Overuse injuries, like tennis elbow and my own knee pain, are common in sports that stress repetitive movements. Your overworked muscles, tendons, and ligaments suffer micro-traumas and build up scar tissue to stabilize the site of the injury—but that scar tissue also hinders the stressed area’s return to normal function.

Through the use of patented massage methods, practitioners of Active Release Techniques (ART) manually break apart the scar tissue. But it’s no spa treatment. ART therapists dig their fingers into the injured area with vigor. Data on its effectiveness is limited, but researchers at the University of California, San Diego, used ART to successfully treat over 70 percent of carpal tunnel syndrome patients. ART typically runs $120 for the initial appointment and $75 for each subsequent treatment. My knee felt more limber and moved with less pain moments after just one 20-minute session.

Next: Low-Level Laser Therapy