Active Release Technique (ART) is a patented, state-of-the-art soft tissue system that treats problems with muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia, and nerves. Headaches, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, shin splints, shoulder pain, sciatica, plantar fasciitis, knee problems, and tennis elbow are just a few of the many conditions that can be resolved quickly and permanently with ART. These conditions all share one thing in common: they’re often the result of overused muscles.
How Overused Muscles Change
Over-used muscles and other soft tissues change in three important ways:
- Acute conditions — pulls, tears, collisions, and similar sudden injuries (including neck pain, low back pain, running injuries, knee pain, and foot pain)
- Accumulation of small tears (micro-trauma) over time
- Not getting enough oxygen (hypoxia) to the tissue
Each of these factors can cause the body to produce tough, dense scar tissue in the affected area. This scar tissue binds up and ties down tissues that need to move freely. As scar tissue builds up, muscles become shorter and weaker, tension on tendons causes tendonitis, and nerves can become trapped — leading to reduced range of motion, loss of strength, and pain. If a nerve is trapped, you may also feel tingling, numbness, and weakness.
What Happens During an ART Session
Every ART session is actually a combination of examination and treatment. The ART provider uses their hands to evaluate the texture, tightness, and movement of muscles, fascia, tendons, ligaments, and nerves. Abnormal tissues are then treated by combining precisely directed tension with very specific patient movements.
These treatment protocols — over 500 specific moves — are unique to ART. They allow our certified providers to identify and correct the specific problems affecting each individual patient. ART is not a cookie-cutter approach.
Frequently Asked Questions
What conditions does ART treat?
ART is used to treat headaches, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, shin splints, shoulder pain, sciatica, plantar fasciitis, knee problems, tennis elbow, and other conditions caused by overused muscles and soft tissue.
What causes the kind of tissue damage ART is designed to treat?
Three main things: acute injuries like pulls and tears, the buildup of small repeated micro-tears, and hypoxia (tissue not getting enough oxygen) — all of which can lead to scar tissue that restricts movement.
Is ART just a massage?
No. ART combines hands-on examination with treatment in the same session — the provider evaluates tissue texture and movement, then applies specific, directed tension paired with precise patient movements from a library of over 500 protocol-specific moves.
How is ART different from a standard chiropractic adjustment?
ART specifically targets soft tissue — muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia, and nerves — rather than spinal joint alignment. It’s often used alongside chiropractic adjustments as part of a broader treatment plan.
Are Lyn Lake Chiropractic’s providers certified in ART?
Yes, our clinic is a certified ART provider location.