Active Release Techniques® (ART) is a type of manual hands-on therapy that corrects muscular and soft tissue problems. Soft tissues are muscles, nerves, tendons, ligaments and the connective tissue that surrounds or contains them.

The ART® soft tissue management system is based on scientific evidence that muscles, nerves, blood vessels and connective tissue develop adhesions within, around and between them after acute or repetitive injuries.

Adhesions cause the motion of muscles and joints to be altered resulting in a wide variety of symptoms that characterize the cumulative injury cycle.

What is a Cumulative Injury?

A Cumulative Injury is a group of injuries to the muscles, tendons, bones, blood vessels, fascia and/or nerves. It is helpful to understand that cumulative injury results from acute injury, repetitive injury, or constant pressure/tension injury, all of which lead to what we term as the cumulative injury cycle. It is the existence of the cumulative injury cycle that separates this disorder from the other injuries of the neuromusculo-skeletal system.

Mechanism of Injury

The cumulative injury cycle can be started in three ways:

• acute injury

• repetitive injury

• constant pressure or tension.

Left uncorrected, they can lead to inflammation, adhesions/fibrosis, weak and tense tissues and decreased circulation all in a specific progression called the Cumulative Injury Cycle.

How Do I Know if I Have a Problem?

Our bodies are very adaptable; they have to be to survive. Our bodies protect us from damage with pain signals and repair damaged areas with scar tissue. Very often, we think we are "better" after the pain goes away, however, what has happened is the problem area "healed" with scar tissue. You probably will not be aware of the problem until a later date, maybe years from the original injury. You can recognize adhesion problems by loss of function. Loss of function could be a decrease in range of motion, weakness, stiffness, soreness and many other symptoms that many like to call "getting older." More accurately it's "getting stuck to yourself."

What Are Adhesions?

Our bodies contain special protein structures called connective tissue, also known as fascia. This substance connects each part to other parts and the whole, very much like a flexible skeleton. When this tissue is healthy it is smooth and slippery, allowing muscles, nerves, blood vessels or organs to move freely and function properly. Imagine a piece of scotch tape, the smooth side is healthy fascia, the sticky side is scar tissue or unhealthy fascia. Rub the tape along your skin, both sides, to "feel" what an adhesion is like. The drag that you feel, the 'pulling' sensation is what an adhesion is like. These adhesions attach to muscles decreasing their ability to work properly. You really know when you have an adhesion on a nerve; you get many abnormal sensations like numbness, tingling and pain.

What is the Purpose or Goal of Treatment?

The goal of treatment is to release adhesions from the soft tissues and to restore your body's highest possible function.

Does ART® Treatment Hurt?

Typically, treatments may be uncomfortable, as tissues are stretched, you may feel a burning sensation. This is an expected response. This stops immediately after treatment. There is no easy way to break up adhesions, stretching the soft tissues may cause discomfort. In rare cases some bruising can occur. You may also be sore for 24-36 hours after treatment. However you should also notice a 'loose' or 'freed up' feeling along with increased mobility.

What is the Difference Between ART® and Massage?

They may look and sound similar but the procedures are actually very different and the results they produce are very different. There are many types of massage; generally massage promotes relaxation and circulation. Neuromuscular massage gets more specific but it does not fix the soft tissue and make it work properly. ART® is a protocol specific for the correction of adhesions & scar tissues. Anyone who has had ART® can tell you.  IT IS NOT massage.

What Conditions May be Helped by ART®?

The cumulative injury cycle is self-perpetuating and as this downward spiral continues, the symptoms and syndromes of cumulative injury disorder are produced. These may include tendonitis, muscle pulls or strains, myofascitis, bursitis, trigger points, peripheral nerve entrapment, thoracic outlet syndrome, strength imbalances, poor flexibility, chronic muscle or joint pain and stiffness, and others. If you think you have tried it all and nothing has worked, you probably have not had ART®.

ART® Ironman Preformance Care