Active Release Technique

Recovery | Pain Relief | Performance

Active Release Techniques in Greenville, SC or ART is a myofascial release technique that utilizes patient movement to treat problems with muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia, and nerves.

The use of ART can significantly improve many soft tissue and nerve damage injuries. Whether you are a long-distance runner or sit at a desk all day, ART can alleviate pain in problem areas, provide a safe and effective alternative to steroid injections and surgery, and significantly shorten healing time for many common injuries.

Active Release Technique | Upstate Spine & Sport

What Conditions are Treated with ART?

Active Release Technique is successful at alleviating pain associated with acute and chronic soft tissue disorders. The ART system utilizes over 500 protocols that vary based on the practitioner’s hand placement and patient movement and are each specific for the muscle or nerve entrapment being treated.

ART at Upstate Spine & Sport in Greenville can be used alone or in conjunction with other soft tissue treatments like Graston, vibration therapy, trigger point therapy, or sports massage, as well as custom stretching and strengthening exercises that accelerate your recovery.

Many common conditions and injuries usually begin with overused muscles. As a result, your body can produce tough scar tissue that binds down other tissues that are designed to move freely. Once scar tissue is built up, muscles become shorter and weaker and if tendonitis develops, patients with entrapped nerves can experience a reduced range of motion, tingling, numbness, pain, and weakness.

Who Can Benefit from ART?

Anyone who is experiencing pain due to a soft tissue injury can benefit from ART. At Upstate Spine & Sport, we utilize ART with high school athletes, desk job workers, older adults, and anyone in between. Restoring proper muscle function and movement allows the body to operate at the most efficient level when performing even the smallest task, such as walking across the room.

Before turning to surgery or more aggressive treatment options, explore ART and the benefits it can provide for your overall well-being.

Sarah Kimmel | Massage Therapist in Greenville, SC | Active Release | Upstate Spine & Sport

If you’re looking for an ART practitioner in SC, you’ve come to the right place. Sarah Kimmel at Upstate Spine & Sport provides first-class treatment to all of our patients and specializes in Active Release Technique. Dr. David Jolson also incorporates ART into his treatments.

How Does ART Differ from Regular Massage?

One of the biggest differentiators between ART and regular static massage is the involvement of the patient to perform specific actions. Many times, the only way to reach the root of the underlying issue is to apply treatment during the motions that cause it. ART treatment involves shortening specific muscles and then lengthening them.

For instance, to treat the calf muscle, a patient may be asked to push their foot down like they are pressing on a gas pedal, shortening the muscle. Then, while tension is applied, a patient would be directed to pull their foot up all the way, lengthening the muscle.

During ART treatment, patient participation is an important part of targeting specific problem areas. ART can usually resolve pain and restore proper muscle function from common injuries in a few visits.

Who Does ART?

There are more than 6,000 ART practitioners worldwide working in a variety of medical, injury recovery, and sports performance settings. Providers must pass certifications for each area of treatment (spine, upper extremity, lower extremity, and nerve entrapments).

Sarah Kimmel is one of very few certified ART practitioners in the Upstate, Five Forks, Greer, Travelers Rest and Greenville areas. Dr. Jolson is also a certified ART provider and incorporates active release into his treatments.

Our Passion

We’ve proudly served Greenville, Greer, Simpsonville, Five Forks, Travelers Rest, and the surrounding Upstate communities for years, and we’d love to help you next. Contact us today to schedule an assessment or to book your next appointment at our clinic.

Upstate Spine & Sport Dark Background Logo