Active Release Technique — The Hands-On Therapy That Resolves Stubborn Soft-Tissue Problems
Active Release Technique (ART) is a patented soft-tissue treatment system developed and refined over the last three decades and now used by chiropractors, physical therapists, and sports medicine doctors worldwide. It is the technique you'll see on the sidelines at professional sports events — from the NHL and NBA to the Olympics — for a reason. ART resolves soft-tissue problems that don't respond to standard treatments like stretching, massage, ice, or rest.
Here is the key idea behind ART. When muscles, tendons, fascia, or nerves are injured, overused, or chronically loaded, the body forms scar tissue (called adhesions) as part of the healing response. Over time, those adhesions cause tightness, weakness, reduced range of motion, and chronic pain. They can also entrap nerves — producing tingling, numbness, burning, or unexplained weakness that no amount of stretching or massage will resolve. Conventional therapy that doesn't address the adhesions often spins its wheels.
How ART Actually Works
ART combines specific manual pressure with active patient movement. The provider locates the affected tissue by feel, applies precise tension to it, and asks the patient to move through a specific range of motion. The combination of manual tension plus active movement is what releases the adhesion, restores the tissue's full glide, and resolves the underlying problem at its source. ART practitioners go through specific certification training and need to maintain their certification — it is a learned skill, not a general "soft tissue" approach.
What this looks like in practice: rather than getting a generalized rub-down, you'll feel Dr. Tamara apply pressure to a specific spot — sometimes a place you didn't know was tight — while you actively bend, extend, rotate, or contract a specific muscle or joint. It's intentional and structured. Most patients describe it as similar to a deep stretch or a focused release: uncomfortable in a productive way, but not painful in a damaging way.
Conditions Where ART Tends to Work Best
ART is especially effective for repetitive strain injuries. Carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis and golfer's elbow, "mouse shoulder," jumper's knee, IT band syndrome, plantar fasciitis — anything caused by repetitive motion that has developed into chronic adhesion patterns. Office workers, healthcare staff, vineyard and orchard workers, drywall and trade workers, and anyone else who uses the same movement thousands of times a day are over-represented in these presentations.
Sports injuries are another major application. Hamstring strains, rotator cuff issues, Achilles tendinopathy, runner's knee, shin splints, and post-surgical recovery all respond well. ART restores the soft tissue's normal glide and resolves the scar tissue that limits performance and causes recurrent injuries. Many endurance athletes in Penticton use ART maintenance sessions during training cycles to keep adhesions from building up.
Whiplash and post-MVA recovery is another common reason patients come in for ART. After a motor vehicle accident, layers of muscle and fascia in the neck, shoulders, and upper back can develop adhesions that produce ongoing pain and stiffness long after the initial injury has technically healed. ART is widely used in ICBC injury rehabilitation precisely because it addresses these underlying tissue patterns. If your symptoms followed an accident, ICBC may cover your visits — see our ICBC coverage page for details.
What an ART Session at OCC Looks Like
Dr. Tamara starts with a careful examination. ART practitioners are trained to feel for tissue texture, tension, and movement — identifying exactly where adhesions are and which specific structures are restricted. The treatment plan is built around what she finds on hands-on assessment, not a generic protocol. This is one of the reasons ART works where general "deep tissue" massage often does not — the treatment is targeted to the actual problem tissue.
During treatment, Dr. Tamara applies precise manual pressure to the affected tissue while you actively move through a specific range of motion. It is not passive massage — you are an active participant. The combination of manual tension plus active movement is what makes ART different from any other soft-tissue technique. Session length varies by what's being treated, and ART is usually combined with chiropractic adjustment and rehabilitation exercises — either in the same appointment or across visits, depending on what your case needs.
Most patients see meaningful change within the first few sessions, and most cases resolve over a short course of care. Acute issues often respond faster; chronic, long-standing adhesion patterns can take a few more visits. Dr. Tamara almost always pairs ART with a small set of home exercises — the in-clinic work releases the tissue, and the home program keeps it released. The goal is not to keep coming forever — it is to resolve the problem and keep you moving freely on your own. Dr. Tamara will give you a realistic estimate of how many visits your specific case needs after the initial assessment.
When ART Isn't Right
ART isn't appropriate for every situation. Acute injuries (within the first 48–72 hours of trauma) need to settle before ART is initiated. Active infection, fracture sites, recent surgical incisions, and certain blood-clotting conditions are also contraindications. If ART isn't the right treatment for your case, Dr. Tamara will say so plainly and recommend an alternative.