A.R.T. VERSUS CHIROPRACTIC CARE
While many chiropractic physicians are certified in ART all are not !
ART is therefore not a guaranteed part chiropractic therapy. but many chiropractors are trained in ART & incorporate it into their regimens.
However, chiropractic manipulation remains the cornerstone of this branch of medicine.
Many of the musculoskeletal conditions can be treated with ART & manipulation such as back & neck pain, headaches and referred pain/nerve symptoms due to restricted structures & joints.
Both treatments provide pain relief and both can be used to restore mobility lost as a result of traumatic and overuse injuries.
However, A.R.T. is more specific for the disruption of adhesions or scar tissue.
ART can be uncomfortable (but a "good hurt" as described by many patients) and sometimes induce a reproduction of the symptoms (especially true of Long Tract Nerve Entrapment Protocols®) while manipulation is usually pain free and very tolerable.
Chiropractic care is usually covered by most insurance plans.
ART is usually covered as manual therapy and a medical referral is NOT required.
A.R.T. VERSUS MASSAGE THERAPY
This is not a comparison of ART with Swedish Massage, which is done for relaxation. Deep tissue massage is appropriate for comparison as it is a focused therapy for damaged or injured soft tissue.
While licensed massage therapists &
chiropractors perform deep tissue massage and ART, only ART requires the practitioner to maintain a yearly certification to perform this treatment.
Both treatments are beneficial for acute and chronic, repetitive injuries. They both reduce pain, muscle tension & inflammation & stimulate circulation to injured tissues.
Deep tissue massage accomplishes this with trigger point release, utilizing a specific, intense focused area of tension within the muscle/fascia.
ACTIVE RELEASE TECHNIQUES takes it to the next level of therapy because it addresses the underlying cause of the pain by requiring the patient's ACTIVE MOTION during treatment !
It can be thought of as a form of correction therapy.
Both therapies are of low risk.
A.R.T. VERSUS GRASTON TECHNIQUE
These two soft tissue manipulation techniques are very similar as both address adhesions. Graston Technique requires a one time certification to perform. Typically occupational & physical therapists, chiropractors & certified athletic trainers will perform Graston, much like ART.
While ART practitioners use exact tissue depth & tension combined with patient specific active/passive patients motions , Graston Technique uses small to medium sized metal tools to treat specific area of injury without the use of patient motions.
Graston practitioners can "carve" away areas of adhesions in the soft tissues.
Graston techniques are described as being more painful that ART and patients may have bruising that last for several days after treatment.
ART and Graston can be considered corrective therapies and both recommend several treatments per week over a period of a few weeks to adequately address the adhesions and restore mobility.
A.R.T. VERSUS DRY NEEDLING
Acupuncture needles are carefully inserted/threaded into trigger points of the myofascial tissue. The needles are thought to disrupt the neural signals causing the pain & break up/disperse the tension in the muscle.
Since no patient motion is required, dry needling does not address relative motion between soft tissues that can cause mechanical adhesions/restricted motion.
The treatment goals of ART and dry needling are to relieve pain.
Both are safe & non-invasive
& need to be done as a series of treatments over a period of 2-3 weeks
Most patients find dry needling pain relief fairly quickly but scientific research on it effectiveness is mixed.
A.R.T. VERSUS ROLFING
Rolfing ® is a trade marketed system, founded by Dr. Ida P. Rolf, of deep hand movements that addresses alignment of the fasica & connective tissue all the way down to the skeletal level.
Many patients report that it can be painful.
It is based on the principle that function follows structure. Rolfing vertically re-aligns the body, which improves both form & function.
Rolfing practitioners can only be certified after a two year course of study at the Rolf Institute of Structural in Boulder Colorado.
Rolfing claims to improve fatique & reduce cumulative stress of poor posture. It touts a strong mind-body connection and can used in conjunction with other treatments of stress/anxiety issues.
Rolfing is unique in that it claims all of it benefits can be achieved in a "basic ten series" over a period of a few months.
There is scant medical research that vertify benefits of Rolfing but patient feedback indicates that it is helpful.
A.R.T. VERSUS PHYSICAL THERAPY
Physical therapy is a branch of medical care that focuses on the prevention/treatment of injury & loss of mobility by numerous techniques.
Physical therapy usually has to be prescribed by a physician.
A physical therapist is a highly trained licensed practitioner who uses exercises. active & passive modalities such as heat, ice, traction, ultrasound, electrical stimulation and low level laser therapy.
Physical therapy is used for not only musculoskeletal injuries but for those whose mobility & function is impacted by chronic medical conditions such as cardiovascular, pulmonary & debilitating skin disease.
Physical therapy offers pain relief without the use of medication.
ART is one modality used by physical therapists.
Physical therapy is a evidenced-based practice supported by numerous valid & reproducible research studies.