Active Release TechniquesWhat is Active Release Technique® (ART)?ART® is a patented, state of the art soft tissue system/movement based massage technique, developed, refined, and patented by Dr. Michael Leahy, DC, CCSP. ART® specifically addresses problems associated with muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia and nerves. 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 with ART®. These conditions all have one important thing in common: they are often a result of overused muscles.
How do overuse conditions occur?
Over-used muscles (and other soft tissues) change in three important ways:
1. Acute conditions (pulls, tears, collisions, etc) 2. Accumulation of small tears (micro-trauma) 3. 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.