How can Active Release Technique (A.R.T.) help me?

A.R.T. is an innovative and advanced method of treating soft tissues including muscle, fascia, tendons, ligaments, nerves and joints. A.R.T. is a highly successful treatment not only to athletes, but to anyone who leads an active life, sits at a computer all day or enjoys gardening. The treatment addresses the formation of fibrous adhesions that occur with the healing process, whether from an acute injury or sprain, or a chronic recurring pain or limitation. Many daily activities whether they be sport related, work or leisure can result in fibrous adhesion formation which hinders movement and function of muscles, soft tissues, nerves and joints.

Active release works for almost every part of the body and for a variety of injuries and conditions, some of which are listed below:

The symptoms associated with the above include aching, burning, tingling or numbness, sharp pain as well as tightness and weakness. The consequences of these injuries are loss of circulation and oxygen (tissue hypoxia), fibrous adhesion formation, and joint, muscle and tissue dysfunction. Included here is a diagram illustrating the self-perpetuating nature of these injuries. It is of interest that American federal statistics have shown a 670% increase in CID's in the past 5 years.

If you have questions about Active Release Technique (A.R.T.) and how it can help relieve your pain from repetitive use syndromes or sports injuries, contact Dr. Gary Olson at the Long Island Spine and Sports Injury Center. He serves the greater Commack and Suffolk County, New York, area.

Diagnosis - How do I know I have this problem?

Diagnosis of the correct soft tissue injury is important for a high success rate in treatment.

A.R.T. uses a 3 part diagnosis:

1. The nature of the injury must be identified such as a tear, adhesion, or myofascitis.
2. The exact tissue, joint, muscle or nerve must be identified. This is done through palpation (touch), orthopedic and chiropractic tests.
3. Lastly, the syndrome it causes must be identified. Examples include facet syndrome, subluxation complex, rotator cuff syndrome, carpal tunnel, thoracic outlet, headache, etc.

Correlating this three part diagnosis with your health history and information related to biomechanics enables a certified A.R.T. provider to begin treatment that is specific and effective. Examples of biomechanical information include:

1. Gait analysis (walking or running)
2. Ergonomic evaluation (desk or work station assessment)
3. Activities of daily living - Understanding limitations

Research and A.R.T.

Vert Mooney MD, of the University of California San Diego, is leading research for the A.R.T. organization. Preliminary studies have shown A.R.T. to be more effective than conventional treatments for some soft tissue injuries. The Colorado Division of Labor has made A.R.T. the standard of care before any surgical intervention. A.R.T. is now provided at the University of Toronto Sports Medicine Clinic.