Many people try one approach to fix their pain — they get adjusted for spinal alignment, or they stretch and massage to loosen tight muscles. But if the pain keeps coming back, it’s likely because the body is still caught in a dysfunctional loop. Lasting relief comes when we treat both the structure and the soft tissue — together.
The reality is that pain and movement dysfunction rarely come from just one issue. Often, it's a combination of joint misalignment and soft tissue restriction. Your muscles may be pulling too tight because they’re compensating for a misaligned joint, or your joints might be stuck because of surrounding scar tissue and fascia tension. It’s all connected — and that’s why treating these layers in isolation often leads to only partial relief.
That’s where the synergy of Active Release Technique (ART) and Chiropractic Care comes in.
At Mountain Movement Chiropractic & Natural Health, we specialize in an integrated, full-body approach. We don’t guess — we map your muscle and movement system, identify the exact areas of restriction, and use ART to release the adhesions causing soft tissue dysfunction. Once your muscles and fascia are free, we then use precise chiropractic adjustments to restore proper alignment and optimize nervous system function. When combined, these treatments not only reduce pain — they restore how your body is meant to move, stabilize, and perform.
This unique fusion is part of what we call The Day Method — a system that blends advanced techniques like ART, functional chiropractic, fascia mapping, and movement retraining for real, sustainable results.
Why Pain and Dysfunction Are Multi-Layered
Pain isn’t just about one muscle or one joint. Your body is an interconnected system made up of joints, muscles, fascia, and nerves — all working in harmony to create smooth, functional movement. When one part of that system breaks down, the rest of the body starts to compensate, often leading to a cascade of dysfunction.
Joints, Muscles, Fascia, and Nerves Work as a Team
Movement happens when joints glide correctly, muscles contract and relax efficiently, fascia (the connective tissue web) moves freely, and nerves communicate without interference. When even one part of that chain is restricted — whether it’s a tight muscle, an adhesion in the fascia, or a misaligned joint — your body has to find a workaround.
And that’s where the trouble begins.
Misalignment and Restriction Often Coexist
Think about this:
- A stuck joint can cause nearby muscles to tighten up in defense, trying to protect the area or stabilize movement.
- On the flip side, tight fascia or muscle adhesions can pull your joints out of alignment, making proper movement nearly impossible.
So when you only address one layer — like getting an adjustment without releasing the tight muscle pulling on the joint — you’re often just treating the symptom, not the cause.
The Risk of One-Dimensional Treatment
When only one part of the system is addressed, here’s what can happen:
- Temporary relief — your symptoms may ease for a while, but come back quickly.
- Recurring issues — because the underlying dysfunction hasn’t been corrected.
- New compensation patterns — the body will find another way to move, often putting strain on a different area, leading to new pain.
What Is Active Release Technique (ART)?
Active Release Technique (ART) is a specialized, hands-on therapy developed by Dr. Michael Leahy to address the root cause of pain and dysfunction in the soft tissues of the body — including muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia, and even nerves. Originally designed to help elite athletes recover from overuse injuries, ART has since become a go-to method for anyone dealing with movement restriction, chronic tightness, or repetitive strain.
At its core, ART is about precision and movement. It combines targeted manual pressure with specific patient-guided movements to identify and break up adhesions — the scar tissue that forms after injury, overuse, or inflammation. These adhesions bind tissues together, limit range of motion, and disrupt normal muscle function. Left untreated, they can contribute to postural issues, nerve compression, and chronic pain.
Unlike general massage or stretching, ART is highly specific. Practitioners are trained to feel the texture and tension of individual tissue layers, isolating exactly where movement is stuck. Once the restriction is located, the provider applies pressure while guiding you through a movement that lengthens the tissue — effectively restoring motion, improving blood flow, and helping the body reset its movement patterns.
ART targets multiple layers of the movement system, including:
- Muscles – for mobility and strength
- Tendons and Ligaments – for joint stability
- Fascia – the connective web that influences posture and fluidity
- Nerves – relieving entrapment and improving signal flow
What Is Chiropractic Care?
