Why Therapists Often Recommend Stretching After ART

A skilled chiropractor and certified strength and conditioning specialist with over 20 years of experience in the healthcare industry, John Beall serves as the vice president of BLVd Design Build in Alameda, California. John Beall has also earned certifications in Active Release Techniques (ART).

Active Release Technique (ART) is a soft tissue therapy that involves massage-like manipulation of injured areas of the body to disentangle abnormal knot-like arrangements of muscles, called adhesions or scar tissues, in the body. These adhesions can result in pain, numbness, tingling, and burning sensations. After ART, chiropractors may recommend an exercise regimen for patients to facilitate complete recovery and prevent recurring symptoms.

One common post-ART exercise is stretching. Although stretching is crucial for musculoskeletal injury prevention, it alone cannot effectively break down adhesions or scar tissue, which is stronger and less flexible than healthy tissue. For example, if a person with a repetitive strain injury engages in stretching exercises before the loosening of intertwined muscles, the exercise will probably stretch only the tissues around the entangled muscles. This can lead to further imbalances and dysfunctional results. Full mobility can be recovered in the treated area for someone who performs stretching exercises after ART because the contracted muscles in the previous scar tissue also stretch.

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