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Cole Ellis, D.C. ART
 Sports Chiropractor

Del Mar Chiropractic Sports Group
12264 El Camino Real, Suite 108
San Diego, CA 92130
858-481-0303


ACTIVE RELEASE TECHNIQUES

 
 
TREATMENTS ...
 

ART    Chiropractic    Graston Technique    Gait Retraining
  

ART - Active Release Techniques …

ART is a patented, state of the art soft tissue system/movement based massage technique that treats problems with muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia and nerves. Headaches, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, shin splints, shoulder pain, sciatica, plantar fasciitis, knee problems, and tennis elbow are just a few of the many conditions that can be resolved quickly and permanently with ART. These conditions all have one important thing in common: they are often a result of overused muscles.
 

What is an ART treatment like?

Every ART session is actually a combination of examination and treatment. The ART provider uses his or her hands to evaluate the texture, tightness and movement of muscles, fascia, tendons, ligaments and nerves. Abnormal tissues are treated by combining precisely directed tension with very specific patient movements.
 

These treatment protocols - over 500 specific moves - are unique to ART. They allow providers to identify and correct the specific problems that are affecting each individual patient. ART is not a cookie-cutter approach.

What is the history of Active Release Techniques? ART has been developed, refined, and patented by P. Michael Leahy, DC, CCSP. Dr. Leahy noticed that his patients' symptoms seemed to be related to changes in their soft tissue that could be felt by hand. By observing how muscles, fascia, tendons, ligaments and nerves responded to different types of work, Dr. Leahy was able to consistently resolve over 90% of his patients' problems. He now teaches and certifies health care providers all over the world to use ART.

Click here to know more about ART.

 
Chiropractic Joint Manipulation:
 
Chiropractic manipulation (adjustments) is used to treat musculoskeletal conditions.

The primary goal is to restore normal joint motion to areas that are restricted. This helps relieve pain, relaxes tight muscles or spasms, frees up scar tissue, restores joint function and improves the nervous system by manipulating both the spine and extremity regions.

If a joint is restricted (hypomobile), this can eventually lead to:

  • restricted motion
  • pain and inflammation
  • muscles spasms
  • inhibition (weakness)
  • compensation
  • Accelerate joint and disc degeneration
     

Why Adjustments are effective…

(Meniscoid entrapment) this is an explanation of what is taking place mechanically to cause reduced joint motion. Joints are lined with irregularly shaped lips of cartilage that can become trapped between the two joint surfaces…this will prevent the joints from moving and gliding properly.

The forces applied involves a controlled thrust (manipulation) or slow oscillating movement (mobilization) that gaps the joint and releases the meniscoid entrapment…thus normalizing normal motion and joint pressure.

Meniscoid entrapment occurs when joints are overloaded. Overload can be caused by poor posture, muscle imbalance, scar tissue, nerve entrapment, trauma, and faulty movement.

Graston Technique:

Essentially expands on and exploits the principals of Transverse Friction Massage first made popular by James Cyriax, M.D.

GT breaks down old scar tissue and dramatically reduces cross linkages that cause restrictions. The tools reproduce the body’s natural inflammatory response, creating new fibroblasts and allows 
the fibers to lay down parallels to each other.
 

Patented stainless-steel instruments to aid the clinician in the detection and treatment of soft-tissue dysfunction
 

Graston is a soft-tissue mobilization technique combined with rehabilitation exercises to improve overall muscle and skeletal function.

The GT instruments help detect and amplify soft tissue restrictions  or dysfunction, similar to how a stethoscope amplifies the heartbeat.

 

Effects of Immobilization and Trauma on Connective Tissue

  • Irregular laying down of collagen and cross links
  • Ligaments, tendons, and joint capsule weaken
  • Muscle contusions heal with scar tissue of dense connective tissue.
  • Decreased muscle extensibility.

Benefits of Soft Tissue Mobilization

  • Release of Fascial Restrictions and Adhesions
  • Separates and breaks-down cross-links
  • Splays & stretches connective tissue and muscle fibers
  • Increases amount and rate of blood flow to and from the area.
  • Increases cellular activity in the region including fibroblasts and mast cells.
  • Recreates the normal inflammatory response … fibroblastic proliferation!


Gait Retraining:

Have Your Running Form Analyzed!
Update your form to improve running ...

If you have a running injury, or if you have been plagued with injuries in the past, there is a good chance that your mechanics (running stride) might need to be updated and altered to prevent injuries from surfacing.  Sometimes running injuries can be solely related to doing too much too soon, and rest is the best anecdote.  

Other times, muscle imbalances, restricted scar tissue, joint restrictions, or wearing the wrong shoe are the potential culprits.  However, if runners knee, IT-Band syndrome, Plantar Fasciltis, Shin Splints, Achilles Tendenosis, Hip Pain or Back Pain is a constant problem you have relating to running, then I recommend having your gait analyzed by a professional.  This is just one aspect, but it still needs to be addressed in order to fully resolve your running-related injury!

 
These are the top injury-free running techniques implemented to resolve injury and increase performance.  

For more information please download my E-Book, The Stay Active Manifesto.  Click Here!

                 Dr. Cole Ellis, D.C.



Principles Of Highly Effective Running:

If you consider 100 runners, you will see 100 different body types, abilities, and objectives.  The goal is not to get everyone running the same.  Running is a highly individualized activity, and we want to keep it that way; however, there are certain principles that are important to incorporate if injuries are an issue.  The principles have three key components: 
 

Injury
Prevention		 Running Performance Improvement Alignment
& Relaxation

Click here for six techniques to improve your running.