What is Active Release Techniques?
What is Active Release Techniques®?
Dr. Sebastian Gonzales D.C., C.S.C.S., ART, Huntington Beach/ Fountain Valley California
Keywords: Active Release Techniques, ART, Michael Leahy, Sebastian Gonzales, most specific form of soft tissue work, adhesions, scar tissue, hypoxia, cumulative trauma disorders, law of repetitive motion, unsticking muscles, quick results, soft tissue injuries, nerve entrapment, carpal tunnel syndrome, sciatica, low back pain, chiropractic, professional athletes, good hurt, huntington beach, fountain valley, newport beach, huntington harbor___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
What is Active Release Techniques®?
What is considered a soft tissue injury?
What is a peripheral nerve entrapment?
Who uses Active Release Techniques®?
What does Active Release Techniques® feel like?
The History of Active Release Techniques®
Active Release Techniques® (ART®) is a patented, soft tissue system that treats problems with muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia, and nerves.It is the most advanced and specific form of treatment for most forms of soft tissue injuries.In fact, a full body certified Active Release provider must learn unique protocols for over 300 different muscles, ligaments, and tendons.Active Release Techniques® also holds the “miracle cure” for peripheral nerve entrapments by utilizing the Long Tract Nerve Entrapment Protocols®.In recent years, Active Release Techniques® has become the “Gold Standard” for soft tissue treatments and for that reason it has become the “treatment of choice” for world-class athletes from around the world.The success of the treatment speaks for itself.In the patent document, it states an “expert medical practitioner” who diagnosed soft tissue adhesions (scar tissue) in 447 of his patient found 418 of them (93.5%) had significant improvement from symptoms of numbness, tingling, burning, weakness, or restricted motion with in an average of 6.2 office visits.1
Active Release Techniques® is also an effective tool in treatment of soft tissue injuries suffered by non-athletes; many times yielding dramatic results with in a short duration of treatment. Sometimes complete resolution can be found in as little as 4-6 sessions. ART® works primarily to eliminate scar tissue build-up from within soft tissue structures.For example, with overuse injuries, although there is no single noticeable event that causes a muscles tear, small tears occur over the course of a long period of time.The body naturally heals these tears by using fibrous scar tissue.The problem with scar tissue is that when it is used by the body it is laid down in an unorganized, haphazard fashion, causing various adjacent structures to stick together.Active Release Techniques® has proven itself to be efficient at “unsticking” these muscles and releasing scar tissue.For this reason, many ART® providers can claim success rates upward to 90% in patients who have not found success from any other therapies, such as physical therapy, chiropractic, strength training, and stretching.All of these types of therapies are excellent in combination with Active Release Techniques®, but in some cases when used on there own only provided limited pain relief, here’s why.
Consider a paint brush as an example. A normal muscle and its fibers should be able to move independently of the other soft tissue structures surrounding it. When paint is left on the brush overnight all of the fibers tend to stick together. Soft tissue adhesions or fibrosis are essentially this, when muscle fibers stick to each other and other structures around it (other muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves etc.). Muscles cannot and will not function properly in this state and pain is one of the symptoms people may experience when enough build-up has accumulated. Fact is stretching will never release the scar tissue, which is several times stronger than normal tissue.Stretching and other types of non-operative treatment become successful after the scar tissue is released with Active Release Techniques®.
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What is considered a soft tissue injury?
Almost all injuries are primarily soft tissue in origin, with a bony component that follows.Here’s is a condensed list of some of the more common injuries which can successfully be treated with Active Release Techniques®: Achilles Tendonitis, Ankle Injuries, Back Pain, Compartment Syndrome, De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis, Foot Pain, Plantar Fasciitis, Frozen Shoulder (Adhesive Capsulitis), Golfer’s Elbow, Tennis Elbow, Hand Injuries, Headaches, Hip Pain, Iliotibial Band Syndrome (IT Band Syndrome), Knee Pain, Leg Injuries, Neck Pain, Repetitive Strain Injuries (Cumulative Trauma Disorders), Rotator Cuff Syndrome, Running Injuries, Shin Splints, Shoulder Pain, Tendonitis, Throwing Injuries, TMJ, Whiplash and Wrist Injuries
What is a peripheral nerve entrapment?
