Michael Leahy, D.C., currently practicing in Colorado Springs, Colorado, started developing A.R.T. in 1984. Prior to practicing chiropractic, Dr. Leahy was an aeronautical engineer with the US Air Force. This engineering background allowed Dr. Leahy to approach soft tissue injuries from a new perspective, evolving into A.R.T.
The A.R.T. soft tissue management system is based on scientific evidence that muscles, nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue develop adhesions within and between them after cumulative injuries.
These adhesions cause the motion of muscles or joints to be altered, resulting in a wide variety of symptoms, including pain, weakness, reduced range of motion, numbness and tingling. Examples include hip flexor strains in triathletes, upper back pain experienced after sitting at a computer for hours, shin splints after long distance running, and shoulder pain in athletes requiring throwing actions.