Active Release Techniques® (ART) is a revolutionary form of soft-tissue therapy that assists in treating pain related to nerves, ligaments, muscles, tendons, and fascia. It was designed to quickly and effectively treat a multitude of conditions resulting from the over-use of muscles such as: plantar fasciitis, shoulder pain, back pain, shin splints, sciatica, tennis elbow, runner’s knee, muscle strains, headaches, TMJ pain, thoracic outlet syndrome, tendinitis, and much more. Denver Pain and Performance Solutions employs ART to treat the wide variety of dysfunctions mentioned above and more.
How Does a Muscle Become ‘Over-Used’?
Muscles changed over time from these three primary contributing factors:
- Pulls, tears, and heavy impacts all contribute to acute conditions.
- Small tears, or micro-trauma, that accumulate over time and repeated use.
- Lack of oxygen reaching the muscles.
When these factors come together, your body responds by developing dense scar tissue to protect the muscles, tendons, and ligaments. While this scar tissue was intended by your body to be protective, it actually can cause problems; it locks down the tissues and restricts their movement causing pain and limited range of motion. Muscles become weaker and shorter. Tendons experience greater tension and develop tendinitis (inflammation). Nerves become entrapped, often causing numbness and tingling. Motion is reduced significantly, strength deteriorates, and pain becomes chronic. Many athletes try to push through this pain, but that can often make the issues worse and lead to longer recovery times.
What is ART® Treatment?
Each of our Active Release Techniques sessions combines thorough examination and comprehensive treatment. The ART practitioner will use his/her hands to assess the state of muscles, ligaments, fascia, and tendons. Any imbalances or abnormalities in regards to lack of motion or presence of scar tissue will be noted, and treatment on those groups may occur on the spot or, if it’s necessary, your practitioner will outline an ongoing therapy program to address this issue safely and effectively.
We understand that no two patients are the same. ART is NOT a cookie-cutter treatment. We employ over five-hundred unique moves (specific to ART) to benefit the patient in as little time as possible. Remember, it is not our goal to bring you back repeatedly for treatments – we want you to be pain-free and out the door as little as one visit if possible!
Your practitioner is there to answer any questions or concerns you have throughout the entire process. We want you to understand how your body responds to injury or over-use, not only to help you understand why we are using certain treatment techniques but also to help you prevent future injuries and imbalances.
The History of Active Release Techniques
Dr. P. Michael Leahy developed ART after realizing that his patients’ symptoms often correlated to physiological soft tissue transformations felt by his hands. He observed the responses of the muscles, ligaments, fascia, and tendons to various treatment techniques and documented the success of each method. Over time, Dr. Leahy’s library of knowledge and skilled application of these highly specialized techniques allowed him to consistently resolve 90% of the problems of his patients. Realizing that these techniques are highly effective to treat a multitude of conditions, he sought out to take this knowledge to the world. Thus, Active Release Techniques were born. Currently, Dr. Leahy teaches and provides certification for healthcare providers around the world to use ART in their own practices. Throughout this process, he’s witnessed the transformation and success of his system and the changed lives of patients and athletes who have benefited from his approach.
Denver Pain & Performance Solutions is a certified provider of Active Release Techniques, and we’re available to answer any further questions you may have. Our goal is to eliminate your pain and optimize your performance in as few visits as possible! Call our office today at (303) 808-2310 to schedule an appointment or ask any questions. We look forward to hearing from you!