What is Active Release Technique (ART)?

Posted on By Alex Wasserman
Active Release Technique

You may have heard me (Dr. Wasserman) talk about A.R.T. also known as Active Release Technique. Well, what is it exactly?

Active Release Technique is a soft tissue/muscle technique designed to relieve tight and tender muscles. If you think that all a chiropractor does is adjust the spine, think again! We can also treat your muscles, tendons and ligaments. Some people are afraid or uncomfortable with the notion of “cracking” the spine and that’s perfectly okay! ART does no involve any cracking or popping of your joints and you can still get comfortable muscular relief without it!

Active Release Technique

I have been trained in ART for the last 5 years and has been certified in upper body, lower body, and spine techniques. If you’ve been a patient of mine then you probably have had ART and not even realized it! Something unique about ART is that it involves movement of the patient while performing the technique, hence the “active part.” Dr. P. Michael Leahy started Active Release Technique over 30 years ago. ART began when Dr. Leahy was working with elite athletes as a way to treat soft tissue disorders, so they could get back to optimal performance as quickly as possible. Dr. Leahy was an engineer in the Air Force and used the technical engineering knowledge he gained to apply similar techniques to treating the body after becoming a chiropractor in 1984.

In 1988 he began teaching the technique worldwide and gave chiropractors and physical therapist a new tool to treat soft tissue and sports injuries. When I started my career I knew that I wanted to focus on sports and rehabilitation and ART has been an invaluable tool in helping me treat athletes and non-athletes alike. ART is a sponsor and provider for Ironman Triathlon sporting events and providers are on staff to take care of athletes on site. I have also used this technique to treat desk workers and factory workers in corporate settings where employees often suffer repetitive-use injuries.

If this sounds like something that you are interested in, give us a call at 561-747-5234 and find out how we can help you overcome your injuries and get back to living your life comfortably and healthy!