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Active Release Techniques
Saturday, 29 November 2008 16:16

Woman Running on TrailDr. Barone is a certified Active Release Techniques® (ART®) practitioner.

ART® is a movement-based massage technique for treating problems with muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia and nerves. Headaches, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, shin splints, shoulder pain, sciatica, plantar fasciitis, knee problems, and tennis elbow are just a few of the many conditions that can be resolved quickly and permanently (effectiveness varies for each patient).

How do these conditions occur?

Over-used muscles (and other soft tissues) change in three important ways:
  • acute conditions (pulls, tears, collisions, etc),
  • accumulation of small tears (micro-trauma)
  • not getting enough oxygen (hypoxia).
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 causes tendinitis, and nerves can become trapped. This can cause reduced range of motion, loss of strength, and pain. If a nerve is trapped you may also feel tingling, numbness, and weakness.

What is a Treatment Like?

Every session is actually a combination of examination and treatment. The hands are used 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.

How Many Sessions will I Need?

Your treatment plan will be personalized for you. Most patients are treated semi-weekly for two to three weeks (4-6 sessions) in their initial phase, and less frequently during the supportive and maintenance phases.

What will I be told to do at home?

Some forms of home therapy complement your ART® sessions. You will be prescribed one or two stretches which are to be performed 5-10 times daily, for about 30 seconds to one minute each. If you are in pain you will likely be asked to ice the affected area for 10 to 15 minutes (no more than once per hour) two or three times per day. The application of heat is almost never recommended.

Last Updated on Saturday, 07 March 2009 12:22
 
 

Feedback:

Davide Granata
Date: May 12, 2009

Ever see that commercial with the wooden string puppet and he's dancing on the screen and all of a sudden he turns around and there are 5 needles in his back and he's hunched over in pain? Well foget Robaxin and try Dr Gary Barone!!! You will not be disappointed. Quick, friendly, professional service and its all drug free.