Practitioner working on a patient's shoulder
Non-Invasive Care.
Powerful Results.

The Leader in Soft-Tissue and Nerve Care

Active Release Techniques® is the global leader in non-invasive soft-tissue and nerve treatment, including treatment of strains, sprains, and other musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Hands-on, movement-based ART treatment is specifically designed to quickly reduce pain and restore function. Whether you’ve got a minor strain or a complex injury, ART gets you back to work and back to play faster and more effectively than conventional therapy methods.

How It Works

From couch potatoes, to weekend warriors, to Hall of Fame athletes; and from tweaking your back, to overuse injuries, even to injuries “requiring” surgery, ART treatment helps.

When body systems responsible for movement stop working as designed, you feel pain. ART corrects the root movement disfunction and the resulting pain. Here’s how:

Diagnose

ART Certified Providers™ utilize a hands-on diagnostic process, palpating affected areas in order to pinpoint the damaged and inflamed tissue. (Don’t worry, “palpating” just means the Certified Provider uses touch to feel and diagnose the root cause of the injury or disorder.)

Release Muscles

ART treatment works by releasing muscles, ligaments, tendons, and fascia that no longer function properly due to overuse or injury.

Relieve Pain

Once the issue is located, the treatment proceeds to specific patient movements and practitioner touch to release adhesions and relieve pain.

What to Expect

Treatment sessions last about 15-minutes and many patients experience dramatic reduction in pain and increase in range of motion after their first treatment. Most problems are resolved in five or fewer treatments. Meaning you spend less time in waiting rooms and doctor’s offices, and more time living your life.

Practitioner working on a patient's shoulder
Conditions Treated

ART treatment is effective against signs and symptoms of muscle and nerve dysfunction – sometimes referred to as soft-tissue conditions or MSDs – including tightness, pain, tingling, inflammation, restricted range of motion, muscle ache, and related symptoms.

  • Back Pain
  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
  • Joint Pain
  • Numbing Sprains
  • Lockjaw
  • Repetitive Stress and Overuse Injuries
  • Strains
  • Foot Pain
  • Migraines
  • Shoulder Pain
  • Sciatica
ART provider performing spine treatment on patient

Find ART Certified Providers Near You

Locate and contact ART Certified Providers in your area:

ART has shown me that I can rise above my broken body experience, live a more comfortable life, and have faith in the medical profession once again.

Heather Quinn Nelson
Patient

While playing recreational ice hockey, I fell in an awkward manner and my leg twisted under my skate. I immediately felt pain in my knee and lower leg. For weeks I suffered, limping around and taking medications. With the physical trauma associated with my injury, I thought I was headed for a scope, or worse, surgery. After just two ART sessions, my knee and leg are feeling great again, with no pain.

Bill MacNeill
Weekend Warrior, Patient

ART is a key component in my success as a professional triathlete. Over five years of consistent ART care has helped me to optimize recovery, avoid injuries, repair soft-tissue disfunction, and perform at peak levels, posting career wins at Ironman races.

Michael Weiss
Patient and Pro Triathlete

With regular ART treatment, my muscles feel younger, less stiff.

Justin Halloran
Patient

I began receiving ART treatments in 2001 after my fourth knee surgery in 18 months. I firmly believe ART helped save my career. I retired after the 2008 season and 15 years as a quarterback in the NFL. I still utilize ART as part of my overall wellness routine. I believe in it so much that I’ve introduced my wife and children to the benefits of ART.

Trent Green, CBS Sports Analyst and 15-Year NFL Quarterback
Patient

I had physical therapy, massage, acupuncture, and chiropractic treatments. Nothing seemed to get me all the way back. With ART, my basic injury seems to be entirely gone.

Kate Fonshell, US Olympic Long-Distance Runner
Patient

What’s amazing to me is that it works so fast. It seems like black magic. I’ve been to a succession of orthopedics, chiropractors, and acupuncturists over more than 30 years of suffering with a bad back. None matched ART for pure speed. I’ve had ART treatment for four different problems, and each time the cure was nearly instant.

William Goldman, Screenwriter
Patient

In fall 2017, I was running the Kansas City Marathon and had to stop due to the worst pain in my right hip. It felt like my bones were rubbing against each other with every step. The following week, I had two sessions of ART and was able to run the Kansas Half without pain the next week. That was my first exposure to ART, and I took my first ART seminar in January 2018. I was ART Full Body certified by March and use ART regularly to help my clients.

Rachel Hockenbarger
LMT, Patient + Provider

After a second ART session, I found that I was able to rotate my right arm in a circle with no discomfort, no feeling of something “clicking” in the socket. That’s after 26 years of clicks.

Lou Schuler
Patient

ART gives me the best bang for the buck, and if I had to choose one thing to keep me performing well it would be ART.

Bill Romanowski
4-Time Super Bowl Champion, Patient

Certifications Explained

Upper Extremity
Level 1

Treatment of structures pertaining to the hands, wrists, arms, and shoulders

Level 2

Advanced education and training on the upper extremities and related structures

Spine
Level 1

Treatment of structures pertaining to the upper, middle, and lower back, abdomen, neck, jaw, and head

Level 2

Advanced education and training on the spine and related structures

Lower Extremity
Level 1

Treatment of structures pertaining to the feet, ankles, legs, knees, and hips

Level 2

Advanced education and training on the lower extremities and related structures

Nerve
Advanced Certification Only

Nerves, located anywhere in the body

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Does my insurance cover ART treatment?

    It depends on your state of residence and your medical insurance plan. Many plans do not cover ART treatment but may cover services that broadly describe or approximate ART treatment, such as myofascial release or some physical therapy services. Some ART Certified Provider offices will do cash upfront for ART treatment and are then willing to bill insurance to see if the services will be covered. In sum, some plans cover ART treatment and some don’t, while others may have a specialty co-pay. If you are concerned about insurance coverage, please check with your ART Certified Provider and/or insurance company prior to beginning a course of treatment.

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The gold standard in soft-tissue care

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Disclaimer: ART treatment is generally not appropriate for critical injuries requiring immediate attention, cuts or abrasions, infectious diseases, cancers, fractures, dislocations or tendon ruptures, though it may assist in recovery from these types of injuries or associated medical procedures. Your ART Certified Provider knows whether ART treatment is appropriate for your particular case. If you need immediate medical attention, please call 911.