By restoring tissue mobility, the body can move with less resistance and strain.
Active Release Technique’s & Treatments
Restore Mobility. Relieve Pain. Move Without Restrictions.
Active Release Technique focuses on breaking down soft tissue restrictions that limit movement and create pain. Muscles, tendons, ligaments, and fascia can develop adhesions over time due to stress, overuse, or injury. These restrictions interfere with normal movement and often lead to ongoing discomfort.
This hands on technique is designed to locate and release problem areas so tissue can move freely again. The goal is to restore natural motion and reduce strain on surrounding joints.
How Active Release Technique Works
Active Release Technique combines precise manual pressure with guided movement. While the provider applies pressure to restricted tissue, you move the affected area through specific ranges of motion.
This process helps break down adhesions, improve circulation, and restore normal tissue glide. Treatment is focused and intentional, addressing specific problem areas rather than generalized soreness.
Each session is guided by assessment and movement findings.
Why Soft Tissue Adhesions Cause Pain
Healthy tissue should stretch, slide, and contract smoothly. Adhesions restrict this movement, creating tension and altering biomechanics. Over time, this leads to pain, stiffness, and reduced performance.
Active Release Technique helps:
- Release tight or bound tissue
- Improve range of motion
- Reduce nerve irritation
- Restore proper muscle function
- Improve movement efficiency
Conditions Commonly Treated With Active Release
Active Release Technique is commonly used for repetitive stress and overuse injuries. It is effective for both acute and long standing issues.
Common conditions include:
- Neck and shoulder tension
- Low back pain
- Hip and glute tightness
- Elbow and forearm discomfort
- Knee and calf pain
- Plantar fasciitis
Treatment is always tailored to the individual and their movement demands.
SIGNS CHIROPRACTIC CARE CAN HELP
Back pain is more than just an annoyance. Left untreated, it can get worse and limit your quality of life. If you experience these symptoms, it is time to take action.
Persistent Back Pain
Ongoing discomfort that limits sitting, standing, or daily function.
Frequent Headaches
Tension and misalignment can contribute to recurring headaches or migraines.
Limited Mobility
Trouble bending, twisting, or reaching comfortably.
Postural Fatigue
Discomfort from long hours at a desk or on your feet.
Active Release as Part of Integrated Care
Active Release Technique works best when combined with joint care and movement retraining. While it helps restore tissue mobility, proper movement patterns help keep restrictions from returning.
At Rehab Lab Wisconsin, Active Release is often paired with:
- Chiropractic care
- Corrective exercises
- Dry needling
- Cupping therapy
- Blood flow restriction training
This integrated approach helps support durable results.
What Makes Active Release Technique Different
Active Release Technique is not relaxation based massage. It is a specific, assessment driven treatment focused on problem tissues.
Sessions are efficient and targeted. Many patients notice immediate changes in mobility or discomfort. Results often improve further as movement patterns are reinforced.
Treatment intensity is adjusted based on comfort and tissue response.
When Active Release Technique May Be Right for You
Active Release Technique may help if you experience:
- Persistent tightness despite stretching
- Pain during movement or activity
- Limited range of motion
- Recurrent overuse injuries
- Discomfort linked to repetitive tasks
Addressing tissue restrictions early can improve outcomes and reduce recurrence.
Active Release for Active Lifestyles
Active individuals often use Active Release Technique to maintain tissue quality and prevent injuries. Restoring tissue glide helps muscles contract and relax more efficiently.
This supports better performance, faster recovery, and reduced fatigue during activity.
Care is adapted based on training and workload demands.
Restore Motion and Move With Confidence
Pain and stiffness often come from tissue that no longer moves well. Active Release Technique at Rehab Lab Wisconsin offers a focused approach to restoring mobility and reducing discomfort.
Schedule your visit today and experience care designed to help your body move freely again.
Behind The Scenes
meet the doctors
Rehab Lab Chiropractic Clinics work with patients ranging from world-class athletes, to executives to rock star Mom's and Dad's! We help you get healthy and stay healthy, and assist in taking your activity and skills to the next level! Regardless of the sport or lifestyle Rehab Lab Chiropractors look to provide our patients, athletes and everyday people an edge over their competition.
