What Is Active Release Therapy and How Does It Treat Soft Tissue Pain?

When Adjustments Alone Aren't Enough — Meet Active Release Technique

Most people know chiropractic care for spinal adjustments. But what happens when your pain is living in the muscles, tendons, fascia, or nerves surrounding the spine — not in the joints themselves? That's exactly where Active Release Technique, or ART, comes in.

As an ART-certified provider, I use this method regularly at Mansfield Spinal Care because it fills a gap that spinal manipulation alone simply can't address. And once patients experience it, they often wonder why no one told them about it sooner.

So What Exactly Is ART?

Active Release Technique is a hands-on, movement-based treatment for soft tissue — meaning muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia, and nerves. It was developed by Dr. P. Michael Leahy, a chiropractor who noticed that many of his patients' problems were rooted in soft tissue restrictions rather than spinal misalignment alone.

Here's the core idea: when soft tissue is overused, strained, or injured, the body lays down scar tissue as part of the healing process. That scar tissue — sometimes called an adhesion — can bind layers of tissue together that are supposed to slide and glide freely. The result? Tightness, reduced range of motion, nerve compression, and pain that just doesn't seem to go away no matter how much you stretch or rest.

ART breaks up those adhesions using a precise combination of provider-applied tension and patient movement. During a session, I locate the restricted tissue with my hands, apply specific directional pressure, and then guide you through a targeted movement that lengthens the tissue while I hold tension on the problem area. Think of it like ironing out a stubborn knot while the fabric is being stretched — that combination is what makes ART different from a standard massage or foam rolling.

How Is ART Different From Massage or Traditional Chiropractic?

This is one of the most common questions I hear, and it's a fair one.

• Traditional massage uses broad pressure and circulation techniques to relax muscle tension. It feels wonderful, but it typically doesn't target specific adhesions or scar tissue formations with the precision ART uses.
• Chiropractic manipulation restores joint motion and alignment — it works on the skeletal and neurological level. ART works on the soft tissue level.
• ART is highly specific. Each session follows a protocol mapped to the exact muscle, nerve, or tendon involved. The patient is active during the treatment — your movement is part of what makes it work.

When I combine ART with chiropractic adjustments, we're addressing both the joint and the surrounding soft tissue together. That combination often produces faster, longer-lasting results than either approach alone.

What Conditions Does ART Commonly Treat?

ART has a strong track record with a wide range of soft tissue complaints. In my practice, I most frequently use it for:

• Repetitive stress injuries — conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome, golfer's elbow, and tennis elbow that develop from repeated overuse of the same tissue
• Sciatica and nerve entrapments — when adhesions in the hip, piriformis, or hamstring compress or tether the sciatic nerve, causing radiating leg pain or numbness
• Plantar fasciitis — chronic heel pain driven by fascial tightness and scar tissue buildup along the bottom of the foot
• Shoulder impingement and rotator cuff tightness — restrictions in the shoulder muscles and tendons that limit overhead motion and cause persistent aching
• Neck and upper back tightness — especially in patients whose pain is driven more by muscle and fascial restriction than by spinal misalignment

If you've been told your X-rays look fine but you're still in pain, soft tissue restriction may be what's being missed. That's a scenario where ART tends to shine.

What Does an ART Session Actually Feel Like?

I want to set honest expectations here, because ART is different from a relaxing massage.

During treatment, I'll use my hands to locate the problem tissue — often you'll feel a dull, pressure-like tenderness right at the adhesion site. That's how we know we've found it. I'll hold tension on that spot while asking you to move the associated limb or body part through a specific range of motion. You may feel a brief "release" sensation, sometimes a mild burning or pulling feeling as the tissue frees up. Most patients describe it as a productive discomfort — not sharp or unbearable, but noticeable.

Sessions are typically short — often 10 to 15 minutes of hands-on work — and many patients notice improved mobility or reduced pain within the first one to three visits. For longer-standing injuries with well-established scar tissue, a series of sessions is usually more appropriate.

What Does the Research Say?

ART has a growing body of clinical evidence behind it. Studies have shown meaningful improvement in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome, plantar fasciitis, and lower extremity repetitive strain injuries. Research published in peer-reviewed journals has documented that ART reduces pain scores and improves functional outcomes in conditions involving nerve entrapment and myofascial restriction. It's also widely used by professional sports teams and athletic trainers, which speaks to its effectiveness in high-demand physical contexts.

That said, I always tell my patients: evidence is one part of the picture. The other part is whether it's the right fit for what you're dealing with specifically. That's what a thorough evaluation is for.

Putting It All Together at Mansfield Spinal Care

At Mansfield Spinal Care, we don't believe in one-size-fits-all treatment. For many patients, the most effective care plan is one that combines chiropractic adjustments with ART — addressing both the structural and soft tissue sides of the problem at the same time. That's exactly the kind of comprehensive, whole-body approach we take here every day.

Whether you're recovering from a nagging sports injury, dealing with workplace repetitive stress, or simply frustrated that nothing seems to be getting to the root of your pain, our team is here to listen, evaluate, and build a plan that makes sense for your life. And if you've been in a motor vehicle accident or a household injury has left you with persistent muscle or nerve pain, ART may be one of the most effective tools in your recovery. Dr. Jensen and the team at Mansfield Spinal Care are ready to help you move better, feel better, and get back to doing what you love.