"It's not chiropractic and it's not massage ... it has its own technique."
- Dr. Corrado Cultrera
(This story originally appeared in the Feb. 2001 issue of Synchronicity Magazine)
Bodywork with a real ART to it
By
John Geary
I've
always been a strong believer in the health benefits of massage therapy and
chiropractic treatments. In early January, I experienced a different therapy
that has been growing in popularity in recent months: ART.
ART
is an acronym for Active Release Techniques. It works with soft muscle tissue to
treat injuries to the muscles, tendons, ligaments and nerves. ART is used in the
successful treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome, neck and back pain, headaches
and whiplash, shoulder problems, sports injuries, numbness and tingling and many
other forms of pain.
Dr.
Corrado Cultrera is a doctor of chiropractic and registered massage therapist at
the Centre for Chiropractic Care. He says ART differs from both of those
disciplines, but at the same time, complements them.
"It's
not chiropractic and its not massage, although some chiropractors use the
technique in their treatments," he says. "While massage also works
with muscle tissues, this is a management of soft tissue which has its own
technique. The tissue is manipulated differently, giving you different results.
"When
there is an injury, the body produces scar tissue to deal with it. It's the
easiest way, but not the best way for healing to occur. It acts like a glue, and
hooks on to the muscles in the vicinity, preventing them from working properly
when that scar tissue is in place."
Dr.
Michael Leahy, a U.S. Air Force engineer-turned-chiropractor developed ART by
applying engineering principles to healing the human body. Active release does
just what its name describes: it helps release
those scar tissues and adhesions.
Bodywork
professionals learn ART through seminars that combine some theory with a great
deal of practical experience. They take refresher courses annually to maintain
their active release credentials. That helps them keep abreast of any new
advances in the technique.
Cultrera
says ART can sometimes be used as a pre-surgery alternative for certain types of
conditions.
"With
something like carpal tunnel syndrome, surgery may be inevitable, but only as a
last resort. Treating it first with a more conservative approach like ART gives
people a chance to try a non-invasive alternative that may clear it up."
Even
with successful ART treatment, the problem still may return; however, there is a
very low probability of that. Leahy reported only a four per cent recurrence of
carpal tunnel syndrome, following treatment. To lessen the chances of that,
Cultrera says patients have to take some responsibility to maintain the healing
gains.
"After
treatment, a patient has to follow prescribed exercises and stretches, or the
problem may return," he says.
While
ART may help hockey players and sprinters (1996 Olympic gold medals Donovan
Bailey used it in Atlanta), weight lifters and marathoners, ART is not just for
athletes. Many people use it to heal non-athletic pain.
"I
treat many office workers, computer users who develop problems from repetitive
typing all day," says Cultrera. "Typing can build up scar tissue,
also."
As
a regular computer user who contends daily with a case of "mouse arm"
I could relate to what I was hearing in the interview. Throw in a swimmer's
rotator cuff injury in that same shoulder, and you can bet I was willing to try
ART.
Some
manipulations were uncomfortable at times, but in less than 10 minutes, he had
restored a range of motion in my right arm that I had not experienced for years.
Regular
treatments last between 10 and 20 minutes and while a patient may experience
some relief after two to three sessions, depending on the condition, further
treatment is usually necessary. Conditions will not normally be cured in two or
three treatments.
For
more information about ART, call (403) 237-5200; or type "Active Release
Technique" in your computer's search engines and investigate the websites
that pop up.
