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Active Release Techniques® (ART®)

ART is an elite soft-tissue management system developed by Dr. P. Michael Leahy. It is one of the most well-known and wildly popular bodywork techniques in the world today. It is especially popular among athletes, both amateur and professional. ART quickly and efficiently mobilizes adhered or fibrotic tissues and entrapped nerves, affording immediate and lasting results.
Active Release Technique (ART) treatment at The Body Mechanic in Santa Rosa, CA
Active Release Technique (ART) treatment at The Body Mechanic in Santa Rosa, CA
Manual therapy and bodywork at The Body Mechanic in Santa Rosa, CA

How Does ART Work?

ART works by breaking up and mobilizing unhealthy, fibrotic tissues in the body. Sometimes, due to inflammation, stress, tension etc., tissues will become adhered to other tissues (e.g. muscles adhered to other muscles or nerves adhered to fascia). Through a combination of pressure and tension by the practitioner and movement (usually active) on the part of the client, these adhesions are resolved and fibrotic tissue and scar tissue are broken up. This affords the body a full range of motion and allows for restoration of strength and function.

As the name suggests, ART makes use of active patient movements during releases. This not only yields better results, but makes the work more comfortable for the client. The Body Mechanic is one of the most highly-trained and experienced Active Release Techniques providers in Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, CA.

The benefits of ART include:

There are many common conditions from repetition-induced stress that ART is intended to treat. Overused muscles result in tears, pulls, strain, and may even not receive enough oxygen (hypoxia). This technique targets the root cause of the problem rather than focusing on mere pain relief. While pain relief is one of the by-products, clients report long-lasting improvements in flexibility and reduced tissue stress after even one session.
Manual therapy and bodywork at The Body Mechanic in Santa Rosa, CA

These conditions sometimes occur because scar tissue builds up on an over-worked muscle. This tissue does not simply ‘flush out’ or disappear. It continues to increase and create restriction in a person’s movement. This condition can result in trapped nerves (the sufferers may experience a tingling sensation, burning, shooting pain or weakness), reduced range of motion, muscle or joint pain, and altered movement patterns.

Manual therapy and bodywork at The Body Mechanic in Santa Rosa, CA
While the essence of strength training is the stimulation of muscular activity, when there is imbalance in the body (or when exercises are done improperly), the road to chronic joint and muscle pain is unfortunately short. Routine ART sessions can prevent these issues from occurring in the first place and resolve them once they have. Thomas will work with you to prevent adhesions from forming while assessing and resolving existing pain and dysfunction.
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