Active Release Technique (ART) in Chattanooga, TN

Certified ART Provider | Root-Cause Soft Tissue Therapy for Athletes & Active Adults

If you've been dealing with a nagging injury that just won't fully resolve… tight hamstrings that never loosen, a shoulder that clicks and catches, plantar fasciitis that keeps coming back… the problem often isn't the muscle itself. It's the tissue underneath: adhesions, scar tissue, and nerve entrapment built up from old injuries, overuse, or repetitive movement patterns. That's exactly what Active Release Technique is built to find and fix.

At ProActive Health, Dr. Mike Eyerly is a certified Active Release Technique provider serving Chattanooga's athletes, weekend warriors, and active adults. ART is one of the core soft tissue tools we use to break up restrictions, restore normal tissue texture, and get you moving without compensation patterns holding you back.

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What Is Active Release Technique (ART)?

Active Release Technique is a patented, hands-on movement-based massage technique designed to treat problems with muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia, and nerves. Unlike static soft tissue work, ART combines precise manual tension with active patient movement, meaning you're moving the affected area through a specific range of motion while your provider applies targeted pressure to the tissue.

This combination allows us to:

Locate and break up adhesions and scar tissue that restrict normal movement
Free up nerves and blood vessels that have become entrapped by surrounding soft tissue
Restore proper tissue glide between muscles, tendons, and fascia
Address the root cause of chronic tightness — not just the symptom

Every ART session is different because every protocol is based on precise anatomy and your specific movement dysfunction. It's not a generic massage, it's a targeted, diagnostic-driven treatment.

Why Chattanooga Athletes Choose ART at ProActive Health

Chattanooga is a city built for movement… runners on the Riverwalk, climbers at the boulders, cyclists on Lookout Mountain, CrossFitters and weightlifters logging hours in the gym. That level of activity puts repetitive stress on soft tissue, and repetitive stress is exactly what causes the adhesions and scar tissue that ART is designed to resolve.

We don't treat ART as a stand-alone gimmick or a one-size-fits-all add-on. It's integrated into a broader, root-cause approach that includes a full functional movement assessment, chiropractic care, and corrective exercise, so the tissue work actually holds instead of needing to be repeated indefinitely.

Conditions We Treat with Active Release Technique

Patients in Chattanooga come to us for ART to address:

Chronic muscle tightness that doesn't respond to stretching or foam rolling
Plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendinopathy
IT band syndrome and lateral knee pain
Shoulder impingement, rotator cuff tightness, and frozen shoulder
Tennis elbow and golfer's elbow
Sciatica and nerve entrapment symptoms
Carpal tunnel–like symptoms from desk work or repetitive strain
Hamstring and hip flexor tightness in runners
Scar tissue restriction from past surgery or injury
Low back tightness and recurring "tweaks" during training

If you've been told your imaging is "normal" but you still can't move without pain or restriction, ART is often where the real answer is found.

What to Expect During an ART Session

Movement Assessment: We identify exactly where your restriction is coming from — which is often not where you feel the pain.
Targeted Tissue Work: Using specific hand contact and tension, your provider works through the affected tissue while guiding you through active or passive movement.
Immediate Feedback: Most patients feel a noticeable change in mobility and tension within the same session.
Integrated Plan: ART is typically paired with chiropractic adjustments and corrective exercise so the improvement translates into how you actually move, train, and compete.

Sessions are performed one-on-one — never handed off to a tech or assistant.

Meet Your ART Provider

Dr. Mike Eyerly, D.C. is a certified Active Release Technique provider and second-generation chiropractor based in Chattanooga, TN. With years of experience treating athletic adults, Dr. Mike's approach centers on finding the actual source of dysfunction (not just chasing pain) using a combination of ART, chiropractic care, functional movement assessments (SFMA), and functional, exercise focused rehabilitation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Active Release Technique painful? ART involves direct pressure on restricted tissue, so there can be discomfort during treatment, most patients describe it as a "good hurt." It should never feel sharp or unbearable, and your provider will adjust pressure based on your feedback.

How many ART sessions will I need? This depends on how long the restriction has been present and how it developed. Some acute issues resolve in a few sessions; chronic, long-standing adhesions may take longer. We'll outline a realistic plan after your initial assessment.

Do you accept insurance for ART? ProActive Health is a direct-pay, out-of-network provider. We accept cash, credit card, HSA, and FSA, and can provide a superbill for you to submit to your insurance for potential partial reimbursement.

Is ART only for athletes? No. While we specialize in working with active adults and athletes, ART is effective for anyone dealing with chronic muscle tightness, scar tissue, or nerve entrapment, including desk workers and those recovering from past injuries or surgeries.

Where are you located? ProActive Health is located at 6148 Lee Hwy Suite 130, Chattanooga, TN 37421.

Ready to Move Without Restriction?

If you've been stuck in a cycle of tightness, re-injury, and temporary relief, Active Release Technique combined with our root-cause approach can help you break out of it for good.