Active Release Techniques®

Active Release Techniques (ART®) soft tissue treatment is a manual therapy administered by trained professionals to specific muscle and fascial structures of the body. The ART® soft tissue management system is based on scientific evidence that muscles, nerves, and connective tissue develop adhesions within and between them as a result of various injuries.

The most common type of injury, especially among athletes, is Cumulative; a compounding of overuse and any or all of the following:

• acute conditions (pulls, tears, collisions, etc)
• accumulation of small tears (micro-trauma)
• not getting enough oxygen (hypoxia)
• dehydration

Each of these factors can cause your body to produce scar-like tissue in the affected area. This scar tissue holds tissues in place that should otherwise move freely. As scar tissue builds up, muscles become shorter and weaker, tension on tendons causes tendonitis, and nerves can become entrapped often causing reduced range of motion, loss of strength, and pain.

Each ART® session is a combination of examination and treatment. The ART® provider uses his or her hands to evaluate the texture, tightness and movement of muscles, fascia, tendons, ligaments and nerves. Abnormal tissues are treated by combining precisely directed tension with very specific patient movements.