Active Release Techniques

Active Release Techniques (A.R.T.) make us different than other healthcare offices. Active Release Techniques are patented, state-of-the-art soft tissue system/movement-based massage techniques that treat problems with muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia, and nerves. Many conditions treated in our office all have one important thing in common; they are a result of overused muscles.

Over-used muscles change in three important ways:

• Acute conditions (pulls, tears, collisions)
• Accumulation of small tears (repetitive motion)
• Not getting enough oxygen (prolonged contraction)

Each of these factors can cause your body to produce tough, dense scar tissue in the affected area. This scar tissue binds up and ties down tissues that need to move freely. As scar tissue builds up, muscles become shorter and weaker, tension on tendons can cause tendonitis, and nerves can become trapped. This can cause inflammation, reduced range of motion, loss of strength, and pain. If a nerve is trapped you may feel a deep ache, weakness or numbness and tingling.

Every A.R.T. session is actually a combination of examination and treatment. The A.R.T. provider uses his or her hands to evaluate the texture, tightness and movement of muscles, fascia, tendons, ligaments, and nerves. Abnormal tissues are treated by combining precisely directed tension with very specific patient movements.

These treatment protocols (over 500 specific moves) are unique to A.R.T. They allow providers to identify and correct the specific problems that are affecting each individual patient. A.R.T. is not a cookie-cutter approach.

 These soft tissue conditions are treated by applying specific tension and pressure with precise patient movement. During treatment patients often report a slight burning sensation similar to that felt while lifting weights. They often describe it as a “hurts so good” feeling or “I can feel it working!”

Doctor’s Weber, Kleene, and Wessels are trained and certified in this amazing technique.