An Introduction to Active Release Therapy (ART)

Active Release Therapy (ART) is an innovative, patented system of treating soft tissue injuries using movement-based massage techniques. Unlike other therapies, ART relies on touch to both diagnose pain or movement issues in tissue structures and deliver effective treatments. This non-invasive therapy, which is less expensive and less time-consuming than other treatments, often results in faster healing.

Originally developed in 1984, ART was the brainchild of Dr. Michael Leahy. Unsatisfied with the low efficacy of traditional treatments for soft tissue injuries, Dr. Leahy sought a new technique for catering to professional athletes who needed to return to competition or training quickly. Eventually, he developed the ART treatment system and in 1988, began hosting seminars to teach other healthcare professionals about his new and effective system.

Active Release Techniques LLC has credentialed over 20,000 professionals to provide the patented soft-tissue care system. Hundreds of these providers serve in major sports leagues including the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL. Even Olympic athletes, IRONMAN triathletes, and PGA golfers use ART to optimize their recovery.

ART is administered by certified healthcare providers, trained in the discipline. These include chiropractors, physicians, physical therapists, and massage therapists. It can address soft tissue injuries on the muscles, nerves, tendons (the connective tissue between muscles), ligaments (the connective tissue between bones), and fascia (the fibrous tissues supporting organs in the body).

Soft tissue injuries can cause discomfort. They often manifest through back and neck pain, shoulder strains, shin splints, carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, and nerve pain, among others. The physiology of how this happens is complex.

When a person injures their tissue during physical activity, that tissue becomes inflamed, causing limited range of motion. Therefore, a person has to work harder to achieve the same range of motion as before, putting more pressure on the tissue and resulting in more injury and stiffness. The added stiffness is palpable to ART practitioners. It occurs due to cells like fibroblasts, which react to tension by changing shape, impacting the viscoelasticity of connective tissue.

To treat the injury, ART practitioners use physical touch to palpate (feel) the areas where a person is experiencing pain or discomfort. They look out for abnormalities in tissue texture, tightness, and movement. Once they find these, they inquire about the likely cause of the aberration and which ranges of motion cause pain.

Afterward, practitioners apply one or more ART treatment protocols to restore normal function and eliminate pain. Other benefits of the therapy are increased flexibility and range of motion.

ART treatment protocols combine precisely applied tension with specific movements by the patient to repair damaged tissue and provide relief. Because of how targeted and unique ART is, its results are impressive. Many people who undertake the therapy experience relief from muscle sprains, strains, and other injuries in five or less sessions. In fact, while not common, some patients find relief after one session.

As a non-invasive procedure, ART requires no down time, has no side effects, and is not painful. While patients may experience discomfort during an ART session because a practitioner is applying targeted pressure on an injured area, the experience should not be painful. Credentialed ART practitioners receive extensive training on just how to effectively palpate a body part and apply tension without causing nerve damage. Patients can know whether a practitioner is an ART Certified Provider by checking their name on the Active Release Directory at activerelease.com/find-a-provider.

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