Active Release Techniques for Sports Injuries

Active Release Techniques for Sports Injuries


ART Claims to Help Treat Damaged Soft Tissue - Does It Work?

When they are not candidates for surgery, most victims of overuse injuries are referred to a physical therapist. They then follow a prescribed stretching and strengthening.

Developed in the 1980s by a P. Michael Leahy, a chiropractor in Colorado Springs, ART is a type of soft- tissue manipulation designed to treat repetitive strain injuries. The practice claims to break up scar tissue that entraps muscles, tendons, ligaments and nerves, allowing the injured person to regain pain-free, full range of motion. A key principle of ART is that patients are often required to move their limbs during treatment, hence the word “active”. Also, ART practitioners manipulate tissues longitudinally, while massage therapists apply lateral pressure to tissues..

Athletes Who Might Benefit From ART

ART was originally used to treat elite athletes, but since the mid 1990’s, the practice has become more mainstream. Karen Slota, a chiropractor and ART practitioner in Royal Oak, Mich., says most of her patients are bodybuilders and endurance athletes – both of whom are likely to sustain repetitive strain injuries. Typical candidates include runners and cyclists with injuries such as tendinitis and IT band syndrome, as well as swimmers with rotator cuff injuries. Slota says she also sees many endurance athletes on a preventative basis.

Does ART Work?

Unfortunately, very little research has been performed on ART. A 1998 University of California at San Diego study found that 71 percent of patients reported improvement after four weeks of receiving ART. However, only 7 percent said their pain was completely gone. Also, the study wasn’t randomized and did not use a control group.

More recent studies have looked at the effects of ART on specific parts of the body. A 2006 study published in the Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association found ART to be effective in helping treat lateral epicondylosis (tennis elbow). Another study, published in 2006 in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, found that ART increased hamstring flexibility in healthy male subjects.

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What to Expect

Imagine if chiropractic and massage therapy were to gain up on someone. This is what ART resembles. An ART practitioner palpates the patient to find problem areas and then applies direct tension while guiding the patient through various movements. For example, a patient might be asked to bring her knee to her chest, while the ART practitioner applies pressure to the pelvic area. More than 500 specific movements comprise a practitioner’s repertoire.

ART usually takes about six to 10 sessions, but this can vary depending on the severity of the injury and how long the patient has been injured. The treatment may be covered by insurance, based on state law and one’s insurance policy.

Finding a Practitioner

An ART practitioner must first be licensed or certified to perform soft-tissue treatment and then pass an ART training course. Courses are offered for the lower and upper extremities and spine. ART practitioners include chiropractors, physical therapists, massage therapists, athletic trainers and physicians. For a list of certified ART practitioners, visit www.activerelease.com/providersearch.asp.

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