Active Release Technique (ART)

What is active release technique?

Active release technique (ART) is a manual massage therapy which “smoothes out” scar tissue and breaks up adhesions between soft tissue structures including muscles, tendons, ligaments, connective tissue and nerves. These problems are often a result of various injuries that include acute or sudden injury, chronic injury and pressure injury due to poor posture. The scar tissue and adhesions can cause the motion of muscles or joints to be altered, resulting in symptoms such as pain, weakness, reduced range of motion, numbness and tingling.

What is an active release treatment like?

Dr. Brenda L. Rooney will determine where the adhesions are, and how severe the soft tissue injury is, simply through her touch. An active release technique session consists of a combination of both examination of the injured soft tissue and a targeted treatment of the area using both practitioner pressure and specific patient movements. Dr. Rooney will have the patient actively move a body part or passively move the body part for the patient. Dr. Rooney’s contact, along with the movement of the patient, will break up the scar tissue and adhesion.

What conditions can be treated with active release technique?

A few conditions which active release technique can treat include headaches, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, shin splints, shoulder pain, sciatica, plantar fasciitis, knee problems, and tennis elbow.