In chiropractic and physical therapy, manual therapy refers to hands-on treatment. This type of therapy uses physical touch to manipulate the muscles and joints, providing relief from pain and restoring normal function.
Manual physical therapy is a specialized form of physical therapy that is focused on the treatment of musculoskeletal conditions. It involves the use of techniques such as massage, mobilization, and manipulation to treat the muscles, joints and connective tissues.
Manual physical therapists are trained to assess and diagnose musculoskeletal conditions. They use a variety of manual therapy techniques to treat these conditions, including:
- Massage: Massage is a type of therapy that uses physical touch to manipulate the muscles and soft tissues. It can be used to relieve pain, relax the muscles and improve circulation.
- Mobilization: Mobilization is a type of therapy that uses gentle movements to increase range of motion and reduce pain.
- Manipulation: Manipulation is a type of therapy that uses high-velocity, low-amplitude movements to stretch or realign the joints.
Manual physical therapy is an effective treatment for many musculoskeletal conditions. It can help to relieve pain, improve range of motion and reduce inflammation. If you are experiencing pain or limited mobility, talk to your doctor about whether manual physical therapy may be right for you
How Does Manual Therapy Work To Heal Injuries?
The various massages, mobilization and manipulation techniques used in manual therapy all serve to stretch muscles, tendons and ligaments. This helps to break up adhesions (scar tissue) that can form after an injury. It also helps to realign joints and improve range of motion.
What Can Manual Therapy Treat?
Manual therapy can be used to treat a wide variety of musculoskeletal injuries — especially motion impairments causing pain and difficulty with range of motion, such as:
- Plantar fasciitis
- Tennis elbow
- Back pain
- Neck pain
- Shoulder pain
- Knee pain
What Are The Benefits of Manual Therapy?
Manual physical therapy has been shown to be an effective treatment for pain relief and injury rehabilitation. Research has shown that manual therapy can:
- Reduce pain
- Increase range of motion
- Improve function
What Are The Risks of Manual Therapy?
Manual physical therapy is generally a safe and effective treatment option, but there are some risks involved. These risks can include:
- Tissue injury
- Nerve irritation
- Joint stiffness
- Dizziness
There is a risk of tissue injury with any type of physical therapy, but this is typically minor and will resolve on its own.
Nerve irritation and joint stiffness are more common with manual physical therapy than with other types of physical therapy. Dizziness is a rare but possible side effect of manual physical therapy. These side effects are temporary and will resolve with time.
Manual physical therapy is an effective treatment option for many conditions. It can help to improve range of motion, reduce pain and promote healing. There are some risks involved, but these are typically minor and temporary.
If you are considering manual physical therapy, be sure to consult with a physical therapist to see if it is the right treatment option for you.
