How Does Manual Therapy Work?

The purpose of physical therapy is to help patients recover from an injury, surgery or address a muscle imbalance. Manual therapy techniques may be used to assess why a muscle is not functioning as it should or to assist in restoring joint mobility. Learn more about these sessions.

What Is Manual Physical Therapy?

A physical therapy technique involving the hands, manual therapy does not use any outside devices for treatment.

The hands can provide pressure to muscles and connective tissue, with emphasis on the back and neurovascular system, or manipulate joints to restore functionality. The goal is to address the root of musculoskeletal pain and provide patients a degree of relief.

Although on the surface, manual therapy appears similar to massage, techniques take biomechanical, neurophysiological and psychological factors into account. Techniques vary based on the area being targeted.

With joints, the therapist focuses on articular structures to improve mobility and range of motion for certain musculoskeletal conditions and for the neurovascular system, neurovascular bundles are targeted. With muscles and connective tissues, manual stress is applied to these areas.

In conjunction with other physical therapy techniques, manual therapy can:

• Address sources of pain and discomfort related to posture, muscle function or movement
• Help improve mobility for stiff joints and muscles
• Assist with reducing muscle tension to help a patient move without pain
• Offer a solution to manage a chronic condition, like back pain or a joint issue

Manual Therapy Techniques

Therapists employ manual techniques for a three-fold effect: Biomechanical to help improve and remodel tissues, psychological for improved pain management and physiological to increase mobility through reduced tension, stiffness and pain.

Collectively, these techniques help to relax tight muscles in the back and around joints to lessen pain response and improve flexibility. These techniques fall into a few categories:

• Soft Tissue Work: Involves applying pressure to lessen tension, improve circulation, reduce inflammation and pain, and decrease bands of scar and fibrous muscle tissue. For patients, this can be a combination of stretching and pressure within a particular area. Soft tissue techniques can be applied to the muscles, tendons and nerve bundles.
• Mobilization and Manipulation: Blends speed, force and distance to restore mobility to bones and joints. This combination helps reduce pain, improve joint flexibility and targets stiff or tight tissue restricting movement.
• Strain/Counter-Strain: Targets postural and other structural issues related to neuromuscular reflexes.
• Muscle Energy Techniques: Cause a voluntary contraction against an opposing force to help lessen stunted muscles and improve joint mobility. Patients assume a more active role compared to other manual therapy techniques.

Within this spectrum, common manual therapy methods include:

Treatment with Manual Therapy

Before proceeding with manual therapy, a patient’s injury or condition will be thoroughly assessed, including bones, muscles and neurovascular aspects. This treatment is more common to address:

The team at Integrated Rehab employs several manual therapy techniques during treatment, including Complex Lymphedema Therapy and Mulligan Manual Therapy. To schedule an appointment, contact us today.