Active Release Technique (ART) is a hands-on soft tissue treatment designed to break up scar tissue and adhesions in muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia, and nerves. It is often described as a “movement-based massage” because it combines precise manual pressure from a practitioner with specific movements performed by the patient.
ART practitioners use their hands to feel the texture, tightness, and movement quality of the tissue, then apply precisely directed tension while the patient actively moves the affected muscle through a specific range of motion. This combination creates a shearing force that separates adhesions from surrounding tissue, restoring normal glide between layers.