If you’ve ever dealt with muscle tightness, nagging injuries, or limited mobility, you know how frustrating it can be to feel held back by your own body. That’s where Active Release Technique (ART) comes in—a hands-on treatment that helps reduce pain, improve movement, and get you back to doing what you love.
At Ascend Chiropractic, all of our doctors are certified ART Elite Providers, using this technique to treat everything from sports injuries to chronic tension and nerve entrapments. Whether you're an athlete, a weekend warrior, or someone who sits at a desk all day, ART can be an effective solution to get you moving better.
What Is Active Release Technique (ART)?
ART is a movement-based treatment designed to target soft tissue problems in muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia, and nerves. It’s especially effective for areas where overuse or injury has caused scar tissue to build up, limiting movement and causing pain.
During treatment, your chiropractor will use their hands to evaluate the texture, tightness, and movement of your soft tissues. They’ll apply precise tension while guiding you through specific movements to break up adhesions—those sticky bands of tissue that restrict movement and irritate nerves.
Why You Might Need ART
When your muscles and soft tissues get overused, your body can develop scar tissue as it tries to heal. While scar tissue is part of the natural recovery process, too much of it can bind up tissues, reduce flexibility, and even trap nerves. This can lead to:
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Pain during movement
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Loss of strength or flexibility
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Tingling, numbness, or radiating discomfort
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Decreased performance in sports or daily activities
ART helps address these issues by freeing up the tissues so your body can move the way it’s supposed to—without pain or restriction.
Conditions Treated with ART
ART is effective for a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions, including:
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Lower back pain
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Neck stiffness
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Carpal tunnel syndrome
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Tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow
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Shoulder impingement
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Sciatica
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Plantar fasciitis
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Shin splints
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IT band syndrome
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Headaches related to neck or shoulder tension
It’s also a go-to therapy for athletes looking to stay ahead of injuries or speed up recovery after intense training.
Why ART at Ascend Chiropractic?
Our entire team is trained at the highest level of ART certification, making us one of the few clinics in the region offering this level of care. We don’t just treat symptoms—we look at how your body is moving as a whole. By combining ART with other techniques like spinal adjustments, dry needling, and cupping, we help restore full-body function and alignment.
Whether you’re struggling with an old injury, dealing with chronic tightness, or just want to move more efficiently, ART can be a game-changer.
Let’s Get You Moving Again
If you’re curious about ART or wondering if it’s the right fit for your condition, schedule a visit with one of our chiropractors at Ascend Chiropractic. We’ll assess your movement, pinpoint problem areas, and create a treatment plan tailored to your goals.
At Ascend, our motto is simple: Move well. Move often. ART is one of the many tools we use to help you do just that.
