Dr Leahy is the developer and instructor of the Active Release Techniques®, soft tissue management system. He is a Los Angeles College of Chiropractic graduate since 1984 and an instructor for post graduate sports chiropractic certification programs. He has served on the executive Board of ACA Council on Physical Fitness and Sports between 1987 to 1994. He is Chairman of the Chiropractic Sports Network and event co-ordinator for Ironman World-wide 1988-present. He has published extensively in journal and textbook literature. He is a contract provider for Denver Broncos. Provider or consultant for: PGA Tour players, USA Triathlon, US Weight Lifting Federation, Coors Light Cycling Team, US Cycling, US Swimming, and Chicago Bulls, Anaheim Mighty Ducks, St. Louis Blues, Colorado Avalanche, Detroit Red Wings and Athletics Canada. He was in the 2004 US Olympic Team extra medical staff. Dr Leahy has helped place ART® providers with major league teams across the United States and Canada.

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Recognizing and Changing Biomechanics using ART®

The ART system of biomechanical analysis has been developed to allow the practitioner to quickly identify and correct the most important problems in movement. It is quite easy to identify an asymmetry of posture or movement but much more difficult to determine the most important problems that affect performance.

Begin with the core area of the body. This is the pelvis and torso. Look for three things, in this area.
1. Symmetry of motion, both left/right and anterior to posterior.
2. Look at the ends of the range of motion and determine if the range is adequate and whether the reversal of motion is abrupt or smooth.
3. Look for the lack of acceleration of a body part and the excessive acceleration of any particular area.

Repeat this three part analysis for the lower body and the upper extremity. Identify individual anatomical structures that are negatively affecting movement or acceleraton then fix them. Immediately after they are fixed go through the analysis again and treatment again until enough has been done or time has run out.

Changing Performance with Active Release Techniques® Soft Tissue Methods

Soft tissue changes as a result of injury. These changes can be slow or fast depending on the type of injury and the recovery allowed. Shortly after acute injury occurs the inflammatory response can cause the beginning of scar tissue formation. The most common cause of scar tissue formation however occurs slowly.

Increased forces on the tissues, if held for considerable time frames, will cause scarring to occur due to tissue hypoxia. This causes the tissue to be locked in a cumulative injury cycle as the scarring again causes increased tissue tension.

The steps to changing performance are:

1. Recognized symptom patterns or changes in biomechanics.
2. Identify the offending anatomical structures associated with these changes.
3. Use the ART® treatment protocols to correct the changes.
4. Verify the proper changes in symptom pattern or biomechanics.

Changes in the tissues are immediate and verifiable. There should be no bleeding, inflammation or injury to the tissue during treatment.