ACTIVE RELEASE TECHNIQUES

In most cases, non-surgical treatment options are the solution to ending your pain and bringing you back to a full and healthy life. Dr. Herman will guide you through your best options for treatment, and if surgery or another form of care may be needed, he will refer you to the appropriate provider.
 

ACTIVE RELEASE TECHNIQUES

Active release techniques (ART) is a specific and advanced soft tissue system that treats problems with muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia, and nerves. Headaches, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, shin splints, shoulder pain, plantar fasciitis, knee problems, and tennis elbow are just a few of the many conditions that can be resolved quickly and permanently with ART. These conditions all have one important thing in common−they are often a result of overuse.

How do overuse 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 tendonitis, 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, or weakness.

For many, once a soft tissue injury occurs, the pain and dysfunction can occur and reoccur for years. With ART, however, because the texture, tension, and movement of the tissues are restored, your new or old pain that was thought to be permanent can be resolved and your function can be restored.

Dr. Herman uses his hands to evaluate the texture, tension, and movement of the tissues. Abnormal tissues are treated by combining precisely directed tension with very specific patient movements.

ART is not a cookie-cutter approach. There are over 500 specific treatment protocols unique to Active Release Techniques. Dr. Herman is able to identify and correct the specific problems that are affecting each individual patient.