ACTIVE RELEASE TECHNIQUES

Active Release Techniques® (ART®): Targeted Soft Tissue Treatment

Active Release Techniques® (ART®) is a hands-on treatment used to address muscle tightness, soft tissue restrictions, and movement-related pain. It combines precise manual pressure with specific movement to restore normal tissue function and improve mobility.

ART® is especially effective for people who feel tight, restricted, or “stuck” despite stretching, exercise, or traditional therapy.

How Active Release Techniques® Work

During ART®, your physical therapist:

  • Applies specific pressure to a restricted muscle, tendon, ligament, or nerve

  • Guides you through active movement of that tissue

  • Breaks up adhesions and scar tissue that limit normal motion

This active approach helps tissues glide normally again—reducing pain and improving movement efficiency.

What Conditions Does ART® Help?

Active Release Techniques® are commonly used for:

  • Muscle tightness and trigger points

  • Tendon irritation and overuse injuries

  • Nerve-related symptoms (tingling, burning, radiating pain)

  • Sports and training-related aches

  • Repetitive strain injuries

It is frequently used for the neck, shoulders, hips, knees, calves, feet, and forearms.

Why ART® Is Different

Unlike massage or passive treatments, ART®:

  • Targets specific problem tissues, not general areas

  • Uses movement, not just pressure

  • Focuses on function, not just symptom relief

This makes it particularly effective for athletes, active adults, and people returning to sport or training.

What Does ART® Feel Like?

ART® is often described as:

  • Intense but tolerable

  • Very specific and targeted

  • Followed by immediate improvements in mobility or reduced tightness

Your therapist will always adjust pressure and technique to your comfort level.

How We Use ART® in Your Care

Active Release Techniques® are never used in isolation. They are integrated with:

  • Corrective exercise

  • Mobility and stability training

  • Strength progression

  • Return-to-sport or performance programming

ART® helps create the mobility and tissue quality needed for effective rehab and long-term results.

Is ART® Right for You?

ART® may be appropriate if you:

  • Feel tight or restricted despite stretching

  • Have pain related to overuse or repetitive movement

  • Experience symptoms that return with activity

  • Want a more precise, movement-based approach to care

Your physical therapist will determine if ART® fits your condition, goals, and plan of care.

Our Approach

We don’t chase tightness—we restore movement.

Active Release Techniques® help us address why tissues are overloaded, not just where they hurt, so you can move better, train harder, and stay active longer.

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