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The ART Doctors
Services
Active release technique® (ART)
Active Release Technique® (ART) is what makes us different than other healthcare offices. ART is a patented, movement based soft tissue technique that treats problems with muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia and nerves. Headaches, back pain, neck pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, shin splints, shoulder pain, sciatica, plantar fasciitis, knee pain, and tennis elbow are just a few of the many conditions that can be resolved quickly and permanently with ART. Many conditions treated in our office have one major thing in common – they largely result from overused muscles.
Muscle injury typically occurs in three ways:
- Acute injury such as an ankle sprain or car accident resulting in pulls, tears, and strains.
- Repetitive motion (like typing on the computer or pedaling a bike) resulting in an accumulation of small tears.
- Prolonged contraction (like sitting at a desk or standing all day) resulting in lack of oxygen in muscle tissues.
Each of these factors cause your body to produce scar tissue and adhesions in the affected area. This scar tissue prevents muscles from moving and contracting optimally. As scar tissue builds up, muscles become shorter and weaker, tension on tendons can cause tendonitis, and nerves can become trapped. This can cause inflammation, reduced range of motion, loss of strength, and pain. If a nerve is trapped you may feel a deep ache, weakness, or numbness and tingling.
Every Active Release Technique session is actually a combination of examination and treatment. We use our hands to evaluate the texture, tightness and relative movement of muscles, fascia, tendons, ligaments and nerves. Abnormal tissues are treated by combining precisely directed tension with specific patient movements.
Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic is a branch of physical medicine that focuses on musculoskeletal and nervous system disorders. As doctors of chiropractic we specialize in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of joint, nerve, muscle, and soft tissue disorders. We use joint manipulation (aka “adjusting”) of the spine and extremities to restore motion and flexibility allowing for proper biomechanic function.
Chiropractic care is an effective treatment for many musculoskeletal conditions such as back pain, neck pain, headaches, disc herniations, sciatica, whip lash, foot pain, shoulder injuries, wrist pain, knee injuries, and carpal tunnel, as well as many lesser known issues. When combined with soft tissue techniques like Active Release and IASTM as well as rehabilitative exercises, chiropractic care is an effective way to reduce pain, restore function, and prevent reinjury.
We are trained in a number of evidence-based adjusting techniques and will utilize whatever method is best for your particular issue as well as your preferences. Some patients don’t like hearing the popping sounds (we call these “cavitations” when we’re being fancy) that come with traditional chiropractic adjustments. If this is you, that’s no problem, there are many low force treatment options that are equally effective.
Some patients have heard from friends and family “don’t go to a chiropractor, you’ll have to keep going back forever.” This is not how we practice. We want to get you well, teach you how to stay well, and send you on your way to live your best life! If we don’t have you well on the road to recovery after a few visits, we’ll collaborate with or refer you to the doctor/practitioner who can best serve your needs. We would rather see you well then see you in our office.
Sports Medicine
We treat all types of athletes, from high school teams and weekend warriors to college and professional athletes. As with everything we do, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. We evaluate and treat athletes using a multitude of modalities including functional movement and biomechanics analysis (SFMA), Active Release Technique, chiropractic manipulation of the spine and/or extremities, instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization (Graston/Gua Sha/FAKTR), and Kenesio-tape.
Tennis and golfers elbow, plantar fasciitis, runners knee, shin splints, rotator cuff rehab, bursitis, tendonitis, and sprains/strains of all types are a few of the sports injuries we see often. Many athletes opt to try chiropractic and Active Release Technique as an alternative to surgery. ART is also uniquely suited to manage and prevent post-surgical scar tissue, helping athletes regain range of motion and full function following surgery.
As athletes, Dr. Clark and Dr. Heller know what it’s like to be sidelined and are committed to getting you back in the game safely and efficiently and to helping prevent future sports injuries.
Rock Tape
Rocktape is a type of kinesiology tape which is great for sports and non-sports injuries alike. Many patients are familiar with it because they’ve seen it on athletes at the Olympics and various other sporting events.
When applied, Rocktape lifts the skin away from the muscle and fascia ever-so-slightly. This decompression allows for increased blood flow resulting in decreased inflammation and faster healing time. In addition, Rocktape increases proprioception, which is a fancy word for your brain’s awareness of where your body is in space and what it’s doing. When your brain is more aware of what your muscles and joints are doing, it’s better able to stabilize and use them correctly. Unlike conventional athletic tape, which is used to immobilize joints, Rocktape allows for full range of motion while distributing physical stress and providing support to injured or fatigued tissues.
Prenatal Chiropractic
There is a notion that back pain and discomfort is normal during pregnancy. Although the body is going through many physical changes, there is no reason you cannot have an enjoyable, active experience. Back pain, sciatic pain, and pubic bone pain are just a few of the common pregnancy issues which can be safely and naturally managed with chiropractic care.
Webster Technique is specifically designed to help offset the added stresses pregnancy places on the body and to facilitate an easier, safer, and more comfortable birth. By creating a neutral pelvic position, Webster technique decreases ligamentous stress around the pelvis and uterus creating an environment for optimal fetal positioning and a smooth labor and delivery.
Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization
Instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) is the generic term for the collection of soft tissue treatments which utilize specifically designed stainless steel or polymer tools to treat scar tissue and fascial restrictions. You may have heard of it referred to as Graston, FAKTR, or Gua Sha, which are brand names of companies that produce these tools.
IASTM works by creating low grade inflammation in the treatment area. You maybe thinking “hold on, why would we purposefully create inflammation?”. In this case, specifically targeted inflammation actually forces new blood to the area which promotes faster healing. It also helps to break up scar tissue and fascial adhesions especially in the more superficial tissue layers. Dr. Clark and Dr. Heller both have training in FAKTR which combines IASTM with functional movement for increased efficacy.
CALL OR TEXT US:
720-495-0054
1 Broadway Suite B 210 Denver CO 80203