Cumming Chiropractor explains active release technique, A new form of chiropractic treatment

"This hip pain is killing me. I can’t function properly. I have tried stretches, yoga, pain clinics, and medications, but nothing is relieving the pain. What can I do to get rid of the pain?"

In 2008, according to the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, 100 million adults in the United States were affected by chronic pain including joint and arthritis pain. Many people will go to their primary care physician when they are in pain, where they are given painkillers to help decrease the pain and/or relax their muscle(s); however, these pain solutions do not get to the root cause of the pain.

What if I told you that I have a solution for your pain that doesn’t involve pain pills or injections? The solution is Active Release Technique, aka ART.

What is Active Release Technique (ART), you ask?

Great question! ART is soft tissue work based on active range of movement to break up adhesions and "educate" the muscle(s) to restore proper movement and function.  This technique is done through the use of the practitioner's hands, thumbs, and fingers.

​ART was designed over 30 years ago by a chiropractor, Dr. P. Michael Leavy, who specializes in treating elite athletes. He discovered that by treating the athlete’s soft tissue injuries and/or disorders that they healed faster and performed better. In 1988, Dr. Leavy started his first seminar to teach other chiropractors and providers his technique. Currently, there are over 10,000 ART providers in the world. 

What can Active Release Technique (ART) treat? ​

ART is designed to treat any kind of overused or repetitive injury that has caused fibrous adhesions in the muscle. In addition, ART can treat headaches, back pain, sciatica, and more. The common trait that all these conditions have is that the muscle(s) are being overused and/or being shortened. This prevents proper function and movement.  ​​

​Is this technique only for athletes?

Although, many people on the US Olympic team spoke about having ART done for their sport event, ART is really for anyone. You will see more athletes receive ART due to the benefits of increased flexibility and strength; however, the technique is for anyone with soft tissue injury and/or disorder.  

I had back and/or knee surgery, but I’m still in pain. Can ART still help me? ​​

Yes, ART can help you. If an individual has had back and/or knee surgery, ART will break up the scar tissue that is behaving like glue to the muscles preventing your healthy muscles to function properly. In addition, the scar tissue can cause a nerve to be pinched, pulled, or trapped, which will lead to pain and/or discomfort.
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Where do I go to get ART? You can come to see one of our Cumming chiropractors at Thrive Health Systems. Our Cumming chiropractors have experience in ART and would love to help you get out of pain and live a pain free life. If you would like to learn more about ART and how it can help that back pain, sciatica, or shoulder pain, please call (770) 667-0099 to book a free consultation with our Cumming Chiropractors.  ​