Active Release Technique, or ART, is a soft tissue diagnosis and treatment system developed by Dr. P. Michael Leahy. He originally developed it to treat a class of injuries known as cumulative trauma disorders, such as carpal tunnel syndrome. Over the years, it has become clear that ART is useful for a full range of soft tissue problems, including rotator cuff injuries, nerve entrapments, sprains, strains, and for enhancement of athletic performance. This last use has become so popular that there is an ART tent at every Ironman event.
Active Release Technique is designed to release the scar tissue that is preventing your joints, nerves, and muscles from moving the way they were intended to. Generally, it is a good thing if the treatment reproduces the symptoms to some extent because this confirms we are dealing with the source of the problem. Sometimes this is more uncomfortable than others, but the treatment, like any kind of treatment, is always geared to the patient.
Active Release has been used by a large number of elite athletes, including mixed martial artist Frank Shamrock, and body builder Miloš Šarcev. For more information, please visit
www.activerelease.com.