Active Release Technique (ART)

What is Active Release Technique?

Active Release Technique, or ART, is a patented, state-of-the-art soft tissue treatment technique that treats muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia and nerves – our entire musculoskeletal system.

Active Release Technique can quickly and permanently resolve conditions such as headaches, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, shin splints, shoulder pain, sciatica, plantar fasciitis, knee problems, and tennis elbow. Overused muscles are a common factor in each of these conditions.

Why Over-used Muscles are a Problem

Over-used muscles (and their related soft tissues: tendons, fascia, ligaments, and nerves) are different from normal muscles in three important ways:

  • The muscle initially tightens up
  • Toxins (lactic acid, carbonic acid, etc.) accumulate
  • Decreased oxygen flow (hypoxia)

Each of these factors can cause your body to produce tough, dense scar tissue. 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. This can cause reduced range of motion, loss of strength, and pain. A nerve trapped by scar tissue may also feel tingling, numbness, and weakness along the path of the nerve.

How Active Release Technique Helps

Active-Release-TechniqueActive Release Technique is utilized by millions of people worldwide, from children to world-class athletes to grandmothers. Why? Because ART is the only soft tissue technique where the muscle moves under the contact point (the hand). With ART, the hand is literally acting like a scraper, pushing waste products (lactic acid, carbonic acid, etc.) out of the muscles, allowing fresh blood to flow in. Additionally, ART is breaking up scar tissue. This is different than therapeutic massage, where the muscle lies still while the hand moves (though massage has other benefits!).

Marin County is cornerstone for Active Release Techniques. With so many athletes residing in Marin, ART has been used to rapidly restore careers and avid pursuits in baseball, volleyball, running, and triathlons. ART is not merely for treating athletes, but athletes often suffer repetitive injuries and seek the absolute pinnacle of performance – making ART a good choice for them.

To schedule an appointment or learn more, call our office at 415-488-5372.