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Active Release Technique:
What It Is, How It Works and Why PEAK Offers It
Discover how Active Release Technique (ART) helps reduce pain, restore movement and treat repetitive strain injuries. Learn how this hands-on treatment works, what conditions it can help, and why PEAK practitioners use ART to get patients moving better again.
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Some injuries don’t come from one bad moment. They build slowly, through months of repetitive movement, desk hours, or training load, until a muscle or tendon simply stops moving the way it should. Active Release Technique (ART) was developed specifically for this kind of problem, and it’s one of the core techniques our PEAK practitioners use across both our Hawthorne and New Farm clinics.
Here’s what ART actually is, how it works, and what to expect if your practitioner recommends it. (At PEAK, we call all our patients Athletes, not because of fitness level but because of mindset: our job is to help you reach your goal, whatever that is.)
What Is Active Release Technique?
Active Release Technique is a hands-on treatment in which muscle, tendon, ligament, fascia, nerve, or capsule is held with tension in a shortened position, while the tissue is lengthened through a full, comfortable range of active motion. The tension is maintained throughout the movement, which is what sets ART apart from a standard massage.
It’s a patented, soft tissue, movement-based system, and it’s used to treat problems with muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia, and nerves: the tissues most affected by repetitive strain and overuse.
- Twisting while the foot is planted on the ground
- Landing awkwardly from a jump
- Rapid changes of direction
- Direct contact to the knee during sport
- Falls or accidents
Many people report hearing or feeling a “pop” at the time of injury, particularly with ACL injuries. Swelling may develop quickly, and walking can become difficult.
The most commonly injured knee ligaments include the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), medial collateral ligament (MCL), posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), and lateral collateral ligament (LCL).
How Does ART Work?
When soft tissue is subject to repetitive strain or prolonged load, blood supply to the area can drop, and the tissue starts to develop tight, painful adhesions. These adhesions restrict normal movement and can affect nearby nerves, which is often what turns a minor niggle into a persistent, nagging problem.
ART addresses this by combining precisely directed tension with very specific patient movements. Restrictions are broken down and the tissue’s normal range of motion is restored, rather than simply easing the symptom for a day or two.
What makes ART unique is that every session is both an examination and a treatment. Your practitioner uses their hands to evaluate the texture, tightness, and movement of the muscles, fascia, tendons, ligaments, and nerves in the area, then treats whatever they find using one of over 500 specific protocols developed for ART. It isn’t a cookie-cutter approach: the treatment is built around what’s actually happening in your tissue that day.
Physiological Effects of ART
Improved range of movement
Reduced pain
Reduced tightness
Increased blood flow
Improved motor control
Increased muscle activation
What Can ART Help With?
ART is most useful for conditions linked to overuse and repetitive strain. At PEAK, our practitioners commonly use it alongside other treatment for:
- Elbow pain, including Tennis Elbow and golfer’s elbow
- Neck pain, including tension linked to whiplash, posture, and desk work
- Lower back pain and stiffness
- Shin splints and other lower leg overuse injuries
- Plantar fasciitis and heel pain
- Sciatica and related nerve irritation
- Knee problems linked to soft tissue tightness
- Shoulder pain and rotator cuff restrictions
- Headaches and carpal tunnel syndrome related to soft tissue tension
These conditions share one thing in common: they’re often the result of overused muscles, which is exactly the territory ART was built for.
What Happens in an ART Session?
Your PEAK practitioner will only use ART once they’ve thoroughly assessed you and determined it will help relieve your pain or move you closer to your goals. From there, they’ll apply direct hands-on pressure and tension to the site of restriction while getting you to actively move your body in a specific direction, lengthening the tissue under load.
This may be repeated several times in a session to fully restore the tissue’s normal range of movement. ART fits comfortably within our standard appointment times, whether that’s a 30-minute, 45-minute, or extended session.
Why PEAK for Active Release Technique?
PEAK’s own Matthew Stewart is one of the only Australian instructors certified in ART, and our team applies what’s widely regarded as the gold standard of soft tissue treatment to patients across both clinics. Because PEAK is a multidisciplinary practice, ART is rarely used in isolation: it’s typically combined with Physiotherapy, Chiropractic care, massage therapy, or podiatry, depending on what’s actually driving your pain.
That means you don’t need to know in advance whether ART is the right fit. Book in, and your practitioner will work out whether ART, another technique, or a combination gives you the best path back to full movement, in line with PEAK’s pain, prevention, and performance approach: treat what’s restricting you, build in the work that stops it recurring, then help you perform at your best.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Active Release Technique painful?
ART can feel firm and occasionally uncomfortable while tension is applied, particularly over a restricted area, but it shouldn’t be sharply painful. Your practitioner will adjust pressure to what you can tolerate.
How many ART sessions will I need?
It varies by condition and how long it’s been present, but many patients notice improvement within a handful of sessions. Your practitioner will give you a clearer timeline once they’ve assessed you.
Is ART the same as a deep tissue massage?
No. ART combines hands-on tension with active patient movement through a specific range of motion, while a deep tissue massage is typically performed on a still, passive body. ART is also part diagnostic, with each session doubling as an assessment.
Can ART be combined with physiotherapy or chiropractic care?
Yes, and it often is. Many PEAK patients have ART worked into a broader physiotherapy or chiropractic treatment plan rather than as a standalone therapy.
How do I book an ART session at PEAK?
Book an appointment online or call our Hawthorne or New Farm clinic directly, and let the team know you’re interested in Active Release Technique.
Ready to Move Without Restriction?
If overuse, tightness, or a nagging soft tissue injury has been holding you back, book an appointment with our Hawthorne or New Farm team, or give us a call:
- Hawthorne: (07) 3399 3318
- New Farm: (07) 3399 4668