A peripheral nerve entrapment is a nerve that is stuck within soft tissue outside the central nervous system (i.e.: the brain and spinal cord).Many times a peripheral nerve entrapment is misdiagnosed as something more severe, such as a disc herniation, however frequently this is not the primary cause.Many times the ART Long Tract Nerve Entrapment Protocolsâ will resolve conditions with a “walk-in diagnosis” such as: Disc Herniations, Sciatica, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, Cervical Brachial Syndrome, Radial Nerve Entrapments (Radial Tunnel Syndrome), Ulnar Nerve Entrapments (Handle Bar Palsy), Grip Weakness, and Femoral Nerve Entrapments.This list can go on and on but the common symptoms that present in peripheral nerve entrapments are: shooting pain, numbing, tingling, and loss of strength.Although many of these conditions can be resolved with Active Release Techniques®, there is a slight possibility there is a serious underlying cause.
Who uses Active Release Techniques®?
Many people have come to know the effectiveness of Active Release Techniques®, including a number of famous people and sports teams: Actor Danny Glover, Gary Roberts (NHL Forward, North Carolina Hurricanes), Milos Sarcev (Mr. Universe 1989), The Denver Broncos, Seattle Seahawks, Atlanta Falcons, San Diego Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles (as well as most NFL teams), Bill Romanowski (NFL Player), The Toronto Raptors, The LA Lakers (and a number of other NBA teams), Anaheim Ducks (as well as most NHL teams), Majority of the Ultimate and MMA (mixed martial arts) Fighters, Numerous Olympic Medalists, such as Donovan Bailey and behind the scenes at “Dancing with the Stars.”
What does Active Release Techniques® feel like?
Treatment can be uncomfortable at times, during the process of breaking up adhesions but this pain will subside immediately after completion of a treatment session.It is not uncommon to experience a duplication of symptoms during the treatment as well; this is a good sign indicating the primary cause has been identified.Often times it is described as a “Good Hurt.”
Active Release Techniques® is non-invasive, very safe, has virtually no side effects, and has a record of producing very good results.It is common to experience a “different kind of soreness” for about 48 hours.
The History of Active Release Techniques®
Dr Michael Leahy, a Doctor of Chiropractic, based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, developed Active Release Techniques® (ART®).Prior to becoming a Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Leahy was an aeronautical engineer. Combining his engineering background, with his knowledge of human anatomy and soft-tissue treatment methodologies, Dr. Leahy formulated a unique and effective approach for dealing with soft-tissue injuries, now known as Active Release Techniques® or ART®.
For more on Active Release Techniques® or to find a provider in your area: www.activerelease.com
1) Leahy PM, Patterson T. Expert system soft tissue active motion technique for release of adhesions and associated apparatus for facilitating specific treatment modalities. Patent No. 6,283,916, Sept 4, 2001.
Dr. Sebastian Gonzales has been practicing Active Release Techniques® for over 5 years in Huntington Beach CA. Growing up in the Huntington Beach/ Fountain Valley/ Newport Beach area, he has made many contacts which has enabled him to treat athletes from local high schools and running groups.
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P2 Sports Care, previously Orange County Pain Management, has been serving Southern California for over 5 years. Although many of our patients live right in the city of Huntington Beach, many of them will come from a great distance to receive our Active Release Techniques®, Chiropractic Care, and Rehabilitation. Our customer service is second to none; our patients always come first. Even patients who are afraid of going to a chiropractor love our style of care.
Serving the cities of Orange, Irvine, Villa Park, Mission Viejo, Fountain Valley, Santa Ana, Newport Beach, Anaheim, Placentia, Yorba Linda, Costa Mesa, Stanton, Westminster, Buena Park, Aliso Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita, Lake Forest, Seal Beach, Long Beach, Sunset Beach, Fullerton, Brea, Laguna Hills, Tustin, and Huntington Beach.
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