{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,5]],"date-time":"2026-06-05T06:43:25Z","timestamp":1780641805806,"version":"3.54.1"},"reference-count":20,"publisher":"Human Kinetics","issue":"3","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2022,3,1]]},"abstract":"Context<\/jats:bold>:<\/jats:italic> Active Release Technique\u00ae<\/jats:sup> (ART\u00ae<\/jats:sup>) is a manual therapy used for soft tissue-related issues, commonly used to lengthen structures in a shortened position and to restore motion of soft tissues. Objective<\/jats:bold>:<\/jats:italic> The purpose of this systematic review was to collect, appraise, and summarize the available literature, evaluating the effects of ART\u00ae<\/jats:sup> on pain, range of motion (ROM), and disability. Evidence Acquisition<\/jats:bold>:<\/jats:italic> Electronic databases (PubMed, EBSCOhost, MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus, and CINAHL) were searched from 2000 to November 2020. The search was completed using a combination of key words related to ART\u00ae<\/jats:sup>, rehabilitation, and outcomes. Search limits were full-text publications written in English. Inclusion criteria required that studies evaluated outcomes using ART\u00ae<\/jats:sup> for rehabilitation, were peer reviewed, and included human participants without catastrophic conditions or injuries. The modified Downs and Black checklist for nonrandomized studies was used to assess methodological quality of identified studies by 2 independent reviewers, average scores were calculated. The level of evidence was assessed using the strength of recommendation taxonomy. Evidence Synthesis<\/jats:bold>:<\/jats:italic> Nine studies were inculded in this review. The average methodological quality of the studies was 12\/15 and ranged from 10 to 14, with the most common methodological quality item missed being the blinding of researchers collecting outcomes. Six studies that assessed pain found significant improvements in participants\u2019 pain levels. Six studies that assessed ROM found significant improvement in participants\u2019 ROM. Two studies that assessed disability found significant improvement in disability. Conclusion<\/jats:bold>:<\/jats:italic> Evidence suggests that ART\u00ae<\/jats:sup> may be beneficial in improving pain, ROM, and disability. This review found that ART\u00ae<\/jats:sup> positively impacted patient outcomes and may be a viable treatment option for clinicians treating musculoskeletal conditions. However, further research is necessary to determine optimal dosage and long-term effects of ART\u00ae<\/jats:sup> on these patient outcomes.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1123\/jsr.2021-0106","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2022,1,8]],"date-time":"2022-01-08T01:12:03Z","timestamp":1641604323000},"page":"331-336","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":5,"title":["The Effect of Active Release Technique\u00ae on Clinician and Patient-Reported Outcomes: A Systematic Review"],"prefix":"10.1123","volume":"31","author":[{"given":"Precious","family":"Barnes","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Matthew","family":"Rivera","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"100","reference":[{"issue":"5","key":"r1","series-title":"Man Ther","first-page":"531","article-title":"The mechanisms of manual therapy in the treatment of musculoskeletal pain: a comprehensive model","volume":"14","author":"Bialosky JE","year":"2009","unstructured":"Bialosky JE, Bishop MD, Price DD, Robinson ME, George SZ. The mechanisms of manual therapy in the treatment of musculoskeletal pain: a comprehensive model. Man Ther. 2009;14(5):531\u2013538. PubMed ID: 19027342 doi:10.1016\/j.math.2008.09.00119027342"},{"issue":"12","key":"r2","series-title":"Ann Intern Med","first-page":"920","article-title":"A clinical prediction rule to identify patients with low back pain most likely to benefit from spinal manipulation: a validation study","volume":"141","author":"Childs JD","year":"2004","unstructured":"Childs JD, Fritz JM, Flynn TW, et\u00a0al. A clinical prediction rule to identify patients with low back pain most likely to benefit from spinal manipulation: a validation study. Ann Intern Med. 2004;141(12):920\u2013928. PubMed ID: 15611489 doi:10.7326\/0003-4819-141-12-200412210-0000815611489"},{"key":"r3","series-title":"Active Release Techniques\u00ae. Soft Tissue Management System for the Upper Extremity","author":"Leahy PM","year":"2008","unstructured":"Leahy PM. Active Release Techniques\u00ae. Soft Tissue Management System for the Upper Extremity. 2nd ed. Active Release Techniques, LLC; 2008."},{"key":"r4","series-title":"The role of active release manual therapy for upper extremity overuse syndromes\u2014A Preliminary Report.","first-page":"201","volume":"9","author":"Schiottz-Christensen B","year":"1999","unstructured":"Schiottz-Christensen B, Mooney V, Azad S. The role of active release manual therapy for upper extremity overuse syndromes\u2014A Preliminary Report. J\u00a0Occup\u00a0Rehabil. 1999;9:201\u2013211."},{"issue":"3","key":"r5","series-title":"Int J Physiother Res","first-page":"488","article-title":"Comparison of active release technique and myofascial release technique on pain, grip strength & functional performance in patients with chronic lateral epicondylitis","volume":"2","author":"Trivedi P","year":"2014","unstructured":"Trivedi P, Sathiyavani D, Nambi G. Comparison of active release technique and myofascial release technique on pain, grip strength & functional performance in patients with chronic lateral epicondylitis. Int J Physiother Res. 2014;2(3):488\u2013494."},{"issue":"11","key":"r6","series-title":"J Clin Diagn Res","first-page":"YC01","article-title":"Comparative study of active release technique and myofascial release technique in treatment of patients with upper trapezius spasm","volume":"12","author":"Mishra D","year":"2018","unstructured":"Mishra D, Prakash RH, Mehta J, et\u00a0al. Comparative study of active release technique and myofascial release technique in treatment of patients with upper trapezius spasm. J Clin Diagn Res. 2018;12(11):YC01\u2013YC04."},{"issue":"1","key":"r7","series-title":"Phys Ther Rehabil Sci","first-page":"27","article-title":"The effects of active release technique on the gluteus medius for pain relief in persons with chronic low back pain","volume":"2","author":"Tak SJ","year":"2013","unstructured":"Tak SJ, Lee Y, Choi W, et\u00a0al. The effects of active release technique on the gluteus medius for pain relief in persons with chronic low back pain. Phys Ther Rehabil Sci. 2013;2(1):27\u201330."},{"issue":"4","key":"r8","series-title":"J Chiropr Med","first-page":"141","article-title":"The effect of cervical spine manual therapy on normal mouth opening in asymptomatic subjects","volume":"6","author":"George JW","year":"2007","unstructured":"George JW, Fennema J, Maddox A, Nessler M, Skaggs CD. The effect of cervical spine manual therapy on normal mouth opening in asymptomatic subjects. J Chiropr Med. 2007;6(4):141\u2013145. 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Immediate effect of active release technique versus mulligan bent leg raise in subjects with hamstring tightness: a randomized clinical trial. Int J Physiother. 2014;2(1):301\u2013304."},{"issue":"5","key":"r11","series-title":"Natl J Integr Res Med","first-page":"66","article-title":"Comparison of the effect of active release technique versus proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching (modified hold-relax) on hamstring flexibility in patients having chronic low back pain: comparison of the effect of active release technique vs proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching","volume":"6","author":"Mistry GS","year":"2018","unstructured":"Mistry GS, Vyas NJ, Sheth MS. 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