What is ART?
Active Release Techniques Soft Tissue treatment (ART) is a manual therapy administered by trained professionals to certain soft tissue structures of the body. ART is a state of the art, patented, soft tissue system that is movement based. The technique is used to treat problems that involve tendons, muscles, ligaments, fascia, and nerves.
The Active Release Technique uses the examiners hands to apply the technique. The ART soft tissue management system is based on scientific evidence that muscles, nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue develop adhesions within and between them from various injuries that include: acute (sudden injury), cumulative (chronic injury) and pressure (due to poor posture). These adhesions cause the motion of muscles or joints to be altered, resulting in a wide variety of symptoms including pain, weakness and reduced range of motion, numbness and tingling.
ART is generally performed with direct contact from the doctor to the patient’s skin. The practitioner will find the area to be worked on and either have the patient actively move a body part or passively move the body part for the patient. The practitioner’s contact, coupled with the movement of the patient, allows the adhesions to separate.
The treatment protocols are unique to the Active Release Technique since it has over 500 specific moves. They allow providers to identify and correct the specific problems that are affecting each individual patient.
Active Release Techniques go into the area of adhesion in order to break up the scar tissue creating the pain and/or dysfunction. Since these sights are very sensitive to begin with, ART may create some discomfort described by many patients as a “good hurt”. However, pressure is never applied beyond the patient’s tolerance.
Dr. Petersen knows how to use the ART treatment and will use it when it is appropriate for the patient and their issue.