Active Release Techniques (ART) in Norfolk, VA
If you are living with chronic soft tissue pain, restricted movement, or a nagging injury that has not responded to other treatments, Active Release Techniques may be exactly what you need. At Ghent Chiropractic in Norfolk, VA, Dr. John Clayton is a full-body certified ART provider — one of the most comprehensive soft tissue certifications in the field. ART has helped thousands of patients and athletes resolve conditions quickly and permanently that had previously resisted months or even years of other treatment approaches.
Request an AppointmentWhat Is Active Release Techniques (ART)?
Active Release Techniques is a patented, state-of-the-art soft tissue system and movement-based manual therapy developed, refined, and patented by Dr. P. Michael Leahy, DC, CCSP. ART is specifically designed to treat problems with muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia, and nerves throughout the entire body. It is widely regarded as the gold standard for soft tissue treatment by sports medicine professionals, physical therapists, and chiropractors worldwide.
What makes ART unique is its combination of assessment and treatment in every session. Dr. Clayton uses his hands to evaluate the texture, tightness, and movement quality of muscles, fascia, tendons, ligaments, and nerves. When abnormal tissue is identified, it is treated using precisely directed tension combined with very specific, active patient movements through a controlled range of motion. The result is a targeted release of adhesions and scar tissue that restores proper tissue mobility and function.
How Do Overuse and Soft Tissue Injuries Develop?
The vast majority of soft tissue problems treated with ART fall into one of three categories:
- Acute injuries — direct trauma such as pulls, tears, and collisions that damage muscle fibers and surrounding connective tissue
- Accumulation of micro-trauma — repetitive stress injuries caused by the small but cumulative damage of daily activity and athletic training over time
- Hypoxia — tissue damage caused by inadequate oxygen delivery to chronically tight or compressed muscles and soft tissues
Each of these mechanisms causes the body to produce dense, fibrous scar tissue as a protective response. While scar tissue is the body’s attempt to repair damage, it creates serious problems when it forms in the wrong places or in excessive amounts. Scar tissue binds down muscles and connective tissues that need to move freely, leading to:
- Shortened, weakened muscles with reduced force output
- Tendon tension and tendinitis at attachment points
- Nerve entrapment causing tingling, numbness, and radiating pain
- Reduced range of motion and movement quality
- Chronic pain that worsens with activity
- Increased risk of more serious injury
Conditions Treated With Active Release Techniques
ART is effective for an extensive range of soft tissue and nerve conditions. Some of the most common conditions that resolve quickly and permanently with ART at Ghent Chiropractic include:
- Headaches and cervicogenic migraines
- Neck pain and cervical soft tissue restrictions
- Shoulder pain, rotator cuff injuries, and impingement
- Low back pain and lumbar soft tissue dysfunction
- Sciatica and piriformis syndrome
- Carpal tunnel syndrome and wrist pain
- Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) and golfer’s elbow
- Knee pain including IT band syndrome and patellar tendinitis
- Plantar fasciitis and heel pain
- Shin splints and lower leg pain
- Achilles tendinopathy
- Hip flexor strains and hip impingement
- Post-surgical scar tissue and adhesions
- Auto accident soft tissue injuries and whiplash
These conditions all share a common underlying mechanism: overused, damaged, or scarred soft tissues that have lost the ability to move freely and function normally. ART directly targets this mechanism, making it one of the most effective treatments available for the full spectrum of musculoskeletal soft tissue conditions.
What Does an ART Treatment Session Feel Like?
Every ART session at Ghent Chiropractic is simultaneously an examination and a treatment. Dr. Clayton begins by using his hands to assess the texture, tightness, and movement of the target tissues. When he identifies an area of restriction or adhesion, he applies precise, directed tension to that tissue while guiding you through a specific active movement that takes the tissue through its full range of motion.
