You know that spot. The one that's been tight for years. The knot that never quite goes away no matter how much you stretch, foam roll, or ignore it. You've tried massage. You've tried resting. You've tried just living with it.
But your body keeps sending the same message: something isn't right.
For millions of people, that "something" is scar tissue—microscopic adhesions that form after injuries, overuse, or even just years of repetitive movement. They bind up muscles, pinch nerves, and create chronic pain that doesn't respond to conventional treatment.
And for many of them, the solution isn't another pill or another generic stretch. It's a specialized technique called Active Release Technique (ART)—and Dr. Jeffrey Haynes has been certified in it for over 20 years.
When Adjustments Alone Aren't Enough
Chiropractic adjustments are powerful. Restoring proper motion to joints can resolve countless issues and get patients back to living pain-free. But sometimes, the problem isn't in the joint—it's in the soft tissue surrounding it.
The Missing Piece in Many Recovery Stories
Picture this: a patient comes in with chronic shoulder pain. They've had adjustments. They've done the exercises. They've tried resting. But the pain persists, lurking in the background, flaring up whenever they reach overhead or sleep on that side.
What's missing is often the soft tissue component. Muscles, tendons, ligaments, and fascia can develop restrictions that no amount of joint adjustment can fix. These restrictions form when tissue is damaged—through injury, overuse, or even just years of poor posture—and heals in a disorganized way.
The result is scar tissue. And scar tissue doesn't move like healthy tissue should.
How Scar Tissue and Adhesions Keep You Stuck
When you injure a muscle, your body rushes to repair the damage. It lays down collagen fibers quickly, like patching a hole in drywall without smoothing the edges. The patch holds, but it's not pretty. It's not functional. And it doesn't move the way the original tissue did.
Over time, these adhesions can:
- Shorten muscles, pulling them out of their natural length
- Restrict blood flow to the area, slowing healing
- Pinch nerves, causing pain, numbness, or tingling
- Create compensation patterns as your body tries to work around the restriction
This is why you can stretch a tight hamstring for months without progress. The restriction isn't just tightness—it's physical scar tissue that needs to be broken up, not stretched out.
What Is Active Release Technique (ART)?
Active Release Technique isn't massage. It's not stretching. It's something entirely different—a movement-based soft tissue system developed specifically to address the kind of restrictions that keep people stuck in pain.
Developed by Sports Medicine Experts
ART was developed in the 1980s by Dr. P. Michael Leahy, a chiropractor who noticed that traditional approaches weren't fully addressing his athletes' soft tissue problems. He created a system that combined precise manual tension with active patient movement—a combination that proved remarkably effective.
Today, ART is used by chiropractors, physical therapists, and sports medicine professionals worldwide. It's the go-to treatment for everyone from Olympic athletes to weekend warriors to desk workers with chronic tension.
How It Works: Breaking Down Adhesions Manually
The ART protocol is deceptively simple but requires significant training to execute properly. Here's what happens during a treatment:
- The provider locates the adhesion by feeling the texture and tension of the tissue
- They apply precise manual tension at the site of the restriction
- The patient actively moves the affected area from a shortened to a lengthened position
- The tension "breaks up" the adhesion as the tissue glides beneath the provider's contact point
This combination of tension and motion is what makes ART unique. Instead of passively receiving treatment, you're actively participating in your own recovery. The movement helps "teach" the tissue how to function properly again.
What a Treatment Actually Feels Like
Patients often describe ART as a "good pain"—intense, but in a productive way. You'll feel the provider's hands targeting specific spots while you move the affected area through its range of motion.
The sensation can be surprising at first. You might feel:
- A deep, specific pressure exactly where you need it
- A "grabbing" sensation as adhesions release
- Immediate improvement in range of motion after a single pass
- Soreness afterward, similar to a good workout
Most patients find the discomfort completely worth it when they experience the results.
Why Dr. Haynes Pursued ART Certification
Dr. Haynes didn't become certified in ART because it was trendy. He pursued it because over 20 years of clinical experience taught him that adjustments alone weren't enough for many patients.
