Manual therapy is an important part of modern physical therapy. As the name implies, manual therapy is a skilled, hands-on method of manipulating and releasing muscles, joints, nerves and connective tissues. Because therapists are in direct contact with the patient’s body, they also gain an understanding of damage to the muscles, nerves and bones of the body that is unavailable through any other means. Manual therapy is an effective method of bringing about healing improvements throughout the body.
What Types of Manual Therapy Are Commonly Used?
Physical therapists have many different manual methods of making improvements in their patients’ health, pain, function and mobility. These are just some of them:
- Soft Tissue Work: Gentle massage or stretching of muscles helps loosen tight areas, break up knots, and get the blood flowing.
- Joint Movements: A physical therapist can help a patient move a painful joint further or more safely by providing some extra encouragement. This care can ease stiffness and assist healing.
- Muscle Energy Techniques: During these techniques, patients actively contract muscles against resistance provided by the therapist, which helps to lengthen tight muscles and improve joint motion.
- Nerve Glides: If there is nerve pain or tingling, a therapist may use special moves to stretch and release nerves so they can move more naturally. This can reduce pain and improve function.
- Lymphatic Drainage: This gentle technique aids the function of the lymphatic system, which helps clear inflammation, reduce swelling and boost the immune system.
Ways That Manual Therapy Can Help You Heal
Manual therapy is not typically used by itself but rather as part of a multi-part treatment plan. Physical therapists train in many different types of manual therapy so they can bring you the best and fastest results.
When you receive manual therapy, you will probably notice these results and more:
- Reduction of Pain: Therapeutic touch added to joint and muscle movement restores normal function to the body, which can result in an improvement in pain.
- Faster Healing: Some types of manual therapy improve blood flow, which is essential to help your body bring oxygen and nutrients to injured areas.
- Enhanced Movement: Manual therapy helps loosen joints and muscles so patients can recover greater mobility than they could achieve on their own.
- Reduced Tension: Manual therapy helps muscles relax, which can break a cycle of pain and tightness.
- Support for the Whole Person: By helping a patient move and feel better, manual therapy can boost a patient’s mood and give them more confidence to stay active.
Discover What Manual Therapy Can Offer You
If you are struggling with pain, tightness, weakness or poor function, manual therapy can be an effective part of your treatment plan. Manual therapy helps the therapists at Rebound get to the root of what’s causing your pain or stiffness, so you can recover faster and get back to doing what you love. If you need help recovering from an injury or surgery or just need to reduce pain and increase function, call us at Rebound Physical Therapy.
