Active Release Therapy (ART)

ART is a movement based massage technique that treats soft tissue problems with muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia and nerves. Our provider’s incorporate manual therapy release techniques with most treatments. In an active manual therapy session, the 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.

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 treated with active manual soft tissue work. These conditions all have one thing in common: they are often a result of overused muscles.

Overused soft tissues occur in three ways: acute conditions (pulls, tears, collisions, etc), accumulation of small tears (micro-trauma), not getting enough oxygen (hypoxia). These injuries further 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.

Treatment protocols are individualized to the patient. There are over 500 specific moves unique to ART. They allow providers to identify and correct the specific problems that are affecting each individual patient.