Find Lasting Pain Relief with Active Release Technique (ART)
Let’s talk about something that’s helping a lot of my patients feel better fast—Active Release Technique, or ART. If you’re dealing with muscle tightness, nagging pain, or limited mobility, this hands-on treatment might be exactly what you need to get back to feeling like yourself again.
At Leopold Chiropractic, we use ART to treat everything from sports injuries to desk-job stiffness. It’s precise, effective, and often provides results in just a few visits. Let’s take a closer look at what it is and why it works.
Chiropractic client being helped by Dr. Leopold who is using the Active Release Technique (ART) to treat pain and improve functionality.
What Is Active Release Technique (ART)?
ART is a manual therapy that targets the soft tissues—muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia, and nerves—by locating and treating adhesions. These adhesions are small areas of scar tissue that form due to overuse or injury and can lead to pain, tightness, and weakness. During treatment, I use my hands to apply pressure to the affected area while you perform specific movements. This combination helps break up those adhesions and restore normal function.
Why Adhesions Cause So Many Problems
When your muscles and connective tissues develop adhesions, they stop gliding smoothly. This can lead to restricted movement, nerve irritation, inflammation, and pain. Over time, these issues can affect posture, mobility, and even cause compensation injuries elsewhere in the body. By identifying and treating these trouble spots early, we can stop that chain reaction and get things moving properly again.
What to Expect During an ART Session
ART isn’t a passive treatment. I work with you in real-time—pinpointing problem areas and guiding you through specific movements that help release the tension. You might feel a little pressure or mild discomfort during the session, but most patients describe it as “the good kind of sore.” Best of all, many feel noticeable relief after just a few sessions.
Dr. Leopold using the Active Release Technique (ART) on a patient who participates in martial arts.
ART Can Help with a Wide Range of Conditions
Active Release Technique is incredibly versatile. We use it to treat everything from tension headaches and shin splints to shoulder impingement, plantar fasciitis, and even low back pain. Because ART targets soft tissue dysfunction at its source, it can be adapted to address a variety of issues—whether caused by athletic overuse, poor posture, repetitive work, or even old injuries that never quite healed right.
ART Supports Whole-Body Alignment
When one part of your body isn’t moving well—due to adhesions or soft tissue restrictions—it can throw everything else out of balance. ART doesn’t just fix a single “problem area.” It helps restore proper movement across entire muscle chains, which improves your posture, mobility, and coordination. That’s why so many people report not just less pain—but feeling lighter, looser, and more aligned after treatment.
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions About Active Release Therapy (ART)
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You might feel some pressure or discomfort during treatment, especially if the tissue is very tight—but it’s usually manageable and short-lived. Many patients actually find it satisfying, like a deep stretch.
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It depends on your condition, but most patients see improvement within 3–5 visits. Chronic issues may need more time, while acute strains or overuse injuries often respond quickly.
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Anyone dealing with muscle tension, repetitive strain injuries, or nerve compression symptoms like sciatica or carpal tunnel can benefit from ART. It’s popular with athletes, but you don’t have to be one to see results.
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Massage and stretching are great tools—but ART is more targeted. It’s designed to break down specific adhesions and improve the way your soft tissues function, which makes it more effective for long-term relief.
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Yes! By restoring proper movement and tissue function, ART can improve biomechanics and reduce your risk of reinjury—whether you're working at a desk or training for a marathon.
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Absolutely. When performed by a trained provider, ART is a safe, non-invasive therapy that helps restore balance and mobility without medications or surgery.
Key Takeaways
ART targets soft tissue adhesions that cause pain, tension, and restricted movement.
It’s active and precise, combining hands-on pressure with guided motion to break up scar tissue.
Most patients feel better quickly—often in just a few sessions.
ART supports long-term healing by correcting the root cause, not just masking symptoms.
It’s safe and effective for all types of people—not just athletes.
About Leopold Chiropractic
Leopold Chiropractic is a holistic clinic in Oakland, California, founded by Dr. Peter Leopold. The practice specializes in root-cause healing through chiropractic care, functional neurology, and functional medicine. Services include corrective exercise, neuroplasticity-based therapies, and personalized nutritional counseling, all aimed at restoring nervous system balance and long-term wellness. Dr. Leopold offers both in-person and intensive programs for individuals seeking comprehensive, integrative care.
Dr. Peter Leopold is a chiropractor and board-certified functional neurologist who specializes in neuroplasticity, nutritional counseling, and root-cause healing. He’s trained in the Melillo Method™ and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine.
