Active Release Techniques

Active Release Techniques® (ART®) or also known as Active Release Therapy is considered the gold standard in soft tissue healthcare and is frequently used by our team of Chiropractic doctors.

More than 30 years ago, Dr. Leahy combined his experience as a chiropractor and his knowledge of engineering, anatomy, and biomechanics to pioneer the ART® protocol for resolving soft tissue complaints.

Unlike other soft tissue treatment options, ART® therapy utilizes muscle tension and soft tissue knowledge to address muscular adhesions and scar tissue that result in pain.

As a result, ART® therapy works rapidly, often reducing pain by as much as 90% in four treatment sessions.

Active Release Techniques is a patented hands-on treatment approach that addresses injuries to a muscle, tendon, ligament, nerve and the surrounding soft tissue.  

What does Active Release Techniques treat?

Active Release Techniques is known to effectively treat many conditions including:

• Shoulder Pain
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Shin splints
• Tendonitis
• Sciatica
• Headaches
• Plantar Fasciitis
• Tennis Elbow

All of these conditions and others are a result of overuse conditions. 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 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.

At Movement Performance & Health, Dr. Madhu Brar-Hayer will use 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.