Hi all,
I work at UWS as a Lecturer and have completed one component of the Active Release Techniques course (the lower limb section) in Canada a few years back.
It was an interesting course and overall I am glad I attended, however as someone has pointed out during this thread on several occasions, Active Release Technique is merely a patented form of soft tissue work for overuse injuries.
Call it what you will - myofascial release, deep connective tissue massage, neural stretching technique - by any other name it is merely a method of soft tissue manipulation.
I do not however teach any units at UWS relating to soft tissue techniques, but I can guarantee you that at UWS we do not teach the Active Release Techniques course.
We do however have part of a unit which specifically deals with soft tissue techniques (again I am not involved in this) as part of the 4th year curriculum.
This unit introduces students to the idea that there are numerous soft tissue related techniques available to learn throughout the world, and introduces them to the concepts behind different manual therapies in the treatment of Podiatric conditions.
Several "techniques" are raised as part of the discussions/learning throughout this unit, and examples of these techniques are discussed/shown to students via photo's, video, textbook, articles, demonstration etc...
From my understanding the unit is designed to introduce students to the whole concept of manual therapies and the broad range of learning options open to them once they graduate to facilitate their undergraduate education.
More information may be obtained here:
http://www.activerelease.com/
and to my knowledge there are several Podiatrists and Chiropractors in NSW who have completed certain sections if not all the ART program.
In fact if I am not mistaken one of them is actually a fully certified ART instructor.
I am happy to answer any questions on the topic, but unfortunately Dr Conneely my manuals/video's were lost soon after my return from Canada whilst shifting work premisis - hence I dont have anything I can show you on the actual technique.
I am sure it wouldn't be terribly hard to order a copy from ART themselves though.
Kind Regards,
Paul Bowles
Last edited: Jun 13, 2006