If you’ve landed here after searching, what is active release technique? You’re likely dealing with a sore area that won’t seem to go away. You may be experiencing shoulder, neck or back pain whether that’s from sports injury or repetitive movement. But nobody should have to live in agony, and masking the discomfort with medication can only work for so long!
Active release technique addresses the underlying cause of this pain by helping free the tight, overworked soft tissue so you can move more comfortably. But exactly how does active release technique work? In this blog from Active Care Chiropractic, we will answer all your questions on this treatment, or you can get in touch with us today and book a session with our chiropractors.
What Is ART Technique?
So what is active release technique? Also known as ART, this treatment involves a soft tissue massage and movement designed to break down built up scar tissue in your muscles, tendon or ligaments that cause pain in these areas. It’s a non-invasive technique typically performed by chiropractors and is effective for those with sports injuries and conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome. Your chiropractor finds the spot that’s tight or irritated, applies steady pressure and then asks you to make guided movements. Since the contact and the movement are targeted, this helps to break up damaged tissue and you will feel the difference not just when you’re resting, but when you move, helping you keep up with your work, your sport and your life.
If you’re still wondering: what is ART technique? Two things set ART apart. First, it’s active by design; you help create the release by moving. Second, it’s specific; we’re not working on a whole region and hoping for the best, instead we’re aiming at the part that’s actually limiting you.
Does Active Release Therapy Work?
People searching: ‘does active release therapy work?’ want a plain answer. For many soft-tissue problems driven by overuse or restricted movement, yes it can be very effective. ART technique can be used for desk workers who have developed carpal tunnel through long days at a keyboard, this treatment is good for repetitive strain injuries by working to release the soft tissue and improve your mobility. Athletes also benefit from this treatment; sports injuries can cause scar tissue to build up and make it harder to move as freely as you once did, but ART can help relieve this discomfort by addressing the underlying cause and get you back to doing what you love.
How Does Active Release Technique Work
But how does active release technique work? When tissue becomes overworked or damaged (through repetitive tasks, sport, or a one off injury) it creates scar tissue. This reduces glide during movements which can cause discomfort. But ART helps by finding the exact spot that’s holding you back and freeing it under controlled pressure while you move.
During your treatment, the chiropractor will examine how you move and feel for the area that’s restricted, place precise tension over the problem spot and ask you to perform movements. This combination of pressure and movement is why ART can relieve the stiffness by breaking down the scar tissue, reducing irritation and restoring normal movement. If you have problems with nerve irritation too, improving the tissue in the surrounding area can also ease this.
Benefits of Active Release Technique
Movement-based treatment: Because ART is active, improvements show up in real movement, whether that’s getting out of a chair or pushing off for a sprint. You feel the change during the tasks you perform day-to-day.
Helps flexibility and function: Restoring glide lets a joint travel through its range without snagging. We see smoother shoulder elevation, better hip rotation and cleaner knee bend. Those changes then make strength and balance work more effectively.
Supports the nerve pathway: When soft tissue around a nerve is tight, we can treat along the route to help the nerve move freely again. That often reduces pins and needles that appear with a very precise motion or posture.
Sport friendly: Tennis players, cyclists, and lifters use ART to keep pain from derailing training. The technique is targeted and doesn’t leave you wiped out for days, so you can book it between sessions without losing a week of work.
Helps reduce injury risk: When tight, irritated tissue is released and movement returns to normal, your body shares the load more evenly. That lowers the chance of the same spot flaring again and helps stop small problems turning into bigger injuries.
Kind to older tissue: ART doesn’t rely on heavy force and it rarely causes bruising, which makes it a good option for older adults or anyone who bruises easily. If you prefer a gentle chiropractic approach, ART is a solid fit.
At Active Care we’ll also be straight with you. If ART isn’t the best first step for your case, we’ll say so and explain what is – whether that’s shockwave for a stubborn tendon, or red light therapy to support recovery.
What Body Parts Does ART Technique Treat
ART can be used on the neck, shoulders, back, hips, knees, ankles, and the wrists and hands. It’s often chosen for soft-tissue problems like tennis elbow, carpal tunnel–type symptoms, shin splints, hamstring strains, Achilles tendinopathy, and plantar fasciitis. It can also help with lingering tightness after sprains or minor tears and the stiffness that builds up from repetitive work or long hours at a desk.
Active Release Technique VS Other Treatments
If you’re still wondering, does active release therapy work? Here’s how it compares against other treatments:
General massage
Great for easing overall tension. Although a massage can feel pleasant but not always change the thing that’s limiting movement. ART on the other hand combines soft tissue massage with movement, this breaks down your scar tissue so you see improved results in your pain and discomfort.
Shockwave therapy
For long-standing tendon or fascia problems, shockwave uses acoustic pulses to stimulate healing. We use it for stubborn Achilles issues and heel pain that’s been around for months. ART is different: manual and movement-based, aimed at restoring glide. In some cases we combine them – ART for mechanics, shockwave to nudge healing.
Red light therapy
Our NovoTHOR bed and handheld devices support recovery by improving cellular energy and blood flow. ART changes how the tissue moves; red light supports how that tissue heals. Used together in the right case, people often tolerate day-to-day load better.
We won’t push you towards one technique if it’s not right for you. However if you see one of our chiropractors for a different treatment, after assessing what’s wrong with you we may point you in the direction of Harry, our chiropractor who specialises in active release treatment. At Active Care we want what’s best for you, so we will only recommend treatment that we think is best suited for your condition.
Why See A Chiropractor For Active Release Technique
If you are dealing with musculoskeletal issues and are looking for non-invasive treatments, you should see a chiropractor. A chiropractor for ART will check the movement that sets your pain off and treat it using guided movements.
At Active Care Chiropractic, ART is delivered by Harry, our chiropractor who uses active release therapy every week. Patients who prefer gentle, precise treatments tend to like ART because it doesn’t cause bruising and it can be used alongside normal training hours. If you’re recovering from surgery or you’re managing a long standing condition, we’ll adjust the technique to match your tolerance.
Book With Active Care Chiropractic For ART
If you’ve been Googling ‘what is ART technique?’ or ‘how does active release technique work’ then you’ve probably got a persistent problem you need help with. Active Release Technique offers a straightforward, non-invasive way to restore movement and reduce pain, with treatment that’s active rather than passive and gentle enough for older tissue. At Active Care Chiropractic we have experience in this treatment whether you’re an athlete trying to recover from a sports sprain or you’re an older adult suffering from repetitive strain injury. We can help you relieve pain and get back to normal movement. Get in touch with us today and see how we can help you!