The sensation during ART treatment is often described as a localized stretch or a “release” feeling as the adhesion is broken down. Some degree of therapeutic discomfort is normal when working through scar tissue, but Dr. Clayton carefully calibrates the pressure and technique to each patient’s tolerance. Most patients notice meaningful improvement in both pain and range of motion within their first few sessions.
ART for Athletes and Active Patients
ART was originally developed with athletes in mind, and it remains one of the most widely used soft tissue treatment systems among professional and elite sports organizations worldwide. Dr. Clayton’s sports chiropractic expertise combined with his full-body ART certification allows him to apply ART in highly sport-specific ways — targeting the exact tissues and movement patterns that are limiting performance or creating injury risk for each individual athlete.
ART is also a cornerstone of Dr. Clayton’s approach to auto accident recovery, where the soft tissue adhesions and fascial restrictions that form after whiplash and collision trauma can become significant barriers to full healing. Used alongside FAKTR protocols and rehabilitative exercises, ART helps patients achieve complete, lasting recoveries rather than simply managing symptoms long-term.
To schedule your ART evaluation with Dr. Clayton at Ghent Chiropractic in Norfolk, VA, call (757) 622-1222 or request an appointment online today.
Frequently Asked Questions About Active Release Techniques in Norfolk, VA
What is Active Release Techniques (ART)?
Active Release Techniques is a patented, movement-based soft tissue therapy system used to treat problems with muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia, and nerves throughout the body. Each ART session combines hands-on assessment with precisely directed manual pressure and active patient movement to identify and break down scar tissue adhesions that are causing pain, restricting movement, or entrapping nerves.
How is ART different from regular massage therapy?
While massage therapy uses generalized pressure to relax muscles and improve circulation, ART is a clinically specific, patented system with over 500 distinct treatment protocols. Each protocol targets a specific tissue and movement pattern based on the provider’s hands-on findings. ART is also performed with the patient actively moving through a range of motion — which is fundamentally different from traditional passive massage techniques and is what makes ART so effective at resolving scar tissue and adhesions.
Is Dr. Clayton fully certified in Active Release Techniques?
Yes. Dr. Clayton holds full-body ART certification, which means he is trained and certified to treat soft tissue dysfunction in all regions of the body — not just the spine. Full-body certification requires completing and passing rigorous examinations for every major body region, including the upper extremity, lower extremity, spine, and biomechanics. It is one of the most comprehensive soft tissue credentials available.
How many ART sessions will I need?
Many patients experience significant improvement in just three to six sessions. The number of treatments needed depends on how long the condition has been present, how much scar tissue has accumulated, and how well your tissues respond to treatment. Dr. Clayton will give you a realistic assessment during your initial evaluation and monitor your progress closely throughout your care.
Does Active Release Techniques hurt?
ART treatment involves working through areas of scar tissue and soft tissue restriction, which can produce a degree of therapeutic discomfort — often described as a “good hurt” similar to deep tissue massage. Dr. Clayton carefully adjusts the intensity of treatment based on each patient’s tolerance and response. The temporary discomfort during treatment is typically far outweighed by the rapid improvement in pain and function that follows.
Can ART be combined with chiropractic adjustments?
Yes — and this combination is one of the most powerful approaches in conservative musculoskeletal care. Chiropractic adjustments correct joint alignment and restore normal nerve function, while ART addresses the soft tissue components of the same problem. Together, they produce faster and more complete results than either approach alone. Dr. Clayton routinely integrates ART with chiropractic adjustments, FAKTR, and rehabilitative exercises in individualized treatment plans.
Is ART appropriate for non-athletes?
Absolutely. While ART was developed with athletes in mind, the soft tissue dysfunction it treats — scar tissue, adhesions, nerve entrapment, and overuse injuries — affects people of all activity levels. Desk workers with carpal tunnel syndrome, parents with chronic neck and shoulder tension, and older adults with longstanding joint and tendon pain all benefit significantly from ART. If you have soft tissue pain that has not responded to other treatments, ART is worth exploring regardless of your fitness level.