Chiropractic care is a natural, hands-on approach to restoring health by focusing on the spine, nervous system, and joint mobility. At its foundation, chiropractic recognizes that your nervous system controls everything — and when your spine is out of alignment or joints are restricted, that communication becomes disrupted, leading to pain, tension, and dysfunction.
Core Benefits of Chiropractic Care
- Improves Alignment
Proper joint alignment allows your body to move efficiently and maintain structural integrity. When your spine and joints are aligned, your muscles don’t have to overcompensate — which means less wear and tear. - Enhances Nervous System Communication
Your brain sends messages through your spinal cord to every cell, muscle, and organ. Misalignments, or “subluxations,” can interfere with this flow. Chiropractic adjustments help clear that pathway so your body can heal and function better. - Reduces Inflammation and Tension from the Inside Out
By restoring joint mobility and relieving pressure on the nervous system, chiropractic care helps calm internal inflammation and muscular guarding, creating an environment where the body can truly recover.
Our Approach at Mountain Movement
At Mountain Movement Chiropractic & Natural Health, we don’t take a “one-size-fits-all” approach to adjustments. We practice functional, movement-first, and fascia-aware chiropractic care. That means:
- We look at how you move, not just how you stand.
- We assess how fascial tension and muscle dysfunction may be pulling your joints out of alignment.
- We combine adjustments with Active Release Technique (ART) and muscle mapping to create long-lasting change.
It’s not just about cracking your back — it’s about restoring integrity to your entire movement system, from the inside out. When chiropractic care is done with this level of precision and paired with soft tissue release, the results are more powerful, more stable, and more sustainable.
The Synergy of ART and Chiropractic
When it comes to restoring movement and eliminating pain, ART and chiropractic care are a powerhouse duo. Each therapy offers powerful benefits on its own — but when combined strategically, they enhance each other and create results that are faster, deeper, and longer-lasting.
Why Combining Them Matters
- ART Preps the Soft Tissue
Tight muscles, restricted fascia, and scar tissue can block a joint from moving correctly. ART helps release those restrictions, making it easier for the chiropractor to perform an effective adjustment. With the tissue loosened, the joint glides more naturally, and the adjustment tends to hold longer. - Chiropractic Adjustments Reset the Nervous System
When we adjust the spine or joints, it triggers a neurological reset, improving how the brain communicates with the body. This enhanced nerve flow supports the work done with ART — allowing the released tissues to function properly, re-engage, and stay balanced.
The Benefits of Combining ART + Chiropractic
- More Complete Release of Tension and Restrictions
By addressing both the joint and the soft tissue surrounding it, you remove the “push-pull” that causes imbalances in the first place. - Greater Postural Correction
Tight fascia and misaligned joints often go hand in hand with poor posture. This combination approach helps reset the system and train the body into a healthier, more upright position. - Faster Healing and Reduced Risk of Reinjury
When muscles are no longer guarding and joints move freely, the body operates more efficiently. You recover quicker — and stay stronger longer.
Your Body Works Together — So Should Your Treatments.
Pain doesn’t happen in isolation — and neither should your healing. If you’ve been treating your symptoms with one tool at a time and still not seeing lasting results, you’re not alone. The missing link may not be what you're doing — but how you're combining it.
Active Release Technique (ART) and chiropractic care each offer incredible benefits on their own. But when integrated together — treating both the structure and the soft tissue — they become a powerful force for real, long-term change. At Mountain Movement Chiropractic & Natural Health, we don’t guess. We map your movement, identify dysfunctions, and use a layered approach to treat, correct, and retrain your body so you don’t just feel better — you stay better.
Let’s unlock your body’s natural potential for strong, pain-free movement — from the inside out.
📍 Mountain Movement Chiropractic & Natural Health
📍 1901 Laurens Road Suite E, Greenville, SC 29607
📞 (864) 448-2073 🌐 mountainmovementcenter.com
🗓️ Office Hours:
Tuesday & Thursday: 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Wednesday: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Closed Monday, Saturday & Sunday
We Treat the
Toughest Cases
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