Active Release Technique – The Secret to Relieving Chronic Muscle Pain

drmasonmorris
Oct 30, 2025
2 min read

Introduction

Living with chronic muscle pain can be exhausting. Whether it’s from sports injuries, repetitive movements at work, or old strains that never fully healed, tight muscles and nagging aches can seriously affect your quality of life. One of the most effective ways to tackle these problems is through Active Release Technique (ART)—a specialized form of manual therapy offered here at Strive Chiropractic.

What is Active Release Technique?

ART is a hands-on therapy that targets scar tissue and adhesions in muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Instead of simply massaging the area, your chiropractor applies precise pressure while guiding you through specific movements. This process helps break up restrictions that limit mobility and irritate nearby nerves.

The treatment can feel like a “good hurt” while it’s happening, but patients often report immediate relief and greater range of motion afterward.

Why Scar Tissue Causes Pain

Whenever muscles or soft tissues are injured, the body repairs them by creating scar tissue. Unfortunately, this scar tissue isn’t as flexible as normal fibers and often builds up in clumps. Over time, it restricts movement and can pinch or irritate nerves.

That’s why conditions like sciatica, carpal tunnel syndrome, or shoulder impingement often linger—because the underlying restriction hasn’t been released. ART addresses the root of the problem, not just the symptoms.

Conditions ART Can Help Treat

Active Release Technique is incredibly versatile. At Strive Chiropractic, we use it to treat:

Neck and back pain
Sciatica and nerve entrapments
Shoulder pain and rotator cuff issues
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow
Shin splints and plantar fasciitis

For athletes, ART helps with overuse injuries. For desk workers, it relieves tension caused by repetitive tasks and poor posture.

Why Athletes Love ART

Professional athletes have trusted ART for decades to keep them performing at their best. The technique:

Speeds up recovery from injuries
Improves flexibility and mobility
Reduces the risk of re-injury
Relieves pain without medication

But you don’t have to be a pro athlete to benefit. ART can help anyone who wants to move better and feel less pain.

What to Expect During Treatment

Your chiropractor will first identify the restricted areas by testing your movement. Once located, they’ll use their hands to apply pressure while guiding you through specific motions.

Treatment is interactive, targeted, and often brings noticeable changes even after the first session. For chronic problems, a series of treatments usually delivers the best long-term results.

Final Thoughts

Chronic muscle pain doesn’t have to control your life. With Active Release Technique at Strive Chiropractic, we can help restore mobility, relieve pain, and get you back to the activities you love.

📞 Call today to schedule your ART session and take the first step toward lasting relief.