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Active Release Technique

A.R.T.

Excel Physical Therapy & Fitness has more certified ART® providers than any physical therapy practice on the East Coast. Each of our eight locations has at least one certified ART® therapist.

WHAT IS A.R.T.?

Active Release Technique® (or ART®) is a patented manual therapy technique that corrects soft tissue restrictions that lead to pain and decreased mobility. Combined with traditional rehabilitation activities, this technique is producing extraordinary functional outcomes with patients.

WHO CAN BENEFIT?

Patients with repetitive use injuries, frozen shoulder, tendinopathy, carpal tunnel syndrome, plantar fasciitis, rotator cuff pathology, restricted joint motion and sprains/strains are examples of diagnoses that respond well to ART®. Usually a patient will see significant results within just a few visits. ART® is not only the treatment of choice for high performance athletes and workers’ compensation managers, but also for top sports medicine physicians in the tri-state area.

A.R.T. CERTIFICATION

Intensive training is required to become certified. Practitioners learn how to evaluate the restriction and movement of soft tissues in order to assess the pathology. They are taught over 500 specific manual therapy techniques that combine precisely directed manual tension of soft tissues with specific patient movements. Only certified ART® practitioners can legally provide this technique.

 

“I refer most of my patients diagnosed with soft tissue conditions to ART providers. ART provides my patients with effective and lasting results. My patients and I are grateful to our ART providers.” ­-Dr. Linda Silveira, M.D

Frequently Asked Questions on A.R.T.

Click here to find a Certified A.R.T. provider near you

Functional Movement Screen

F.M.S.

The FMS was developed by a physical therapist, Gray Cook, and athletic trainer, Lee Burton to identify limitations and inefficient movement patterns. It is a ranking and grading system that documents movement patterns that are key to normal function. The screen consists of seven movements which  combine coordination, mobility and stability. As the client is put through these movement patterns, asymmetries and limitations are easily identified.These are issues that can reduce the effects of functional training and physical conditioning and distort body awareness. The FMS generates the Functional Movement Screen Score, which is used to target problems and track progress. This scoring system is directly linked to the most beneficial corrective exercises to restore mechanically sound movement patterns.

Corrective Strategies - The FMS can be applied at any fitness level, simplifying corrective strategies of a wide array of movement issues. It identifies specific exercises based on individual FMS scores to instantly create customized treatment plan.

Benefits:

• Discover hidden weaknesses

• Prevent injury and promote durability    

• Build balanced fitness

• Magnify fitness potential

• Creates a functional baseline to mark progress

• Provides a means to measure performance

Exercise professionals monitor the FMS score to track progress and to identify those exercises that will be most effective to restore proper movement and build strength in each individual.

McKenzie

The McKenzie Method

The McKenzie Method is more than extension exercises. McKenzie is a comprehensive approach to spine rehabilitation based on mechanical diagnosis and therapy. Most remarkable, but least appreciated, is the McKenzie assessment process.

Assessment: Unique to the McKenzie Method is a well-defined algorithm that leads to the simple classification of spinal-related disorders. It is based on a "cause and effect" relationship between pain behavior as well as the pain response to repeated test movements, positions and activities during the assessment process. The end result is the underlying disorder can be quickly identified through objective testing in correlation with subjective information. The McKenzie classification of spinal pain provides a consistent means of classifying patients to determine appropriate treatment.

Three mechanical syndromes:

• Postural: End-range stress of normal structures
• Dysfunction: End-range stress of shortened structures (such as scarring, fibrosis, nerve root adherence)
• Derangement: Anatomical disruption or displacement within the motion segment (most commonly the disc)

All three mechanical syndromes occur in the cervical, thoracic and lumbar regions of the spine. Each distinct syndrome is addressed with mechanical procedures utilizing movement and positions.

Treatment: McKenzie treatment emphasizes education and patient involvement. This promotes rapid restoration of function and independence. It minimizes the number of visits to the clinic because the patient is self-treating when appropriate. If a problem is more complex, self-treatment may not be possible right away. A certified McKenzie clinician will know when to provide additional advanced hands-on techniques until the patient can successfully manage the condition on their own.

Ultimately, most patients can successfully treat themselves when provided with the necessary knowledge and tools. An individualized self-treatment program tailored to the lifestyle of the patient puts the patient in control safely and effectively.

Prevention: Patients gain experience learning to self-treat the present problem. The management of these skills and behaviors will minimize the risk of recurrence and allow patients to rapidly manage themselves should symptoms occur in the future.