Active Release Techniques
(A.R.T.)
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ART is a patented soft tissue system that treats injuries to muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia, and nerves.  Headaches, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, shin splints, shoulder pain, sciatica, plantar fascitis , knee pain, and tennis elbow are just a few of the common conditions that can be resolved quickly and permanently with ART.  These conditions all have one common denominator; they often occur from repetitive stress or tension. 

How do repetitive stress injuries occur?

Repetitive stress and tissue tension results in 3 major pathological changes in the tissue: 

• Lack of oxygen and nutrition (hypoxia)

• Accumulation of small tears (micro-trauma)

• Acute strains, sprains, and tears

These changes in your body’s soft tissue will cause your body to produce dense, fibrotic scar tissue and adhesions within the fibers.  This scar tissue will bind up and restrict sections of the muscles from moving freely and firing efficiently.  These tissues then become shorter and weaker which results in tendonitis and peripheral nerve entrapments.  This can lead to decreased range of motion, weakness, pain, and tingling/numbness.

What is an ART treatment? 

Every ART session begins with a comprehensive evaluation.  All tissues that are under adverse tension and restriction need to be released and restored to normal function.  The clinician needs to accurately assess the tissue texture for abnormal tension and evaluate the mobility of muscles, fascia, tendons, ligaments and nerves.  The pathological restrictions and adhesions are released by combining precisely directed manual tension with the correct movement. 

How does ART differ from
traditional manual tissue therapy? 

ART has over 500 specific protocols to release every possible site of tissue restriction in the body. Unlike general massage or simple stretching, it localizes soft tissue mobilization to individual segments of adhesion, scarring or tension.