! After treatment, I feel great and ready for the next challenging role." - Danny Glover, Professional Actor

"My injury left me with no chance of ever playing hockey again. Now, after being treated with ART and a proper rehabilitation program, I have completely regained my career in hockey." - Gary Roberts, NHL Forward

"Professional football is a tough sport. I prepare for each game using ART. The benefit to me? Just ask the guys I play against." - Bill Romanowski, NFL Linebacker

"All the doctors said I needed surgery for impingement syndrome in both shoulders. After one treatment, I rebooked all my competitions and trained to be in the best shape of my life." - Milos Sarcev, 1989 Mr. Universe

"I suffered from plantar fasciitis. I began using ART in 1998 and found something that actually helped. It works quickly and effectively." - Marla Runyan, 5000M Champion

"The NFL, NHL, and MLB have begun contracting ART practitioners to keep players healthy." - Runners World 2004

"ART is fast and is especially effective for pain and stiffness in the lower back, shoulders, and elbows, as well as for carpal tunnel syndrome." - Men's Journal 2003

"Compared with similar studies in the literature (ART) was superior." - Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 1999

"ART seems fast, safe, and remarkably effective for injuries to muscles and connective tissues." - Men's Health 1999

"ART is nothing short of amazing. I don't think there's an athlete anywhere who couldn't benefit from it." - Muscle Media 2000, 1998