Active Release Technique

Active Release Technique (ART) targets fibrosis and adhesions — the tough scar tissue that builds up in muscle, tendon and fascia after an injury, from repetitive strain, or simply from tissue not getting enough oxygen and nutrients over time. That scar tissue binds structures together that should move independently, which is what causes the weakness, numbness or burning that often comes with it.

Where massage and stretching mainly ease tension in tissue that's still healthy, ART is built to find and break up tissue that has already scarred down, restoring the movement between layers that adhesions have taken away.

Your chiropractor combines a specific hand contact with active movement of the affected muscle or joint — you move while they apply tension along the tissue, which is what distinguishes ART from a passive massage technique.

Expect a firm, specific pressure along the affected muscle or tendon while you actively move the area through its range — it can feel intense in the moment, more like deep tissue work than a typical adjustment, but it shouldn't be sharply painful.