Active Release Techniques
ART ® is a patented soft-tissue management system that treats problems that develop in muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia and nerves.
Over-used muscles (and other soft tissues) change in three important ways:
- Acute conditions (pulls, tears, collisions, etc)
- Accumulation of small tears (micro-trauma)
- Not getting enough oxygen (hypoxia)
When a muscle tightens up for an extended time, friction and pressure builds up between the muscle layers, resulting in decreased oxygen supply to the muscles. These situations cause irritation and inflammation, which causes your body to produce tough, dense fibrous tissue in the affected area. This is known as myofascial adhesions and leads to less range of motion, less strength, and pain. If a nerve is trapped, you may also feel tingling, numbness, and weakness.
What Does Active Release Feel Like?
The ART® provider uses his or her hands to evaluate the soft tissues. Any problems found are treated by combining precisely directed tension with very specific patient movements in order to break down fibrous adhesions. The muscle is first shortened, and then either passively or actively lengthened as the doctor applies tension along it. There are over 500 specific moves to address a wide range of complaints.
There may be some tenderness experienced during the treatment, but the decreased adhesions and tension soon allows for improvement of a variety of symptoms. ART® relieves pain and restores motion to affected areas.
ART® is used in a wide variety of situations. While it was originally developed for elite athletes, it can aid with repetitive strains from activities at work or activities of daily living. It can also enhance the performance of recreational and competitive athletes.
**Individual results may vary from patient to patient**
Chiropractor in Vancouver, BC
Dr. Izard has passed national chiropractic examinations in both Canada and the United States, as well as provincial/state licensing requirements in British Columbia and Oregon. She is a member of the British Columbia Chiropractic Association, British Columbia College of Chiropractors and the Canadian Chiropractic Association.
Along with developing a strong foundation in the core chiropractic curriculum, Ann has continued to build her knowledge and treatment skills through the Active Release Technique® seminars, which focus on addressing muscle tension and scar tissue.
Dr. Izard has also taken additional training with the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA) in order to better understand the unique requirements of both her young patients and those experiencing a pregnancy.
Dr. Izard treats spinal complaints and numerous other conditions including: tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, knee and ankle injuries, shin splints, plantar fascitis, headaches, and numbness and tingling. She believes that the combination of soft tissue therapy, chiropractic manipulation, and rehabilitative exercises enables patients to reach their optimal level of performance.
Dr. Izard has recently moved her practice to Teamworks Health Clinic in Vancouver, at the corner of Broadway and Heather.
2480 Heather Street, Vancouver, BC | Phone: 604-428-3006
Outside of the clinic, Dr. Izard treats onsite at several corporations and provides educational talks on injury prevention, stretching, workplace repetitive strain, and chiropractic care.