Every February, we see the same pattern at OhioChiro. Motivated people start the year strong, recommit to workouts, return to sports, or push harder at the gym. A few weeks later, something starts to feel off.
Sometimes it shows up as shoulder pain or neck tightness. Sometimes it’s back pain, muscle tension, or stiffness that limits range of motion. Other times, it’s not pain at all, just the sense that your body is not moving the way it should.
That feedback matters.
Your body uses muscle tension, restricted movement of muscles, and areas of restriction as signals. These signals often point to soft tissue, connective tissues, and movement patterns that are not tolerating load well. That is where Active Release Technique, also known as active release therapy, becomes a powerful part of a care plan.
Start Smarter, Not Harder
Your body is built to adapt. When pain, tight muscles, or chronic pain appear, it is often because tissues are overloaded or movement quality has changed.
Desk posture, stress breathing, and repetitive movements can limit blood flow and normal tissue function. Training volume or new workouts can expose scar tissue, overuse injuries, or areas of the body that never fully recovered from minor injuries.
These patterns affect daily activities, athletic performance, and quality of life. Treating symptoms alone rarely solves the problem. Addressing the root causes of pain does.
Active Release Technique supports that process by helping restore proper movement, improve patient movement, and reduce mechanical stress in affected areas.
Why Resolution Season Often Becomes Tension Season
February tends to amplify existing issues for desk workers, professional athletes, and people returning to exercise.
Long hours sitting can contribute to muscle tension in the neck, shoulders, chest, and lower back. Repetitive strain injuries can develop quietly before showing up as carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, or shoulder pain.
In athletes, sports injuries like shin splints, IT band syndrome, plantar fasciitis, and lower back pain often stem from soft tissue restrictions rather than a single traumatic event.
The body compensates by tightening. Over time, these compensations reduce normal function, limit range of motion, and increase stress on joints and connective tissues.
What Is Active Release Technique
Active Release Technique is a manual therapy technique that focuses on muscles, fascia, tendons, and ligaments. It uses specific pressure combined with active movements to restore motion and tissue glide.
During an ART session, the practitioner evaluates areas of restriction, applies manual pressure to the affected area, and guides active patient movement through specific protocols. This approach improves movement of muscles, supports blood flow, and encourages the natural healing process.
Active release therapy differs from massage therapy and myofascial release techniques because it is movement based and highly targeted. Each art treatment is tailored to specific needs, movement deficits, and functional goals.
Conditions Commonly Addressed With ART
Active Release Technique is often used as part of a personalized treatment plan for both everyday tension and sports medicine cases, including:
- Neck and shoulder pain related to posture or stress
- Lower back pain and chronic pain patterns
- Repetitive strain injuries from desk work
- Sports injuries affecting hips, knees, and ankles
- Carpal tunnel syndrome and forearm overuse
- Tennis elbow and grip related injuries
- Plantar fasciitis and foot loading issues
- IT band syndrome and running related pain
By restoring normal tissue function and proper movement, ART can contribute to pain relief, greater flexibility, and faster recovery.
Why Soft Tissue Work Supports Better Results
Restricted soft tissue alters how joints move and how force travels through the body. When movement quality is compromised, physical performance suffers and injury prevention becomes harder.
Manual therapy techniques like active release help remove barriers to proper movement so strengthening and rehabilitation can be more effective. This is why ART is often integrated alongside chiropractic care, physical therapy, and corrective exercise.
Research continues to support multimodal care approaches that combine manual therapy with progressive loading for optimal results and significant improvements in function.
Common ART Focus Areas at OhioChiro
At OhioChiro, ART is commonly applied to areas that impact both athletic performance and daily comfort:
Neck and Upper Traps
Trigger points and soft tissue restriction can affect rotation, posture, and headaches.
Shoulders and Chest
Restricted connective tissues in the front of the shoulder often contribute to pinching and limited overhead motion.
Forearms and Elbows
Repetitive gripping, lifting, and keyboard work can overload tendons and contribute to pain.
Hips and Glutes
Hip restrictions frequently influence lower back mechanics and lower body loading.
A Spine First, Physician Directed Approach
Active Release Technique works best when it is part of a broader, specialized approach. At OhioChiro, care begins with an initial consultation and movement assessment to identify contributing factors.
Our spine first model recognizes that spinal mobility influences posture, breathing, and movement patterns throughout the body. ART may be combined with spinal joint care, corrective exercises, and progressive loading strategies to support optimal results.
Each plan is built around the patient’s goals, whether that means returning to training, improving physical performance, or moving comfortably through daily activities.
Who Can Benefit From Active Release Therapy
This approach is especially helpful if you:
- Feel stuck in cycles of muscle tension or recurring pain
- Experience limited range of motion despite stretching
- Want injury prevention support during training
- Need a manual therapy option beyond massage therapy
- Want care that addresses root causes rather than symptoms
Many physical therapists, massage therapists, and sports medicine professionals recognize the benefits of ART for improving tissue mobility and supporting long term healing.
Take the Next Step
Active Release Technique can be a powerful tool for restoring motion, supporting the healing process, and helping your body move with confidence again. If tension, soreness, or injury has slowed your progress, the goal is clarity, proper movement, and a treatment plan that fits your needs. That is how better movement leads to better outcomes.
Contact OhioChiro today to schedule your assessment and start a personalized Active Release Technique treatment plan designed to support safe, effective recovery and long-term movement in Upper Arlington and Columbus.
Science Sources
1) Active Release Technique (ART) overview / soft-tissue methods (movement-based soft-tissue technique) (PMC): https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4563290/
2) Active Release Technique vs Muscle Energy Technique for upper trapezius trigger points : improved pain and neck motion. (PubMed) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29037649/
3) Neck Pain Clinical Practice Guidelines (multimodal care: manual therapy + exercise/strengthening) JOSPT, 2017 update: https://www.jospt.org/doi/10.2519/jospt.2017.0302
4) Spinal manipulation, medication, or home exercise for acute/subacute neck pain (supports conservative, movement-forward care) Annals of Internal Medicine, 2012 (PubMed):
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22213489/
