Active Release Techniques (ART): How We Relieve Muscle Tension, Nerve Pain, and Overuse Injuries at Boulder Sports Clinic

If you’ve ever dealt with stubborn muscle tightness, nagging tendon pain, or nerve symptoms that just won’t go away, chances are the real problem isn’t your joints—it’s your soft tissue.

At Boulder Sports Clinic, one of the most effective tools we use to treat muscle and nerve-related pain is Active Release Techniques (ART®). ART is a hands-on manual therapy method designed to break up adhesions, restore movement, and relieve pain caused by muscle, tendon, fascia, and nerve restrictions.

In fact, every patient at our clinic receives some form of ART or targeted soft tissue work before their chiropractic adjustment, because joints move better—and stay better—when the surrounding tissues are functioning properly.

What Is Active Release Techniques (ART)?

Active Release Techniques (ART) is a movement-based soft tissue therapy that targets:

• Tight or overworked muscles
• Scar tissue and adhesions
• Fascial restrictions
• Nerve entrapments

Unlike traditional massage, ART is highly specific. Your provider uses their hands to apply precise tension to a muscle, tendon, or nerve while you actively move through a range of motion. This allows the tissue to glide, lengthen, and function normally again.

ART is especially effective for overuse injuries, postural strain, and repetitive stress injuries—all of which are extremely common in active adults, desk workers, and athletes here in Boulder.

Why Soft Tissue Work Comes Before Adjustments

At Boulder Sports Clinic, we don’t just “crack and go.”

Before any adjustment, we assess and treat the surrounding muscles and fascia using ART or other targeted manual techniques. Here’s why:

• Tight muscles can restrict joint motion
• Adhesions can prevent an adjustment from holding
• Nerve tension can mimic joint pain
• Treating soft tissue first improves comfort and results

By restoring proper tissue mobility first, adjustments are more effective, more comfortable, and longer lasting.

Common Conditions We Treat With ART

ART is incredibly versatile. We use it daily to treat a wide range of musculoskeletal and nerve-related issues, including:

Overuse & Sports Injuries

• Runner’s knee
• Achilles tendinitis
• Plantar fasciitis
• IT band syndrome
• Tennis or golfer’s elbow
• Shoulder impingement
• Rotator cuff irritation

Nerve Entrapment Pain

ART is especially powerful for nerve-related symptoms caused by tight or inflamed soft tissue:

• Sciatica
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Cubital tunnel syndrome
• Thoracic outlet syndrome
• Piriformis syndrome

By releasing the surrounding tissue, pressure on the nerve decreases—often dramatically reducing pain, tingling, or numbness.

Postural & Desk-Related Pain

• Neck and shoulder tension
• Headaches
• Upper back stiffness
• Low back pain from prolonged sitting

Poor posture and long hours at a desk create chronic muscle tension patterns. ART helps restore balance and relieve strain so your body can move the way it’s supposed to.

How Many Visits Does ART Typically Take?

One of the biggest questions patients ask is: “How long will this take?”

The answer depends on the severity and chronicity of the issue, but most soft tissue injuries improve dramatically within about 6 visits when treated appropriately.

That’s because ART:

• Addresses the root cause (not just symptoms)
• Restores normal tissue glide
• Improves blood flow and healing
• Reduces recurring flare-ups

For acute or moderate issues, many patients notice meaningful relief within the first few sessions.

ART for Athletes and Everyday Active Adults

You don’t have to be a professional athlete to benefit from ART.

We regularly use ART to help:

• Runners and cyclists improve performance
• CrossFit and strength athletes recover faster
• Skiers and climbers stay injury-free
• Desk workers eliminate chronic tension
• Active adults keep doing what they love without pain

Whether your pain comes from training hard or sitting too long, ART helps restore healthy movement patterns.

What to Expect During an ART Session

• A focused assessment of problem areas
• Targeted manual pressure on specific tissues
• Guided movement through ranges of motion
• Integration with chiropractic adjustments, rehab, or exercise when needed

ART can feel intense at times—but it’s purposeful, controlled, and highly effective.

Ready to Experience ART for Yourself?

If muscle tightness, nerve pain, or an overuse injury is holding you back, Active Release Techniques may be exactly what your body needs.

At Boulder Sports Clinic, ART is a core part of how we help patients:

• Get out of pain faster
• Heal more completely
• Stay active long-term

Schedule an appointment today and find out how ART can help you move better, feel better, and get back to doing what you love.

Call or text our office or book online to get started.

Chiropractic • Massage • PT • Laser • Shockwave • Functional Medicine
Serving Boulder, Longmont, Louisville, Lafayette, and surrounding areas

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