Dr. Sam Wagner grew up in Southeastern Wisconsin and first discovered chiropractic care as a multi-sport athlete. His early experiences with movement, recovery, and performance shaped the direction of his entire career. After high school, he continued competing at Lawrence University where he earned a degree in Biology. His curiosity about how the body moves and heals pushed him toward higher study and a deeper commitment to human performance.
He later attended Life University in Atlanta, Georgia, earning a Masters Degree in Sport Health Science and a Doctorate of Chiropractic. Dr. Sam also holds the DACBSP, Diplomate of the American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians. This advanced sports medicine training strengthens his core belief that movement is medicine. It guides how he treats every patient, creating a complete care experience that supports the whole person.
Dr. Sam pursued athletic opportunities in the NFL and CFL, giving him a unique understanding of what high-level performance demands. Today he brings that knowledge to Rehab Lab Wisconsin and Rehab Lab Wisconsin MKE where he treats NFL, NBA, and MLB athletes along with everyday patients who want to move better. He also serves as the Team Chiropractor for Lawrence University Athletics.
His mission is simple: Help people take control of their health, improve their function and performance, and give his community the tools to feel strong and capable in their daily lives.
Credentials and Certifications:
• Diplomate American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians (DACBSP)
• Certified Chiropractic Extremity Practitioner (CCEP)
• Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS)
• Elite Provider Active Release Techniques (EPN ART)
• Master Dry Needling Certified (MDNC)
• Graston Technique (M1)
• Corrective Exercise Specialist (CES)
• Performance Enhancement Specialist (PES)
• Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA)
• Functional Movement Screens (FMS)
• Rocktape Basic and Advanced Provider (FMT)
• Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS)
• Emergency Medical Technician (EMT-B)
• Adjunct Faculty Anatomy & Physiology (South College)
Dr. Mike Markowski is native to Northeast Wisconsin, growing up just south of Green Bay. He was first introduced to chiropractic care after injuries sustained as a multi-sport athlete, which ultimately led to a short career. His passion for sports and a functional lifestyle led him down a path to find ways to get back into competitive form. Through this endeavor, Dr. Mike became fascinated with the anatomy and biomechanics of the body and graduated from UW-Stevens Point with a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry with pre-med intent. After his undergraduate schooling, Dr. Mike earned his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Palmer College of Chiropractic – Davenport, Iowa. While in chiropractic school, he became certified in high-level extremity adjusting and analysis, upper cervical adjusting, and spinal decompression treatments. Upon graduation, he returned to his hometown where he practiced for 4 years before partnering with Dr. Sam.
As an avid golfer and triathlete, Dr. Mike’s motto is ‘motion is lotion for the body.’ To embody this principle, he provides a well-rounded approach to health for active individuals at any skill level. Dr. Mike is excited to work with a community of proactive individuals who care for their health just as much as he does.
Credentials and Certifications:
• Senior Intern and over 2 years residency completed for The Mally Method – Extremities
• Master Dry Needling Certified (MDNC)
• Graston Technique (M1)
• Craniofacial Release Technique (CFR)
• Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA)
• Functional Movement Screens (FMS)
• Flexion Distraction Technique
• MLS Certified
Dr. Nick Agen, originally from Kaukauna, Wisconsin, developed a passion for movement and human performance from a young age, participating in many sports and activities, all of which influenced his path into physical medicine. Through his experience with sports and the various injuries that often accompany those pursuits, he decided to continue his passion for performance into a collegiate career where he played football and ran track.
He graduated from Saint Norbert College with a degree in Pre-Medical Biology, which laid the foundation for his interest in the human body and provided a solid background in the sciences. After his time at Saint Norbert, he furthered his passion for the human body and helping others at Northwestern Health Sciences University in Bloomington, Minnesota, where he pursued his Doctorate of Chiropractic with honors, specializing in sports and rehab. During this time, Dr. Nick also achieved a Masters in Exercise Science at Concordia University in Saint Paul. While at Northwestern, he honed his skills in both Chiropractic and soft tissue techniques. After graduation, Dr. Nick returned closer to home in Milwaukee, where he has been practicing since 2021.
