Using Active Release Techniques in the Corporate Setting

For the past year, I’ve been treating the employees of a large factory on-site using Active Release TechniquesⓇ (ARTⓇ) soft tissue therapy.

Glanbia Performance Nutrition works hard to reduce worker musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), it has adopted an innovative approach borrowed from the professional sports world. As a forward thinking company working in the sports performance and health sector Glanbia was familiar with ART soft tissue therapy.  ART is used by hundreds of professional sports teams globally, and in hundreds of industrial settings including the Glanbia’s production sites.

What is ART?

ART is a movement based hands-on soft tissue treatment system where maximal manual tension is combined with full range body movements.  Over 500 protocols are used to address to address aches and pains wherever they occur.  A detailed knowledge of functional anatomy is used to create a very specific and effective soft tissue therapy. Over 18,000 health care providers from multiple professions have trained in ART, with only those completing extensive training working for ART Corporate Solutions.

The technique behind Active Release Techniques.

ART encompases soft tissue assessment and treatment.  The provider listens to the employee’s issues to understand what causes the discomfort. Then the tissues are assessed with a manual evaluation via palpation. During assessment the provider checks for a loss of movement, poor function, or a reproduction of symptoms. Once the cause of the discomfort is identified then the provider performs the best protocols to alleviate the issue.  Treatment involves applying a tension to the muscle coupled with precise movements performed by the employee and the provider. The muscle is shortened and then slowly lengthened  while the ART provider maintains a manual tension over the muscle. Researchers have compared ART to other forms of therapy in treating various MSDs, and ART came out favourably.

How to incorporate ART into the factory setting.

To create a successful on-site therapy program the intervention obviously must be effective, and equally important it must also be quick to administer.  ART checks both boxes. In a fifteen minute treatment session the experienced ART providers used by ART Corporate Solutions are able to get the results employers are looking for. In a busy and productive factory, time is of the essence.  As shift managers are juggling staff to keep the production line moving, they can manage to spare a staff member for a fifteen minute treatment session. In every session the employee will be given stretches and/or strengthening exercises to reinforce the effectiveness of the therapy.  Being on-site guarantees compliance as many workers find it difficult to find the time to make appointments outside of working hours.

The Glanbia Experience.

Glanbia is the number one global performance nutrition brand with a product portfolio comprising: Optimum Nutrition, BSN, Isopure, thinkThin, Nutramino, ABB and trusource. The Glanbia factory in Middlesbrough, is a 24 hours per day operation producing over a million protein bars and tubs per week.  The success of the ART health program in Glanbia’s Illinois based factories convinced the company to roll it out in all six of its performance nutrition factories, including the Middlesbrough site. Raj Kumari, HR Professional at Glanbia, has been impressed with the program, “The ART Programme has been introduced here at Glanbia to show the company’s commitment to health and wellbeing. The program has continued to be a great success and a positive influence on staff morale and motivation. The effectiveness has spread by word of mouth which is evident by the popularity of the program amongst the staff.”

What kind of work force is best suited to starting an ART program

ART delivers on-site care to corporations who have significant expenses in the area of MSD’s, high recordable injury rates, or who simply want to prevent conditions from developing as their population ages. When employees have physically demanding jobs, an on-site works best just like a preventative therapy for athletes during training.   “We are successful at fixing aches and pains before they become claims. If you want to provide a unique, measurable, high quality, wellness program for your employees, we can help.”  Mathew Gahm, Director of ART Corporate Programs,