Release Your Pain: 2nd Edition - EBOOK. Dr. Brian James Abelson DC.

tool and methodology for effectively addressing the soft-tissue injury epidemic that is rapidly overtaking our health care system.

      As a hands-on technique, ART provides the means for both diagnosing and treating the underlying causes of both cumulative trauma disorders and soft-tissue conditions. These disorders often result in symptoms of weakness, numbness, tingling, burning, aching, and a variety of other physical dysfunctions.

      The goal of ART is to:

       Restore optimal tissue texture, tension, and movement.

       Restore the strength, flexibility, function, and relative translation between soft-tissue layers.

       Release any soft-tissue restrictions, entrapped nerves, restricted circulatory structures, or lymphatic restrictions.

      ART is based upon a thorough understanding of anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics. It is easily supported by science and logic. As a dynamic technique, its practitioners are actively involved in finding new and better ways of improving upon ART’s already impressive outcomes.

ART is a Hands-on Technique

      ART is a ‘hands-on’ treatment and requires a great deal of tactile sensitivity in order to locate, treat, and feel the release of soft-tissue restrictions and nerve impingements. During any ART treatment, the practitioner must literally feel soft-tissue structures as they translate and glide over and through each other. For example, ART requires the practitioner to feel a nerve as it translates or moves through a muscle or other soft tissue.

      To effectively treat soft-tissue restrictions, injuries, and chronic pain, ART alters the tissue structures by breaking up the restrictive cross-fibre adhesions (which cause adjacent tissues to stick together) and restores normal function to the soft-tissue areas.

      ART protocols allow soft-tissue layers (that were once restricted) to move freely over each other, and help to correct a wide range of myofascial and nerve entrapment syndromes.

The History of ART

      Active Release Techniques (ART) was developed, refined, and patented by Dr. P. Michael Leahy, DC, CCSP, a Doctor of Chiropractic, based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and the founder of Champion Health Clinic.

      Dr. Leahy noticed that his patients’ symptoms seemed to be related to changes in their soft tissues. He found that he could feel the changes in soft tissues when they became restricted or adhesed.

      By observing how muscles, fascia, tendons, ligaments, and nerves responded to different types of soft-tissue work, Dr. Leahy was able to develop a treatment system that consistently resolved over 90% of his patients’ problems.

      Dr. Leahy began developing and documenting Active Release Techniques in 1985 under the initial name of Myofascial Release. He used these methods and protocols to treat his patients more effectively and efficiently. Since then, the technique has been patented under the name Active Release Techniques, and is widely taught and practiced around the world.

      Active Release Techniques has expanded at a phenomenal rate. This methodology is now taught throughout Canada, the United States, England, Norway, Sweden, France, Italy, Brazil, and Australia, with new courses being added each year. Practitioners come from around the world to learn and practice this technique. The technique itself continues to evolve and grow as the results of ongoing clinical trials are continually incorporated into its methodology.

About Dr. P. Michael Leahy

      Dr. P. Michael Leahy:

       Is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and served as a fighter pilot and test pilot.

       Has a background in aeronautical engineering.

       Graduated Summa Cum Laude and Valedictorian of Los Angeles College of Chiropractic in 1984 and became a Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician in 1986.

       Has been proudly serving patients in the Colorado Springs area for over 20 years.

       Teaches ART around the world to practitioners from many different health care disciplines. His efforts have helped to improve the performance of many professional and world-class athletes in sports varying from golf, hockey, football, and weightlifting to multiple Olympic sports.

      Aside from helping athletes, Dr. Leahy developed and published The Law of Repetitive Motion and The Cumulative Injury Cycle -page 9 which have helped to redefine the prevention and treatment of work-related injuries.

The Research behind Active Release Techniques

      When we released the first edition of this book, we had very little in the way of hard statistical evidence to support our enthusiasm and belief in this technique. In those days, ART’s success was supported more by anecdotal information and sports celebrity testimonials than by hard facts. As many of us know – in the world of research – data is everything, and testimonials mean very little or nothing. Medical practitioners, and the insurance companies that pay for these procedures, want real data – not speculation. We are happy to be able to say that now, with the implementation of ART Corporate Solutions, this has changed.

      ART Corporate Solutions is the unit of ART that provides on-site ART treatments for corporations. ART currently provides these services at over 150 mid-sized to large corporations in the United States. With the implementation of the ART Corporate Solutions, ART has collected impressive data about the effectiveness of ART. Some of these companies have already saved millions of dollars in Workers’ Compensation claims. In addition, several independent research projects have been conducted, and have shown remarkable positive results.

      There is still a continued need for more independent research to be conducted, but this is an incredible step forward in validating the effectiveness of ART. Bottom line, ART’s successes are no longer documented by personal testimonials, but have now moved into the world of statistical analysis and hard data. ART works, and it has the data to back it up!

      See the ART Corporate Solutions website (www.artcorpsolutions.com) for more information.

Who Can Provide ART Treatments?

      Proficiency at ART takes a long time to develop. Training is hands-on. The right touch is the most difficult aspect to learn, and takes a strong commitment of time, effort, and resources.

      ART should only be provided by an ART-certified, soft-tissue specialist, who has been trained in all the ART clinical protocols and treatment techniques. To receive training in Active Release Techniques, an ART practitioner must already be a trained medical specialist such as a:

       Chiropractor

       Physiotherapist

       Registered Massage Therapist

       Occupational Therapist

       Sports Medicine Practitioner

      The actual training for Active Release Techniques is divided into several modules: Upper Extremity, Lower Extremity, Spine, Biomechanics Certification, Long Tract Nerve Entrapment Courses, Active Palpation, Diagnosis, and Master ART Courses. Even then, after taking all of these initial courses, it takes 2 to 3 years of practice for the practitioner to develop a high level of proficiency.

      So, in this and other books, when we speak about achieving 90% success rate with ART, we are referring to practitioners who have taken all these courses, who have taken the time to develop clinical experience, and who have maintained their annual re-certification.

      When you