When not in the clinic, Dr. Nick enjoys spending time in the weight room, adventuring outdoors, analyzing sports, or trying to keep up with his German Shepherd, Koa. He is committed to staying up to date on current evidence-based research to ensure he continues to provide the highest level of patient-centered care possible.
Credentials and Certifications:
• Masters Degree in Exercise Science
• Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
• Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA)
• Functional Movement Screening (FMS)
• MRT (Myofascial Release Technique)
• FAKTR Certified in Soft Tissue Scraping and Other Applications
• Diversified Technique
• Flexion Distraction Technique
• Dynamic Taping and Strapping
• Dry Needling Certified
Dr. Nate Williams grew up in the UP of Michigan in a town called Iron Mountain. It was there he gained a love of sports and the outdoors, which has followed him throughout his life. He attended college at Michigan State University, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology-Exercise Science. After graduating from Michigan State, he left the Midwest for sunny California, where he attended Palmer College of Chiropractic West in San Jose. Upon graduating from chiropractic school, he chose to move to Denver, CO, where he practiced for 13 years.
During his studies at Palmer West, he was fortunate to learn and intern with some of the top clinicians in the country. His time as a clinician in Denver for over 13 years provided him with an array of experience treating a vast range of injuries and conditions. Outside of the clinic, Dr. Nate is a fishing, music, and golf addict! He tries to spend as much time as possible enjoying those activities. He relocated to the Fox Valley in 2025 and has loved becoming a Wisconsin resident.
Credentials and Certifications:
• Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA)
• Functional Dry Needling
• Functional Movement Taping
• FMT Blades IASTM
• Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS)
Dr. Peda Moua grew up in Green Bay, WI, where he spent most of his childhood growing up in the shadows of Lambeau Field. Having played multiple sports as a child, he took his background in sports and paired it with his ambition to understand human performance by graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh with a degree in Kinesiology. After his undergraduate studies, he attended Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa. At Palmer, he saw an opportunity to treat athletes and active adults through chiropractic care and became a sports rehab intern during his time as a student clinician. Upon completing his studies at Palmer, he moved back home to northeastern WI, where he practiced for over 4.5 years before joining Rehab Lab Wisconsin.
During his free time, Dr. Peda enjoys golfing, spending time with his wife and four dogs, and cheering on the Green Bay Packers. He is excited for the opportunity to stay close to home and help his community reach their goals of improving quality of life, function, and performance through patient-centered care. Dr. Peda is currently taking coursework to become a certified chiropractic sports physician (CCSP) this year to better serve his patients at Rehab Lab Wisconsin.
Credentials and Certifications:
• Advanced Soft Tissue Rehab
• Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA)
• Functional Movement Screening (FMS)
• IASTM (Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization)
• Active Release Technique
• Dry Needling Certified
Dr. Mike Giammarco is a Milwaukee native and developed a love for sports and human performance at a young age. This passion led him to attend UW-La Crosse where he obtained a Bachelors in Exercise and Sport Science. This experience working with athletes to improve their performance gave him a foundation on which he would build out the rest of his career.
Following undergrad, he attended Northwestern Health Sciences University where he earned his Doctorate of Chiropractic degree. He was able to gain clinical experience working with professional football (Minnesota Vikings and Minnesota Vixen) as well as performing sideline work and rehabilitation as part of a member of the school’s Human Performance Center.
After graduating in 2016, Dr. G moved back to Milwaukee and has been treating patients in the community since. He has also spent time as the Official Chiropractor for the MKE Wave and UW-Milwaukee athletics programs. He also has taught Anatomy and Physiology at the undergraduate level since 2018.
Through his years in practice, Dr. G prioritizes helping his patients not only overcome pain but become more resilient than they were before getting injured. When not in the office Dr. G is watching his favorite sports teams, improving his clinical expertise, and doing activities with his family.
Dr. Giammarco is constantly pursuing knowledge and has held several degrees and certifications:
-Doctorate of Chiropractic
-Bachelors in Exercise and Sport Science
-Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist
-Emergency Medical Technician (EMT-B)
-Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS-ET)
-Functional Range Conditioning (FRCms and FRSC)
-Dry Needling
-Graston
-FAKTR
-Blood Flow Restriction Training
-Adjunct Professor in Anatomy and Physiology