Active Release Techniques

Locates and treats recent or old muscle injuries manually.

Dre Marie-Christine Gougoux, D.C.Chiropraticienne

- Dirigeante du Centre Chiromédic
- Titulaire d’un doctorat en chiropratique de l’Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (mention d’excellence)
- Programme court de 2e cycle en chiropratique sportive
- Formation en Active Release Techniques
- Formation en technique Graston ®
- Formation en Mulligan
- Formation en Fascial Manipulation ©
- Formation en Fascial Distortion Model (FDM), traitement des fascias
- Kinesiotaping et Dynamic taping
- Premier répondant du sport
- Certifiée Complete Concussion Management Inc. (CCMI)
- Membre du CCSSQ (conseil chiropratique des sciences du sport du Qc)
- Membre de la Society for Tennis Medicine and Science (STMS)
- Lauréate de deux bourses d’excellence de la Fondation Chiropratique du Québec

Dr Martin Lafrenière, D.C.Chiropraticien

- Titulaire d’un doctorat en chiropratique de l’Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
- Formation en Active Release Techniques
- Formation en technique Fascial Distortion Model (FDM), traitement des fascias
- Membre du CCSSQ (conseil chiropratique des sciences du sport du Qc)
- Formation de 2e cycle en chiropratique sportive en cours
- Membre de la Society of Weight-Training Injury specialists (SWIS)
- Kinesiotaping et Fascial movement taping
- Premier répondant du sport
- Formation en technique Graston ®
- Formation complémentaire en technique crâniennes, myofasciales et ostéo-articulaires

Dr Bernard Proulx, D.C.Chiropraticien

- Titulaire d’un doctorat en chiropratique du Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College
- Clinicien superviseur en enseignement clinique à l’Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
- Formation en Active Release Techniques
- Formation en technique Graston ®
- Formation en pédiatrie chiropratique et en suivi de grossesse
- Formation en orthopédie chiropratique du Los Angeles Chiropractic College

What is the origin of the technique?

It is an American chiropractor, Micheal Leahy D.C., who developed this method of analysis and this system of soft tissue treatment. The method can treat chronic lesions of a muscle, tendon, ligament, fascia or nerve. Michael Leahy has named this method Active Release Techniques or ART. The technique is based on a solid scientific background combined with several years of practical application.

Who can benefit ?

This technique is widely used, among others, in the sports field. Indeed, many athletes, who submit their body to intensive training, use this type of treatment to facilitate the healing of injuries, but also to optimize their performance. ART can also be suitable for workers performing repetitive movements and for people with injuries resulting from activities of daily living.

How do these muscular lesions occur?

The tissues constituting the human body are capable of a certain amount of work without hurting themselves. They may sustain an injury due to intense stress or repeated stress, when there is a decrease in oxygen supply due to prolonged contraction or repeated friction between different tissues.

The healing of these wounds, however small, is done by healing. This scar tissue, formed by adhesions and fibrosis, causes the tissue to lose elasticity. The structure is thus shortened, weakened and sometimes even painful. For example, a healthy muscle could be compared to an elastic, while a healed muscle acts like a tightrope. A muscle that loses flexibility as a result of scarring is more likely to injure again or to promote an underlying condition such as tendonitis or numbness.

Antonin Décarie - Former Professional Boxer

What is this method of treatment?

The purpose of the treatment is to locate and manually break adhesions and restrictions in the muscles, tendons or ligaments as well as in the associated nerves. They will thus be able to find their texture, their movement, their flexibility, thus their optimal functioning. ART can thus resolve the cause of several dysfunctions by bringing more than just a decrease in symptoms.

During treatment, the patient makes a specific movement while the chiropractor makes contact with the abnormal tissue and generates tension at the injured location. It should be noted that this can create temporary discomfort because this tension breaks the scar and allows the muscle to heal while maintaining its flexibility.

What is the difference between ART and massage therapy?

Of similar appearance, the procedures as well as the results are very different. Massage methods will promote relaxation and muscle relaxation. ART aims instead to correct dysfunctions caused by adhesions and scar tissue. The treatment of ART can not therefore be considered as a massage technique, but can be complementary to it.

IN ORDER TO BENEFIT FROM EFFECTIVE TREATMENT, IT IS IMPORTANT TO CONSULT CERTIFIED CHIROPRATICIANS IN ACTIVE RELEASE TECHNIQUES, a new approach to analyzing and treating musculoskeletal conditions.

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