Active Release Therapy (ART)

ART can feel intense in tight or restricted areas, but it should never be beyond your comfort level. Treatment is always adjusted based on your feedback throughout the session. Most people describe the sensation as a productive discomfort, similar to a deep stretch, that eases as the tissue releases. The goal is always to work with your body, not against it.

While massage therapy focuses on general muscle relaxation and tension relief, Active Release Technique is a highly specific, movement-based treatment targeting the exact location of soft tissue restriction. ART combines manual pressure with active patient movement to break up adhesions, restore tissue glide, and address the underlying cause of pain and dysfunction. It is a clinical treatment designed to produce measurable changes in how your tissues move and function.

The number of sessions varies depending on the nature of the condition, how long it has been present, and how your body responds to treatment. Many people notice meaningful improvement within just a few sessions, while more chronic or complex conditions may benefit from a short series of treatments. At Alera, your progress is reassessed regularly so your care plan evolves with you.

Yes, and it often works best that way. At Alera, ART is frequently integrated with chiropractic adjustments, targeted mobility work, and corrective exercise to create a comprehensive approach to pain relief and movement restoration. Addressing both joint function and soft tissue health together tends to produce faster, longer lasting results than either treatment alone.

Absolutely. While ART is widely used in sport and performance settings to treat overuse injuries, muscle strains, and repetitive stress conditions, it is equally effective for anyone dealing with chronic tightness, postural strain, or restricted movement in daily life. If your body is not moving the way it should, ART can help regardless of your activity level.

Active Release Technique, Graston, and dry needling are all effective soft tissue treatments, but they work in different ways and are suited to different presentations.

ART is a movement-based manual therapy. It uses precise hands-on pressure combined with active patient movement to identify and release soft tissue restrictions in muscles, tendons, ligaments, and fascia. Because the patient is actively moving through the treatment, ART is particularly effective for addressing how tissues function during real movement patterns.

Graston Technique uses specially designed stainless steel instruments to detect and break down scar tissue and fascial restrictions. It is a tool-assisted approach that works well for chronic soft tissue thickening and areas that are difficult to access with hands alone

Dry needling involves inserting thin needles directly into trigger points within muscle tissue to release tension, improve blood flow, and reduce pain. It targets the neuromuscular system and is particularly effective for deep muscle knots and referred pain patterns.


At Alera, these therapies are not treated as competing approaches. Depending on your condition and how your body responds, they may be used together as part of a comprehensive care plan to get you the best possible outcome.