Active Release Technique (A.R.T.) was first established by Dr. Michael Leahy as a way to help high performing athletes recover from injury faster and without surgical intervention. Now, thanks to Dr. Leahy's certification program, A.R.T. is available to more than just elite performers, and I'm excited about the opportunity to bring this treatment to the Cedar Valley.

Like most students who are in Chiropractic school, I was exposed to a host of techniques and strategies to help the body function better and improve movement. Essentially, ways to improve on the normal function of a tissue so that it does its job better. I first heard about A.R.T. while spending time in the rehab department at Palmer. At the time, I didn’t know what it did or how it worked, but I would watch as the Doctors would treat and see changes in range of motion quickly. More impressively, I could hear first hand from the patient how the treatment felt and how they felt after. It was so impactful that by the end of the visits I would hear people eagerly ask “how soon they could come back” rather than “how long until I need to do this again” in a frustrated tone. I knew it was something I needed to add to my “toolbelt”. 

Fast forward to last year when I was listening to the founder of A.R.T., Dr. Michael Leahy on a chiropractic podcast I listen to weekly. I was – as were the hosts – overwhelmed by his knowledge of anatomy, biomechanics, and palpation as he would discuss how pain syndromes occur, repetitive injury cycles, and how he identifies movement issues. What intrigued me most was that he was doing the majority of his work with professional athletes. And most importantly, he discussed that with proper training, I too, was capable of providing the same treatment!

Dr. Leahy began his work in Denver, Colorado, and quickly the word spread about his results with muscle, fascia, and nerve entrapments. He was hired by the Denver Broncos and, based on his results with their team members, has continued to provide care to Olympic athletes and high level performers across all sports. 

A.R.T. has grown significantly since then with a network of providers trained in various levels of soft tissue techniques. Among that network are “Elite” providers who have become proficient in all areas of the body. Because of how specific the technique is and the standards that they hold for their providers, to maintain A.R.T. certification you learn (or re-learn) a region at least once a year. Currently, I am trained in “Upper Extremity” which allows me to provide treatment to shoulders, elbows, wrists, and hands. I am excited to continue to build on my training and provide a high quality, non surgical rehab option for this community.

Dr. Conrad Bush is a graduate of Palmer College of Chiropractic. He has special interests in weight loss, biomechanics, extremities, and sports rehab. He is currently working toward certification in Active Release Technique, which focuses on treating the soft tissue system of the body.