Frequently Asked Questions

• What are adhesions
• What are scar tissues
• ART Vs Massage
• Who provides ART
• Who can benefit from ART
• What is the treatment like
• Will the condition return
• How does ART improve performance

What is a Sprain?

Sprains are injuries to the tough ropelike fibers (ligaments) that connect bone to bone. If you have a severe sprain, your symptoms may not feel that much different from those you would have with a broken bone. Sprains are graded by degree of severity.

A first-degree sprain stretches the ligaments but does not tear them.

Signs and symptoms:

1.              Mild to moderate swelling.

2.              A stable joint that does not feel loose, sloppy or wobbly.

3.              Normal movement with minimal pain.

A second-degree sprain creates partially tears in the ligaments.

Signs and symptoms

1.              A pop or snap may or heard at the time of the injury.

2.              Moderate to severe pain.

3.              Restricted movement and swelling.

4.              Immediate bruising

5.              Mild to moderate instability.

6.              Joint does not function normally.

A third-degree sprain completely tears the ligaments

Signs and symptoms:

1.              A pop or snap felt or heard at the time of the injury.

2.              Mild to severe pain (pain is sometimes less in a complete tear than in a partial tear).

3.              Severe swelling and bruising (often, but not always).

4.              An unstable joint (feels wobbly or loose).

5.              A grating sound or feeling.

6.              A bulge (sometimes) at the site of a complete tear.

7.              A change in sensation, such as numbness or tingling.

Recovery time for a sprain can vary, depending patient age, general health of the patient and the severity of the sprain. One major factor is how quickly a patient receives first aid. The sooner first aid can be administered the better. A minor sprain in a healthy person may heal in a few days to a few weeks. A severe sprain can take several months to heal and may never heal completely, resulting in long-term pain, limited movement, deformity and instability of the joint and repeated injuries. ART has a 90% success rate in treating injuries to ligaments.  First aid for a sprain includes: (RICE) Rest (immobilization), Ice, Compression, and Elevation. Minor sprains often heal well with home treatment, however moderate to severe sprains require immediate ART treatments, possibly a cast or splint, physical therapy, medication, and/or surgery if severe enough. It is always best to soak the injured area in an iced bath when and if possible.   

What are Adhesions?

Our bodies contain special protein structures called Fascia (a type of connective tissue). Fascial tissue interconnects all the components of your body, and acts as a flexible skeleton. When this tissue is healthy, it is smooth and slippery, allowing the muscles, nerves, blood vessels, and organs to move freely and function properly.Imagine a piece of scotch tape, the smooth side is healthy fascia, the sticky side is scar tissue or unhealthy fascia. Try rubbing both sides of the tape along your skin. The smooth side slips easily across your skin. The sticky side drags across your skin. The drag that you feel, the "pulling" sensation is how an adhesion affects the smooth functioning of your body.

A good way to picture what happens to the tissues when injured, is to think of a paint brush with the paint left in the bristles over night. All the bristles in the brush adhere or stick together and you no longer can use the brush. The body sticks the tissues together and creates scars in the tissues. Adhesions attach to muscles, decreasing their ability to work properly. You know you have an adhesion on a nerve if you get many abnormal sensations like numbness, tingling, or pain.

What is the difference between ART and Massage?

The procedures used by Massage are very different from ART, and produce different results than ART.There are many types of massage, but most massage techniques promote relaxation and circulation. Neuromuscular Massage is a little more specific but it does not correct soft tissue problems to make them work properly.In contrast, the ART protocol specifically designed to remove adhesions and scar tissues, and restore full range of motion to the tissues and joints.

Proficiency at ART takes a long time to develop. Training is hands on. The right touch is the most difficult aspect learn, and takes a strong commitment of time ,effort, and resources. There is a small but growing number of ART providers who have been personally trained by Dr. Leahy. ART is rapidly becoming THE treatment choice for top athletes.There are many people who claim to practice the Active Release Technique. However the only individuals who are legally allowed to make this claim are those have undergone rigorous training and testing with Dr. Mike Leahy. Accredited individuals must have attend a 4 day workshop and passed both the written and practical examination with a greater than 90% proficiency.To maintain ART accreditation, providers must pass yearly evaluation. Check out Dr. Leahy's web site at www.lvipr.com to make sure that your selected practitioner is a currently accredited ART practitioner. Dr. Petrick is an ART instructor his accredited in all levels of certification.

ART can help everyone, from the athlete, office worker, to the home keeper.Many professional athletes have come to regard ART very highly for it almost miraculous treatment of serious injuries. Big names like Donovan Bailey, Olympic gold medalist and Gary Roberts, a hockey player, have benefited from ART and its ability to improve performance.Gary Roberts was initially unable to return to hockey after two neck surgeries failed to correct his dizzy spells. He credits Dr. Leahy and ART with correcting the problem, and for allowing to return to Hockey.If you have any type of repetitive strain injury (RSI) ART should be your first choice.

ART is not a magic medical bullet or a cure-all. Active Release Techniques is non-invasive, very safe, has virtually no side effects, and has a record of producing very good results.Treatments can feel uncomfortable during the movement phases as the scar tissue or adhesions "break up". This discomfort is temporary and subsides almost immediately after the treatment. It is common to feel a duplication of your pain symptoms during the treatment (a good indication that the problem has been identified).Treatments take about 8-15 minutes for area treated and may require 3 to 6 visits. Patients report that "It hurts good".

Usually, the changes are permanent, but ultimately the answer depends on the patient compliance with post care recommendations. "If you keep doing what your doing, you keep getting what your getting". This is especially true for those suffering from repetitive strain injuries(RSI) or cumulative trauma injuries.

• Repetition of injury causing behavior or activities will cause the problem to reoccur.
• An important part of ART treatments are the recommendations for activity modification, stretching, and exercises.
• Each patient should commit to carrying out these suggestions to obtain the best results.  

How does ART Improve Performance?

Performance of any task from golfing, typing, running, swimming, etc. can improve significantly with ART treatments. Restoring proper muscle function and movement enables the body to perform at its most efficient level. Reaction times are also able to be improved as muscle function is improved. ART allows the body to do what you ask of it, when you need it!

• Weak and Tight Tissues Repetitive effort, for example, tends to make muscles tighten. A tight muscle tends to weaken; a weak muscle tends to tighten. And on it goes.
• Friction - Pressure - Tension As a result of weak and tight tissues, internal forces rise. Friction, pressure, or tension can be present at the same time.
• Decreased Circulation - Edema increased forces on tissues results in decreased circulation. Edema results if pressure is applied over one of the vulnerable, low-pressure lymphatic channels.
• External forces -- in the form of a constant pressure or tension injury -- may also decrease circulation or cause edema.
• Adhesion - Fibrosis adhesions can occur as a result of acute injury, repetitive motion, and constant pressure or tension.
• Cellular Hypoxia -  From restricted circulation, causes fibrosis and adhesions to occur between tissues.

• X-rays: Plain X-rays can reveal narrowing of the space between two spinal bones, arthritis-like diseases, tumors, slipped discs, narrowing of the spinal canal, fractures and instability of the spinal column. 
• MRI: Magnetic resonance imaging is a noninvasive procedure that can reveal the detail of neural (nerve-related) elements.
• Myelography/CT scanning: Sometimes used as an alternative to MRI
• Electro diagnostic studies: Electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction velocity (NCV) are sometimes used to diagnosis neck and shoulder pain, arm pain, numbness and tingling.

What can you take to help with the pain.