Active Release Technique (ART)

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What is Active Release Technique?

Active Release Technique (ART), a patented, state-of-the-art soft tissue system/movement based massage technique, can treat a wide range of problems with muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia and nerves. This extremely effective treatment works on athletes and non-athletes alike.

What conditions can ART treat?

Whether you’re dealing with painful headaches, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, shin splints, shoulder pain, sciatica, plantar fasciitis, knee problems or tennis elbow, ART can quickly and permanently resolve these common issues. These conditions, which are just a few of the many that can be treated with ART, all have one important thing in common: they are often a result of overused muscles.

How can ART help relieve the pain I’m feeling?

Understanding how ART can help you begins with understanding the cause of your pain. When tissue is kept in a tightened or stressed position for a prolonged period of time, the blood supply to that tissue becomes compromised. This can occur during prolonged endurance sports with repetitive muscle use, during repetitive tasks at work, or even as a result of poor posture, which constantly places stress on your muscles.

When an oxygen dependent tissue, such as muscle, does not receive enough oxygen (and thus energy) to function, this is referred to as "tissue hypoxia.” As a result, your body will begin to replace oxygen dependent tissue with tissue that doesn't require as much oxygen to function. This tissue, known as fibrotic tissue or scar tissue, severely hinders the muscle function as it is deposited into healthy tissue. Take, for instance, the muscle tissue – a scarred or fibrotic muscle will be unable to contract properly and will be unable to carry out its desired function. Therefore, your body will begin to recruit other muscles to compensate for the injured muscle. As these muscles begin to do the job of two muscles, they remain tight, become hypoxic, and develop scar tissue.

In addition to causing tissue dysfunction, scar tissue:

  • Limits the available range of motion in the tissue
  • Irritates nerves, causing pain
  • Causes tissues to "stick" (or adhere) to each other, which results in increased friction between tissues

ART utilizes several hundred protocols that are designed to release the tissue and help return the body to the correct and natural position without the adhesions.

How can I learn more about how ART can help me?

Check out the video below, which shows ART being performed, and request an appointment with Dr. Tuggle today to find out how ART can help ease your pain.