20+ Years of Seeing What Patients Really Need
Early in his career, Dr. Haynes noticed a pattern. Some patients would improve with adjustments, but not completely. They'd get 70% better, then plateau. The joint was moving properly, but something was still holding them back.
That "something" was almost always soft tissue. Muscles that wouldn't release. Fascia that had become bound down. Nerves that were entrapped by scar tissue.
Standard chiropractic training includes basic soft tissue work, but Dr. Haynes wanted more. He wanted a systematic approach that could address these restrictions with the same precision he applied to spinal adjustments.
The Difference Between Managing Pain and Resolving It
ART certification isn't a weekend workshop. It requires mastering over 500 specific protocols for treating different areas of the body. Practitioners must demonstrate proficiency in identifying, isolating, and treating soft tissue restrictions before becoming certified.
For Dr. Haynes, this investment in advanced training reflects his fundamental philosophy: treat the cause, not just the symptoms. ART gives him the tools to resolve restrictions that other approaches merely manage.
When a patient comes in with chronic hamstring tightness that hasn't responded to years of stretching, Dr. Haynes doesn't just tell them to stretch more. He finds the adhesions, breaks them up with ART, and gives the muscle a chance to function normally again.
Who ART Helps Most
ART is versatile enough to help almost anyone with soft tissue restrictions, but certain groups benefit most.
Runners with IT Band Syndrome and Plantar Fasciitis
Running creates repetitive stress that can lead to adhesions in predictable patterns. IT band syndrome, plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinopathy—these are all conditions where scar tissue plays a major role.
ART breaks up the adhesions, restores normal tissue glide, and allows runners to return to the sport they love without chronic pain. Many runners find that ART addresses issues that years of stretching and foam rolling never touched.
Desk Workers with Chronic Neck and Shoulder Tension
Sitting at a computer for hours creates predictable patterns of shortening and restriction. The chest tightens. The upper back weakens. The neck compensates by craning forward.
Over time, these patterns create adhesions that no amount of stretching can fully release. ART targets the specific restrictions, allowing desk workers to finally experience relief from tension headaches, neck pain, and shoulder stiffness.
Weekend Warriors with Tennis Elbow and Rotator Cuff Issues
You don't have to be a professional athlete to develop sports-related adhesions. A few weekends of gardening, a sudden return to tennis after years away, an ambitious home renovation project—these can all create soft tissue injuries that linger.
ART is particularly effective for conditions like:
- Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis): Adhesions in the forearm extensors respond well to ART protocols
- Rotator cuff tendinopathy: Restrictions in the shoulder often have a soft tissue component that ART addresses directly
- Hamstring strains: Old injuries that never fully healed often have adhesions at their core
Anyone with Scar Tissue from Old Injuries
That ankle you sprained in college and never thought about again? It might have adhesions that are affecting how you walk, which affects your knee, which affects your hip, which affects your back.
Old injuries leave calling cards. ART can find and address them, even years later.
Real Patient Story: The Runner Who Thought She'd Never Race Again
Some stories stick with you. This is one of them.
The Struggle: Years of IT Band Pain
Sarah (not her real name) came to Dr. Haynes after years of struggling with IT band syndrome. She'd been a runner her whole life—high school track, college cross country, now marathons as an adult. Running wasn't just exercise; it was who she was.
But for the past two years, her left IT band had made running miserable. The pain would start around mile three and build until she was limping by mile six. She'd tried everything: foam rolling (hours of it), stretching, rest, new shoes, gait analysis. Nothing worked for more than a few weeks.
She'd resigned herself to a future of shorter distances, less racing, and constant discomfort. She'd even started looking for other hobbies.
The Approach: ART + Chiropractic + Rehab
When Dr. Haynes evaluated Sarah, he found what others had missed. Her IT band wasn't just "tight"—it had specific adhesions at multiple points along its length. These adhesions were restricting normal glide and creating tension that pulled her knee out of alignment with each stride.
