about active release techniques

Active Release Techniques (ART®) is a patented, soft tissue therapy that treats conditions involving the muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia and nerves.

This soft tissue technique is most commonly associated with helping athletes improve performance, but can also help with:

• chronic neck and back pain
• headaches
• shoulder injuries
• tennis/golfer’s elbow
• carpal tunnel
• sciatica
• iliotibial band syndrome
• plantar fasciitis/fasciosis
• muscle tension and strains
• nerve entrapments

When an injury occurs through trauma or repetitive strain, adhesions (AKA scar tissue) form in the muscles as a result of healing. These adhesions often cause the muscle to become tighter, weaker and more pain-sensitive, predisposing the patient to further injury.

Active Release Techniques differ greatly from traditional massage therapy in that the patient performs active movements while tension is applied in order to break up adhesions in the muscle rather than the patient playing a passive role in their treatment.

This technique can be used for repetitive strain injuries, muscle adhesions, nerve entrapments and joint dysfunction.