“Struggling with chronic pain or tight muscles that won’t go away?”

Active Release Technique (ART) targets the root cause—scar tissue and adhesions—so you can move freely again. Available with any of our Chiropractors at Ohana Wellness Clinic in Bloor West Village, Toronto.

What is Active Release Technique?

Active Release Technique, commonly called ART, is a non-invasive manual therapy technique. Its aim is to correct soft tissue restrictions that cause pain and restriction.

The primary goal of ART is to break down scar tissue and adhesions in order to optimize function. This is accomplished using hands-on techniques that isolate and target the area, manipulating it to break up the scar tissue and restoring blood flow allowing the area to heal.

This soft tissue treatment is ideal for both acute and chronic conditions involving the muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves and fascia.

Scar tissue is a natural response to injury or overuse. This fibrous type of tissue is tough and dense. It is often restricting, especially when occurring in muscle and fascia, inhibiting proper movement of healthy tissue.

Scar tissue causes:

• pain
• tightness
• reduced mobility

Furthermore, muscles become shortened, tight, and weak, leading to tendonitis and nerve entrapments. Symptoms associated with scar tissue can include limited range of motion, pain and stiffness, decreased strength, and numbness.

Who can benefit from ART treatment?

• Desk workers
• Athletes
• Prenatal / Postpartum

How ART can help:

• Increased flexibility
• Improved range of motion
• Relief ot tension headaches
• Relief of muscular pain
• Management of overuse and repetitive strain injuries

What does an ART treatment look like?

Treatments take place on a chiropractic table wearing comfortable clothing. Depending on the affected area, you may be in a seated position or lying down.

Your Chiropractor will contact various points of restriction and position the tissue so it’s active or in a contracted or shortened position while applying specific tension to the adhesions. The limb is then moved into a stretched or lengthened position and through its range of motion while the tension is maintained. This leads to an increase in circulation, helping bring new blood to the area to heal while breaking up the scar tissue adhesions.

What to Expect

An initial Chiropractic appointment at Ohana Wellness Clinic is approximately one hour. Included is a detailed health intake, assessment, and treatment. Comprehensive follow-ups are either 30 or 40 minutes long. A treatment plan starts with follow-ups once per week and then decreases as symptoms improve. Our goal is a full return to activities of daily living without the need for ongoing treatments. We work collaboratively with our patients incorporating rehab and homecare recommendations to achieve greater results faster.

Feedback from patients is pain relief, greater flexibility, and regaining function (return to activities). Chronic, persistent injuries respond quite well to ART.

Does it hurt?

ART works by applying pressure to tight or scarred tissue while moving the muscle. Because of that, patients often feel:

• A deep pressure sensation
• Tenderness over tight or injured areas
• A “good pain” feeling (similar to deep tissue massage)
• Sometimes a brief, sharper discomfort when releasing a knot

Why it can feel uncomfortable

The discomfort usually happens because:

• The tissue is already irritated or inflamed
• There are adhesions (scar tissue) being broken up
• The muscle hasn’t been moving properly for a while

So the sensation is less about damage and more about working through restricted tissue.

What most patients report

“Most patients describe ART as a ‘hurts-so-good’ feeling, followed by noticeable relief and improved movement.”

Common Conditions Treated with Active Release Technique:

• Lower back pain
• Sciatica
• Plantar fasciitis
• Neck pain
• Headaches and migraines
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Tennis or golfer’s elbow
• Runner’s knee
• Shin splints
• Shoulder pain
• Frozen shoulder
• Tendinitis
• Other sports injuries
• Post-operative scarring and adhesions

Active Release Technique in Toronto

At Ohana Wellness Clinic, ART is integrated with Chiropractic, rehab, and acupuncture—so you get faster, longer-lasting results. Book your Active Release Technique session today with our certified chiropractors in Bloor West.