What is Performance Care?

Performance care addresses the subtle or gross changes that are the result of stress placed on overworked muscles. This physiological stress placed on an athlete's body can have tremendous impact on the time and effort required to perform an activity. Certain factors like demanding training regimes, repetitive motions (swimming, running, cycling), and overworked muscles can all play a factor in these changes.

These repetitive motions create constant tension and pressure which often results in inflammation and swelling of the involved soft tissue. The body naturally responds to this inflammation by laying down scar tissue (cross fibers across the tissue) in an attempt to heal and stabilize the affected area. The problem is that this scar tissue restricts motion, reduces circulation, inhibits nerve function, causes ongoing friction and pressure, and ultimately results in the production of yet more cross fibers and adhesions across inflamed soft tissues.

Even though physical training factors can be modified, the biomechanical restrictions that have been created in the athlete’s body are seldom addressed. These lead to future injuries and inhibit the athlete from reaching his or her full performance potential. This is how the active release techniques Ironman Performance care was born. ART is the official soft tissue technique of the Ironman triathlon series throughout the world.