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Boulder Sports Clinic
Active Release Techniques (ART) in Boulder, CO
At Boulder Sports Clinic, Active Release Techniques (ART) is a hands-on soft tissue treatment used to treat muscle, tendon, ligament, nerve, and fascia problems caused by overuse or injury. During ART, a provider applies precise tension to a tissue while the patient moves through a specific motion. This combination helps break up scar tissue, restore normal tissue movement, and reduce pain.
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What is Active Release Techniques (ART)
Muscles and connective tissues must glide smoothly against each other during movement. When an injury occurs — or when tissues are overloaded repeatedly — the body may develop adhesions or scar tissue within muscles, tendons, or surrounding fascia.
These adhesions can cause restricted movement, pain during activity, nerve irritation, reduced strength or coordination.
Active Release Techniques is designed to identify and treat these restrictions. During an ART session, the provider places specific tension on the injured tissue while the patient actively moves the body through a controlled range of motion. This helps restore normal sliding between tissues and improve movement. ART is commonly used in sports medicine because it addresses both tissue restriction and movement at the same time.
Active Release Techniques is most commonly used for overuse injuries and soft tissue restrictions. These injuries often develop when tissues are repeatedly stressed faster than they can recover.
These injuries frequently involve a combination of tissue restriction and movement dysfunction, which is why treatments like ART can be helpful when used as part of a broader treatment plan.
These adhesions can cause restricted movement, pain during activity, nerve irritation, reduced strength or coordination.
Active Release Techniques is designed to identify and treat these restrictions. During an ART session, the provider places specific tension on the injured tissue while the patient actively moves the body through a controlled range of motion. This helps restore normal sliding between tissues and improve movement. ART is commonly used in sports medicine because it addresses both tissue restriction and movement at the same time.
Active Release Techniques is most commonly used for overuse injuries and soft tissue restrictions. These injuries often develop when tissues are repeatedly stressed faster than they can recover.
These injuries frequently involve a combination of tissue restriction and movement dysfunction, which is why treatments like ART can be helpful when used as part of a broader treatment plan.
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Injuries Treated with ART:
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IT Band Syndrome: A common running injury that causes pain on the outside of the knee. ART can help restore mobility to the IT band and surrounding hip muscles.
Plantar Fasciitis: Pain along the bottom of the foot often related to tight calf muscles or foot tissues. ART can address restrictions in the calf, Achilles tendon, and plantar fascia.
Achilles Tendinopathy: A painful tendon condition common in runners and athletes who increase training volume quickly.
Tennis Elbow: Pain along the outside of the elbow caused by irritation of the forearm tendons.
Shoulder Impingement: Pain when raising the arm, often related to tight shoulder muscles or restricted shoulder blade movement.
Sciatica: Pain radiating down the leg caused by irritation of the sciatic nerve, often related to tight hip muscles such as the piriformis.
Headaches: Pain in the back of the head and neck that may radiate to the top of the head or behind the eyes.
Why Choose Boulder Sports Clinic for Active Release Technique (ART) Treatment
At Boulder Sports Clinic, we have three providers who are full body certified in ART. This means they have training to effectively treat injuries in the upper body, lower body, and spine.
At Boulder Sports Clinic, Active Release Techniques is used as part of a comprehensive sports medicine approach rather than as a stand-alone treatment. Our providers evaluate how muscles, joints, and movement patterns contribute to an injury before determining whether ART is appropriate. When soft tissue restrictions are present, ART can be used to restore normal tissue movement while other treatments—such as chiropractic care, rehabilitation exercises, or physical therapy—address the underlying mechanical or strength issues contributing to the problem. This team-based approach helps ensure that treatment focuses not only on reducing pain, but also on improving movement and reducing the likelihood of the injury returning.
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Take the First Step Toward a Pain-Free, Active Life.
Active Release Techniques at Boulder Sports Clinic are used as part of a thoughtful, conservative approach to care.
Schedule an appointment to learn how Active Release Techniques may support your recovery, reduce pain, and help you return to pain free activity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Active Release Techniques the same as massage therapy?
No. While both involve hands-on treatment, they are different approaches.
Massage therapy is typically a passive treatment focused on general muscle relaxation. Active Release Techniques involves specific tension applied to an injured tissue while the patient actively moves the body through a controlled motion. This movement component is designed to restore normal tissue sliding and mobility.
Massage therapy is typically a passive treatment focused on general muscle relaxation. Active Release Techniques involves specific tension applied to an injured tissue while the patient actively moves the body through a controlled motion. This movement component is designed to restore normal tissue sliding and mobility.
How do I know if Active Release Techniques is right for my condition?
Active Release Techniques may be appropriate if you are experiencing ongoing pain, chronic injury, muscle tightness, nerve irritation, or slow healing. An evaluation at Boulder Sports Clinic helps determine if ART is appropriate for your condition and goals.
How long does an ART treatment take?
Active Release Techniques treatments typically last about 15 minutes. A session can be performed on its own or part of a broader treatment session that may also include chiropractic care, exercise therapy, or other rehabilitation strategies. We also offer extended 30-40 minute sessions for specific cases.
Can Active Release Techniques help runners?
Yes. ART is commonly used in sports medicine clinics to treat running-related injuries such as IT band syndrome, plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendon pain, and hip muscle tightness. These injuries often involve soft tissue restrictions that can affect normal movement during running.
Who Can Benefit from Active Release Techniques?
ART is often helpful for people who are active or perform repetitive movements during work or sports.
- Climbers
- Endurance athletes
- CrossFit athletes and weightlifters
- Desk workers with repetitive strain
- People recovering from overuse injuries
Can I exercise or stay active while receiving advanced therapy?
In many cases, patients can continue exercising or training while receiving advanced therapy. Your provider will offer guidance on activity levels based on your injury, treatment plan, and recovery progress.
Does Active Release Techniques break up scar tissue?
ART is designed to restore normal movement between tissues that may be restricted by adhesions or scar tissue. When tissues cannot move normally, it can create pain and reduced mobility. By applying tension while the tissue moves, ART may help reduce these restrictions and improve movement.
Is Active Release Techniques painful?
ART can sometimes feel intense when the provider works on a restricted area, but the discomfort is usually brief and controlled. Many patients describe the sensation as a "good pain", similar to deep tissue work followed by relief once the tissue begins moving more normally.
How many ART treatments are usually needed?
The number of treatments depends on the injury and how long symptoms have been present. ART typically requires a short course of treatment, with many patients experiencing significant improvement or resolution in just 3 to 6 sessions.
Improvement often occurs faster when soft tissue treatment is combined with strengthening or movement correction.
Improvement often occurs faster when soft tissue treatment is combined with strengthening or movement correction.
Is Active Release Techniques evidence-based?
ART has been studied in hundreds of workplace injury or workman's compensation cases and has been in published journals. It was shown to be effective at reducing pain, increasing range of motion (ROM), and improving function in many musculoskeletal conditions.
How is ART different from foam rolling?
Foam rolling is a self-treatment method used to apply pressure to muscles and fascia. ART is performed by a trained provider who can apply precise tension to specific tissues while guiding the patient through movement. This allows the treatment to target specific structures that may be difficult to reach with self-treatment alone.
How does ART fit into a Complete Treatment Plan
Soft tissue treatment is often only one part of injury recovery. At Boulder Sports Clinic, ART is commonly combined with other approaches to address both tissue health and movement mechanics. This includes addressing rehab with exercise, addressing joint health with chiropractic, and tools like run gait analysis or laser therapy to address aadjacent issues.