The treatment plan had three components:
- ART sessions targeting the specific adhesions in her IT band and surrounding tissues
- Chiropractic adjustments to ensure her pelvis and lower back were moving properly
- Rehab exercises to strengthen the muscles that had weakened while she compensated for pain
The Outcome: Back to Racing, Pain-Free
Within four sessions, Sarah noticed a difference. The pain that used to start at mile three now waited until mile six. By eight sessions, she was running without pain for the first time in two years.
She's now back to racing—marathons, half marathons, whatever she wants. She still does maintenance ART sessions occasionally, but the chronic problem that defined her running life for years is simply gone.
"I thought I'd just have to learn to live with it. I didn't realize I could actually fix it."
What to Expect at Comprehensive Chiropractic
If you're considering ART at Comprehensive Chiropractic, here's how the process works.
A Thorough Evaluation First
Before any treatment, Dr. Haynes will perform a comprehensive evaluation. He needs to understand:
- Where your pain is and what makes it better or worse
- What injuries or activities might have created the restriction
- How your body moves as a whole, not just where it hurts
This evaluation ensures that ART is appropriate for your situation and that treatment targets the right areas.
ART Integrated Into Your Care Plan
Depending on your condition, ART might be combined with:
- Chiropractic adjustments to restore joint motion
- Corrective exercises to reinforce changes
- Ergonomic guidance to prevent recurrence
- Other modalities like cold laser or therapeutic ultrasound
Dr. Haynes doesn't just throw treatments at you. He designs a coordinated plan based on your specific needs.
Active Participation for Lasting Results
ART requires you to be an active participant. You'll move while Dr. Haynes applies tension. You'll feel things happen in your body—sometimes intense, always productive. And you'll leave with exercises and strategies to maintain the progress between visits.
The goal isn't to keep you coming forever. It's to resolve the problem and give you the tools to stay that way.
Frequently Asked Questions About ART
Is ART painful?
Most patients describe it as intense but productive—a "good pain" that feels like it's addressing the right spot. The sensation is different from regular massage and varies depending on the area being treated.
How many sessions will I need?
Every patient is different. Some experience significant relief after 1–3 sessions. Others with chronic, long-standing issues may need more. Dr. Haynes will discuss expected timelines during your consultation.
Is ART covered by insurance?
Coverage varies by plan. ART is considered a chiropractic service, so it's often covered under the same benefits as chiropractic care. Dr. Haynes's team can check your specific coverage.
Can ART help with old injuries?
Yes. Old injuries often create adhesions that persist for years. ART can address these restrictions even long after the initial injury occurred.
What's the difference between ART and massage?
ART is more targeted and specific than general massage. It combines manual tension with active patient movement to break up adhesions, while massage typically involves passive relaxation of tissue. ART also follows specific protocols developed for each area of the body.
Do I need a referral to see Dr. Haynes for ART?
No, you can schedule directly with Comprehensive Chiropractic. If you have insurance that requires referrals, check with your plan.
Can ART be combined with other treatments?
Yes. ART is often combined with chiropractic adjustments, corrective exercises, and other modalities for comprehensive care.
Who should not get ART?
ART may not be appropriate for acute injuries with significant inflammation, open wounds, or certain medical conditions. Dr. Haynes's thorough evaluation will determine if ART is right for you.
Your Next Step
For over 20 years, Dr. Jeffrey Haynes has been helping Chicago residents find relief from conditions that seemed unsolvable. His certification in Active Release Technique is just one example of his commitment to providing the most effective care possible—care that addresses root causes, not just symptoms.
If you're living with chronic pain that won't respond to conventional treatment, if you have an old injury that never fully healed, if you're tired of managing symptoms instead of resolving them—ART might be exactly what you've been looking for.
Call us at (312) 658-0658, email DrJeffreyHaynes@gmail.com, or schedule your consultation online.
4526 N. Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60625 — Dr. Jeffrey Haynes, D.C. — Serving Lincoln Square, Ravenswood, North Center, and all of Chicago.
Medical Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting any new treatment or if you have questions about a medical condition.
