Manual therapy is a hands-on approach to healing that enhances recovery. Skilled physical therapists are able to manipulate muscles, joints, and soft tissue in order to reduce pain, improve mobility, promote safe and efficient movement, and restore function. A highly effective treatment option for most musculoskeletal conditions, it is often used in tandem with exercise, machines, and modalities to maximize recovery.
What are the Benefits of Manual Therapy?
Pain Reduction. A hands-on approach to healing, manual therapy decreases muscle tension, improves circulation, and activates the body’s natural pain-relief mechanisms and encourages muscle relaxation.
Improved Mobility and Stability. Manual therapy helps restore proper joint mechanics and soft tissue flexibility, which allows patients to regain range of motion. Improved posture and alignment are also benefits.
Speedy Recovery. Manual therapy speeds up the recovery process by reducing inflammation, improving circulation, and encouraging tissue repair.
What are Some Common Techniques?
Manual therapy helps restore function and reduce pain.
Joint mobilization improves joint function and reduces pain. Physical therapists and their assistants apply gentle, controlled movements to the affected joint which restores its normal range of motion.
Soft tissue manipulation (STM) is another manual therapy technique that involves applying gentle pressure and stretching to soft tissues like muscles, tendons, ligaments, and fascia. STM could simply be stretching, but also may include deep tissue massage or instrument-assisted mobilization to help with tissue breakdown. This gentle technique can offer pain reduction and improved range of motion.
Muscle stretching allows for greater flexibility, improved range of motion in joints, and reduced risk of injuries. Other benefits of muscle stretching are increased blood circulation which aids in recovery. Proper stretching prepares the muscles for activity, minimizes muscle soreness, and aids in proper posture. Stretching also aids in muscle tension and pain associated with a variety of conditions like back pain or even headaches.
What Do Physical Therapists Do During Manual Therapy?
- Evaluate. Physical therapists use their hands to assess the patient’s condition. They can often detect the problem with the touch of their hands.
- Apply pressure. Gentle pressure to joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and fascia reduces pain and inflammation. Pressure may even feel good to the patient.
- Stretch. Physical therapists stretch the patient’s muscles, joints, and soft tissues. They also provide home stretches to speed up the recovery process.
- Manipulate. Manipulation of a patient’s muscles, joints, and soft tissues aids in reducing pain and enables the patient to fully recover.
- Mobilize. Physical therapists use joint mobilization to increase the patient’s range of motion.
- Enhance. In addition to the hands-on approach to healing, physical therapists use exercise, modalities, and machines to enhance the recovery process.
Questions Often Asked
Is manual therapy massage? No, manual therapy and massage are different types of hands-on treatment. Manual therapy targets joints, muscles, and soft tissues. Used to treat chronic pain, joint dysfunction, muscle tension, and other conditions, manual therapy can also help with inflammation and improve function. Physical therapists have advanced degrees that enable them to diagnose and provide treatment plans to aid in recovery and to help patients manage chronic conditions.
Does this technique hurt? Depending on the injury or condition, manual therapy can be uncomfortable, but could also feel good. Physical therapists are always cognizant of the patient’s pain tolerance and adapt the manual therapy accordingly.
Are there any precautions that need to be taken? Since manual therapy is a hands-on approach to healing, physical therapists like to take note of any skin infections, open wounds, recent fractures, or any undiagnosed pain. Physical therapists also like to be aware of other conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis or osteoporosis, as they begin treatment.
Are there any side effects? Sometimes, muscle soreness, stiffness, or a tired feeling may surface after physical therapy. To combat this, physical therapists recommend drinking lots of water and making sure physical therapy appointments aren’t missed.
Is this right for me? Manual therapy is an excellent, non-invasive treatment option for patients who experience chronic pain, restricted mobility, muscle stiffness, or joint dysfunction. Physical therapists who use these techniques can help patients recover from injuries, manage chronic conditions, and increase performance and function.
Manual therapy, a hands-on approach to healing used by skilled physical therapists, enables patients to recover from injuries and manage chronic conditions. At Rehab Associates, all of our physical therapists and assistants use manual therapy to help their patients recover. We can help you recover, so please give us a call today at 855-722-8478. For more information about Rehab Associates, please follow this link: https://racva.com/
Dr. Jessica Deloach uses manual therapy techniques to treat patients.
Dr. Jessica Deloach is a physical therapist and site director at the Rehab Associates Hurt clinic. She received a bachelor’s of science degree with an emphasis in kinesiology/sports medicine from the University of Virginia, where she worked closely with the varsity athletic programs as a student athletic trainer. She then received her doctorate of physical therapy from Virginia Commonwealth University. Dr. Deloach has a special interest in general orthopedics for all ages and sports injuries. She also enjoys geriatric rehabilitation, including balance training and vestibular rehab. Dr. Deloach is currently certified in dry needling for the lower extremity.
