What is Manual Therapy?
Manual therapy is skilled "hands-on” treatment provided by a physical therapist. Techniques of this therapy are moving joints in specific directions and at different speeds to regain movement (joint mobilization and manipulation), muscle stretching, passive movements of the affected body part, or telling the patient to move their body part against the therapist’s resistance to improve muscle activation and timing. To improve the mobility and function of tissue and muscles therapist may also use some specific soft tissue techniques.
Treatment may include :
- Deep tissue release
- Trigger Point release
- Scar mobilization
- Myofascial release
- Active Release Techniques
- Lymph Drainage
- Traction
- Stretches of muscle, neural tissue, joints, and fascia
- Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization
- Joint Manipulation: A thrust applied
- Joint Mobilization: A therapeutic movement to joints in order to restore normal range of motion, optimal movement, function, and to reduce pain.
Benefits of manual therapy :
- Modulate pain
- Increase joints mobility to stiff joints and range of motion
- Improve tissue repair
- Improving tissue stability and extensibility
- Reduce soft-tissue inflammation
- Reduce muscle tension
- Induce relaxation
- Facilitate movement and exercise therapy
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